Street sweeping and cleaning

Overview 

The Street Cleaning section of the Maintenance Operations group within the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) provides street sweeping, cleaning, and vegetation management services to remove debris and vegetation from Portland's streets. These efforts help maintain our pavement condition, pavement markings (crosswalks, painted bike lanes), stormwater and wastewater collection systems, and overall cleanliness and livability safeguarding public health.

Current Program

PBOT's Street Cleaning program sweeps approximately 1,000 miles of major arterial streets 6-8 times annually. These sweeping activities are conducted on day and night shifts with a focus on keeping the city's highest-volume travel corridors clear of debris. Night street cleaning provides sweeping three times a week of the Portland's downtown core.

Arterial routes include corridors such as SE Division Street, NE Sandy Boulevard, NE Columbia Blvd, SE Foster Road, SE Holgate Boulevard, NE Killingsworth Street, and SW Naito Parkway.

Protected and Buffered Bike Lane Sweeping

This work is funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Strategic Program 29 – Active transportation maintenance and operations.

• Specialized compact sweepers clean protected bike lanes several times per year
• Routes include corridors such as SW/NW Naito Parkway, SW Broadway, SW Multnomah Boulevard, SE 136^th Avenue, N Greeley Avenue, N Going Street, and N/NE Rosa Parks Way.
• Bike lane cleaning is coordinated withLeaf Day operations and other maintenance programs

Mayor's Enhanced Corridor Cleaning Initiative

In alignment with Mayor Wilson's Enhanced Corridor Cleaning Initiative directed to improve visibility and safety around 15 shelter locations, PBOT Street Cleaning crews provide weekly sweeping and graffiti abatement. These corridors include high-visibility arterials and business districts prioritized for enhanced cleaning cycles.

Residential Street Cleaning Restoration Plan

PBOT is implementing a phased plan to restore residential sweeping beginning July 1, 2026.

2026: Program Relaunch

• Begin phased reintroduction of residential sweeping, 2300 curb miles and 1200 non-curb miles.
• Publish sweeping schedules and neighborhood maps on the PBOT website.
• Provide residents with clear communication about service dates and expectations as parking signage will be installed to ensure crews can sweep along curbs.
• Increase services from 2 times annually to 4 times annually (quarterly sweeping) in 2027 (presuming funding is increased as proposed).

Funding and Accountability

The City of Portland's renewed investment in street cleaning comes from a dedicated allocation of stormwater management funding as well as General Transportation Revenue (GTR) prioritized by the Mayor and City Council as part of the 2025–2026 budget.

This funding allows PBOT to:

• Begin residential sweeping citywide by July 2026.
• Replace aging street cleaning equipment and invest in more efficient, lower-emission sweepers.
• Recruit and train new staff to support expanded service levels.
• Increase transparency and accountability by publicly sharing sweeping schedules, routes, and performance metrics.

PBOT will report to City Council and the public on program spending, operational outcomes, and environmental benefits, ensuring that the funding delivers measurable results for Portland residents.

Tips for year-round maintenance of your street 

This is a reminder that PBOT relies on residents to help keep streets clean and safe by clearing leaves and debris from storm drains near their property, especially in the fall. This prevents clogging and flooding. Here are some helpful tips for year-round care of your street:

• Remove grass or weeds growing in the gutter. This helps reduce debris in the roadway and will improve water runoff during rainstorms.
• Adopt a storm drain. Visit our Adopt a storm drain page for more information.
• Report abandoned vehicles using PBOT’s hotline at 503-823-7309
• Organize (or participate in) a neighborhood cleanup to keep litter out of the roadway
• Pick up after your pets and ensure everyone in your family disposes of all litter properly. 

Report hazards in the right-of-way 

For emergency road hazards, clogged storm drains, or other hazards in the right-of-way such as downed signs, contact PBOT's 24/7 Maintenance Dispatch at 503-823-1700. 

You can also use the PDX Reporter app on your Android or iOS smartphone.