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Chapter 16.50 Mass Transit

City Code Chapter

16.50.001 Purpose.

  1. This Chapter describes how mass transit lanes, the Transit Mall and auxiliary vehicular lanes are designated, the regulations that apply, and which vehicles may use them.

16.50.100 Designation of Transit Lanes.

  1. Designation of transit lanes, excluding the Transit Mall and auxiliary vehicular lanes separately designated herein will be made by the City Administrator upon advice of the City Engineer and the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet). Designation will be shown by official signs or markings. Signs or markings will distinguish whether the transit lane may be used by:
  2. A.  Bus only;
  3. B.  Light rail vehicle only;
  4. C.  Trolley or streetcar vehicle; or
  5. D.  Carpool vehicle only; or some combination of the above.

16.50.110 Designation of the Transit Mall and Auxiliary Vehicular Lanes.

  1. The Transit Mall is that portion of 5th Ave and 6th Ave between NW Irving St and SW Jackson St including NW Irving St between NW 5th Ave and NW 6th Ave, and SW Morrison St and Yamhill St between SW 4th Ave and SW Broadway specifically designated with official signs or marking for the use of transit vehicles. The automobile lanes on 5th Ave, 6th Ave, NW Irving St, SW Morrison St and SW Yamhill St adjacent the Transit Mall are auxiliary vehicular lanes for purposes of this Chapter.

16.50.200 Prohibited Use of Transit Lanes, Transit Mall and Auxiliary Vehicular Lanes.

  1. A.  Except as otherwise provided for in this Section, no vehicle may enter upon, park on, or use an officially designated transit lane, or the Transit Mall.
  2. B.  Restrictions on transit lane use will vary depending on whether the lane is designated for light rail, motor bus, trolley, or carpool use.
  3. C.  Except as otherwise provided for in this Section, no vehicle may stop or park on auxiliary vehicular lanes except vehicles acting in compliance with law, or at the direction of a police officer or a control device or Multnomah County prisoner transfer vehicles actively transferring people.
  4. D.  Vehicles may cross the Transit Mall to ingress or egress the following driveways provided that the vehicles obey all applicable traffic control devices:
    1. 1.   The driveway located on the west side of SW 5th Ave immediately south of SW Jefferson St.
    2. 2.  The first two driveways located on the west side of SW 5th Ave immediately north of SW College St.
    3. 3.   The driveway located on the west side of SW 5th Ave immediately south of SW Harrison St.

16.50.300 Vehicles Allowed in Transit Lanes, Auxiliary Vehicular Lanes and on the Transit Mall.

  1. The following vehicles may enter upon, stop or park in a transit lane or the Transit Mall:
  2. A.  A vehicle owned or operated by the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon.
  3. B.  A vehicle so allowed by the terms of a maintenance contract with the City or TriMet or City Transportation maintenance crews engaged in maintenance.
  4. C.  A police, fire, ambulance, or outpatient vehicle, if performing emergency services.
  5. D.  A vehicle and equipment engaged in emergency response:
    1. 1.  Towing;
    2. 2.  Snow removal; or
    3. 3.  Street, sewer, utility, bus or fire alarm repair.
  6. E.  Street car.

16.50.400 Vehicles Allowed in Non-Transit Mall Transit Lanes During Certain Hours.

  1. A.  A vehicle may enter upon and park in a transit lane if the lane is closed by a street closure permit from the City Engineer per Portland City Code Title 17 and if the vehicle is specifically authorized to do so by the street closure permit.
  2. B.  A vehicle with a travel lane parking permit (Section 16.20.550) or an angle loading permit (Section 16.20.540) may park in a transit lane if authorized to do so by the permit.
  3. C.  A public utility or construction vehicle engaged in work on or adjacent to a transit lane may enter upon, park, and use transit lanes designated for bus-only use except during the following hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, after giving notification as required by regulations governing the Special Traffic Control District (Section 17.23.050).
  4. D.  A public utility or construction vehicle engaged in work on or adjacent to a transit lane may enter upon, park, and use transit lanes designated for bus-only use between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, when specifically allowed during this time by a permit from the City Administrator. The City Administrator will notify Tri-Met and the City Engineer before issuing such a permit.
  5. E.  A vehicle requiring direct access to properties facing a transit lane for ingress/egress or special loading may enter upon and use (but not park in) the transit lane(s) between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A permit from the City Administrator is required for this access between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
  6. F.  A taxicab, for hire vehicle, delivery vehicle, maintenance vehicle, or garbage truck may enter certain transit lanes during times established by the Bureau of Transportation’s administrative rules.

16.50.410 Vehicles Allowed on the Transit Mall and Auxiliary Vehicular Lanes by Permit.

  1. A.  A public utility or construction vehicle engaged on or adjacent to the Transit Mall may enter upon, park and use the Transit Mall and/or the auxiliary vehicular lanes if the Transit Mall and/or auxiliary vehicular lanes are closed by permit from the City Engineer per Title 17, or TriMet access permit, and the vehicle is specifically authorized to do so by the permit.
  2. B.  Except in the case of emergency and as otherwise provided for herein, the City Engineer may not issue permits for the use of auxiliary vehicular lanes between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The City Engineer may issue permits for Saturday and/or Sunday, but permits may be short term closures as required for operational safety of the service provider and may not interrupt TriMet service. The City Administrator may approve a short-term (three days or fewer) permit, during otherwise restricted times, with agreement from Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet). The City Administrator will establish rules and procedures for this type of closure.
    1. 1.  Emergency means any unscheduled repair of existing facilities that must be accomplished immediately to protect the life, health and wellbeing of the public, or to protect public or private property. Under this definition, “emergency” work encompasses only immediately required repairs and does not include extensive replacement or upgrading of the facility.
  3. C.  The City Administrator may issue permits for the use of auxiliary vehicular lane on SW 6th Ave between SW Taylor St and SW Morrison St to accommodate events permitted and authorized by Pioneer Courthouse Square, Inc. as may be deemed appropriate in the judgment of the City Engineer.
  4. D.  All permits will include a traffic control plan approved by the City Engineer and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet).

16.50.500 Regulation and Permit Procedure.

  1. A.  The Administrator must notify the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon of any rule, regulation or permit proposed to be issued under this chapter. The rule, regulation or permit will become effective on a date agreed upon by both parties. The City Administrator will determine whether the rule should be adopted or the permit issued based upon the amount of interference to mass transit operations.
  2. B.  No limitation or prohibition of use herein applies to vehicles on a street intersecting or crossing a transit lane unless it is specifically designated as a transit lane.

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