SW Jefferson Bus/Bike Lane Improvements

Transportation

Completed

This project improved transit and bicycling on SW Jefferson between SW 16th and 18th avenues (Collins Circle).

Construction Completed May-July 2023

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What's happening now?

7/31/2023

SW Jefferson Bus and Bike Improvements are now complete!

TriMet Lines 6 and 45 are now using the new bus boarding platform at SW Jefferson Street and 17th Avenue.

The BIKETOWN station has been reinstalled near its previous location. The new station location is on the sidewalk at SW Jefferson and 18th (northeast corner, both sides of the corner).

Thank you for your patience during construction!

Street with a bicyclist riding in a bike lane separated from cars with white posts. Additional street features include street trees, sidewalks, crosswalk, and a concrete median island. — On SW Jefferson between 16th and 17th avenues, PBOT added a bus-and-turn lane, a bus platform, and a protected bike lane. The concrete bus platform and new signage also improves the pedestrian crossing, helping students get to Lincoln High School.

Treelined streetscape with sidewalks and parked vehicles, a red "BUS ONLY" lane, travel lanes and white posts separating the bike lane. — On SW Jefferson from 17th to 18th, PBOT maintained angled parking, installed a bus-and-turn lane serving buses and vehicles turning left around Collins Circle, installed a protected bike lane against the curb, and added a bike signal at 18th Avenue.

Street with green bike lane, orange BIKETOWN station with bikes parked, and bike signal — The project included signal modifications at SW Jefferson and 18th, adding a bike signal and right turn signal. These changes improve safety by separating the movements of people biking and walking going straight from right-turning drivers.

A pedestrian crosses SW Jefferson at a crosswalk. Stop signs and green bike crossing bars are also shown — The project improved the pedestrian crossing at SW Jefferson at 17th Avenue and rebuilt one ADA ramp to meet accessibility standards.

Project Background

Multiple bus lines use Jefferson to connect from the Hawthorne Bridge to Goose Hollow. This street is also a critical west connection through downtown for people driving.

PBOT improved transit speed and reliability by adding a bus-and-turn lane on Jefferson. In addition, this project added a concrete transit island at 17th avenue and add protection to the bike lane.

As part of the project, TriMet Lines 6 and 45 moved from serving SW Jefferson & 16th Stop ID 3052 to a new transit island stop at SW Jefferson & 17th Avenue. Lines 55, 58 and 68 continue to serve SW Jefferson & 16th Stop ID 3052.

By getting buses out of the vehicle lane, queuing for drivers heading to Highway 26 should be reduced.

Project Benefits

Riding the bus

Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes on Jefferson improves travel times for five bus lines to access and get through downtown, relieving a major pinch point in the transit system.

A new median island at 17th creates efficiencies for buses, allowing them to move into the left lane as they approach SW 18th Avenue and travel around Collins Circle.

Bicycling

Moving the bike lane to the curb on Jefferson and adding protection improves comfort and safety.

ADA Accessibility

One corner on the northeast corner of SW Jefferson and 17th avenue was upgraded to meet ADA guidelines.

Driving

Adding a travel lane for buses and positioning buses in the left lane provides more space for vehicles, reducing travel times on SW Jefferson Street.

Project Impacts

This project includes some parking and loading zone changes.

Parking will be removed from the north side of Jefferson between 16th and 18th avenues
Parking will be removed from the south side of SW Jefferson between16th and 17th avenues
Approximately four angled parking spaces on the south side of SW Jefferson between 17th and 18th avenues will be removed

What's next?

PBOT will improve Jefferson from 16th Avenue to Naito Parkway and SW Columbia from 13th Avenue to Naito Parkway in future project phases.

Public Involvement

Construction Updates

6/12/2023 Construction Update

A construction worker in a bucket truck installs a yellow signal next to a sign that says bike signal — PBOT signal team installs new signal improvements at SW Jefferson and 18th Avenue.

SW Jefferson Bus and Bike Improvements are nearly complete! This week PBOT's signal team "flipped the switch" on new signal improvements at SW Jefferson and 18th Avenue. Drivers in the right turn only lane now have a dedicated signal phase, separating right turning vehicles from bikes and pedestrians crossing 18th Avenue. The signal upgrades improve safety for all travelers.

Contractors will return in the coming weeks to put the finishing touches on the project, including:

Contractors will finish installing permanent striping and signage, including white plastic wands to protect the new bike lane.
BIKETOWN will re-install the BIKETOWN station on the north side at SW Jefferson and 18th. The station was previously located in the street, and will be installed on the sidewalk.
Contractors will clean up and demobilize from the worksite.
TriMet Lines 6 and 45 will begin serving the new transit island stop at SW Jefferson & 17th Avenue.

Completed activities:

PBOT completed signal modifications at SW Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue
Concrete transit island on SW Jefferson, just east of the 17th Avenue intersection
ADA corner ramp at the NE corner of SW Jefferson and 17th Avenue
New parking signage installed reflecting permanent parking restrictions
Striping removal and installation

6/9/2023 Construction Update

Upcoming activities planned for week of June 12, 2023:

Contractors will finish installing permanent striping and signage, including a new protected bike lane
PBOT will finalize signal modifications at SW Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue
Contractors will clean up and demobilize from the worksite

Completed activities:

Concrete transit island on SW Jefferson, just east of the 17th Avenue intersection
ADA corner ramp at the NE corner of SW Jefferson and 17th Avenue
New parking signage installed reflecting permanent parking restrictions
Striping removal
Striping installation

5/31/2023 Construction Update

Upcoming activities planned for week of June 5, 2023:

Contractors will install permanent striping and signage, including a new protected bike lane
PBOT will finalize signal modifications at SW Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue
New permanent parking restrictions will go into effect as part of this project

Area residents and businesses should expect  parking restrictions, lane closures and traffic delays  during striping installation. Expect dust, noise, vibrations, and heavy equipment on SW Jefferson between 14th and 18th avenues.

As always, please keep construction crews safe by following all traffic control signs and flaggers while travelling through or near work zones. 

Completed activities:

Concrete transit island on SW Jefferson, just east of the 17th Avenue intersection
ADA corner ramp at the NE corner of SW Jefferson and 17th Avenue

5/18/2023 Construction Update

Street with orange barricades around a work zone with construction workers pouring concrete — Contractors with the Portland Bureau of Transportation pour concrete for the new transit island at SW Jefferson Street and 17th Avenue.

Completed activities:

ADA corner ramp at the NE corner of SW Jefferson and 17th Avenue complete.

Activities this week:

Contractors are constructing the concrete transit island on SW Jefferson, just east of the 17th Avenue intersection.
PBOT began signal modifications at SW Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue.

5/9/2023 Construction Update

SW Jefferson street, looking west with tress and orange and white barriers and cones around the construction site. — SW Jefferson Street, looking west. Contractors began work this week on improving the ADA corner ramps at the NE corner of SW Jefferson and 17th Avenue.

Contractors with the Portland Bureau of Transportation began construction on Monday, May 8. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained and pedestrian access will be maintained during the construction.

Work anticipated this week: