(February 19, 2015) -- The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Police Bureau advise the traveling public that a crosswalk enforcement action is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, February 25 to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and traffic law.
The enforcement action will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the marked crossing on SE Division Street at SE 31st Avenue.
This crossing and others along this section of the newly redesigned SE Division Street corridor are heavily used by pedestrians accessing TriMet, retail shops, restaurants, residences, and other locations. The timing was chosen to highlight pedestrian safety during the busy evening hours.
The crosswalk enforcement action reinforces the safety improvements installed as part of the recently completed Division Streetscape Project, a joint project between the transportation and environmental services bureaus.
A crosswalk enforcement action involves a pedestrian decoy who crosses the street at marked or unmarked crosswalks while police officers monitor the street for traffic violations. These actions are designed to inform the public of longstanding Oregon crosswalk laws and to improve pedestrian safety. Drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk and pedestrians who jaywalk may be issued a warning or citation by the Portland Police Bureau.
Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right of way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The transportation and police bureaus conduct enforcement actions about once each month in response to requests by community members, city traffic safety engineers, and Portland Police to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings.
Learn more about the Transportation Bureau’s safety work at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/40390 and pedestrian rights and responsibilities at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/435879
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation