Project Background
During the Central City in Motion planning process, the critical role our Willamette River bridges and the approaches to them came up again and again. During the busiest commuting hours, everyone, regardless of how they travel, needs to use these streets to cross the river.
The new bus lane replaced one of the existing travel lanes on NW Everett and runs from NW Broadway to the ramp onto the Steel Bridge. The project also closed the ramp from southbound Naito to the bridge. This will improved transit reliability and access to the Rose Quarter for Portlanders who ride TriMet lines 77, 4, 44, 35, 8, and 16. Data from TriMet shows that buses travel less than 5 mph approaching the Steel Bridge in the evening weekday commute. As shown in the above rendering, parking is maintained on both sides of the street, and drivers seeking to turn right can do so from the BAT lane.
The project is part of a series of improvements PBOT is making in partnership with TriMet across the city. PBOT is currently awaiting FHWA approval to pilot red painted lanes commonly associated with transit lanes and will be strategically adding the red paint to further distinguish the BAT lane in the future.
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