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Buckled, cracked, or uplifted sidewalks were reported to be one of the top pedestrian difficulties citywide in. Addressing these and other obstructions would make walking more enjoyable for all ages and abilities. This strategy is particularly important for people with disabilities.

Actions to make it easier and more affordable for sidewalks to be constructed will enable each group—residents, developers, and property owners—to contribute to enhancing the city’s pedestrian network.

Portland Bureau Of Transportation is working to improve intersections along NW 21st Avenue and NW 23rd Avenue in coordination with the Bureau of Environmental Services.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Portland Pathways program

Portland Pathways is a Portland Bureau of Transportation program that allows community groups to permit, build, and maintain trails with technical support from PBOT.

The City of Portland's Pedestrian Design Guide has been revised based on public comment and testimony and is now available below!

PBOT Director Chris Warner signed the Pedestrian Design Guide Administrative Rule on May 12th, 2022. The effective date is July 1, 2022.

Responses from the Walking Priorities Survey cited missing and poorly maintained infrastructure as key factors creating difficult walking conditions citywide.

In 2016, City Council adopted two separate resolutions updating the South Waterfront Street Plan, Criteria, and Standards to adjust street alignments to better support district circulation and development.

See below for a shortcut to the Street Plan map that is currently in effect.

PBOT updated the River District Right-of-Way Standards to support development of streets and pedestrian connections as a part of the USPS Masterplan proposal and to incorporate City Council adopted street designs from Central City in Motion and the Enhanced Transit Corridors Plan.

PBOT updated the River District Master Street Plan to support development of streets and pedestrian connections as a part of the USPS Masterplan proposal.

Addressing issues of safety and security in the pedestrian network is important, particularly in areas where people do not have other transportation options and in areas that have historically been underserved.

Poor lighting is one of the top pedestrian difficulties in Portland, according to the Walking Priorities Survey and the Walking While Black Focus Group. PedPDX found that streetlights are present in crashes after dark suggesting that existing streetlights alone are not sufficient.

This strategy supports the overarching need to access the pedestrian network. The PedPDX Safety Analysis revealed that crashes at unmarked locations are more likely to occur where marked crosswalk spacing does not meet the new PedPDX crossing spacing guidelines.

PedPDX is Portland’s Citywide Pedestrian Plan. It prioritizes sidewalk and crossing improvements, along with other investments to make walking safer and more comfortable across the city. The plan identifies the key strategies and tools we will use to make Portland a great walking city for everyone.

Seventy percent of pedestrian crashes in Portland occur at intersections (in Oregon, every intersection is a legal crosswalk). The following actions seek to improve visibility conditions at pedestrian crossings through intersection design, street markings, and vision clearance best practices.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) Northwest in Motion Plan represents over two years of analysis, community outreach, and problem-solving to improve walking, biking, and public transit in the Northwest District and surrounding area.

Below is a list of potential grant opportunities to fund proposed trail work, resources to help advance trails in the City of Portland, and the plans and policies that guide the Portland Pathways Program.