What's happening now?
January 2025 Update
To help make critical safety improvements to 82nd Avenue, one of Portland's highest-crash corridors, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) traffic signal engineers are finding opportunities to address safety through signal timing. With $4 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, PBOT is using traffic signal timing to better manage traffic flow, lower vehicle speeds, and enhance safety for everyone using the street—whether walking, biking, taking transit, or driving.
Traditionally, traffic signal engineers use signal timing to move more cars through a corridor. Instead, at PBOT, we are focused on how to move more people to where they need to go, safely.
Pedestrian safety and speed reduction
First, PBOT will introduce "rest in red" on 82nd Avenue. This traffic safety technology acts as a virtual speed bump displaying red lights in all directions during late night and early morning hours when traffic volume is light. This interrupts excessive speeding—a top contributing factor to traffic deaths. Additionally, PBOT traffic engineers will increase the time allocated for pedestrian crossings at all signalized intersections, particularly during busier times of day.
Speed detection and active management
In the next phase, PBOT—in partnership with Oregon State University—will research, then deploy speed detection technology to proactively manage dangerous driving behaviors. For example, if a person driving a motor vehicle is speeding as they approach an intersection, the system will be programmed to reduce the likelihood that the driver continues to receive a green light.
Expanding safety measures
PBOT will expand speed detection technology by using a system level approach to reduce speeding drivers. If signal timing cannot influence a speeding driver to slow down at an initial intersection, the system may be programmed to influence the driver's speed at an intersection further along their route.
A holistic approach to safer streets
Together, these changes are part of PBOT’s ongoing commitment to prioritize safety and accessibility for all people who use 82nd Avenue. PBOT is combining education, enforcement, and engineering to make our streets safer. With continued investment and innovation, it's PBOT's goal that these improvements will meaningfully reduce crashes and create a corridor that better meets the needs of people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving.
November 2024 Update
PBOT’s initial signal timing improvements have been completed along NE/SE 82nd Avenue. As a part of this effort, PBOT reviewed signal timing and operations at the 29 existing traffic signals on 82nd Avenue within the city of Portland limits.
PBOT made adjustments to reduce high end speeds, especially at night. With the adjustments, travelers driving the speed limit get a green light but travelers going faster encounter red lights more often. Flashing yellow left turn arrow operations were returned to signals with a new focus on improving pedestrian access and safety while providing permissive left turns from 82nd Avenue.
PBOT will continue to make adjustments to the signal timing and operations, with the goal of further reducing the highest speeding drivers. In addition, PBOT is exploring “rest-on-red" operations at specific locations along 82nd Avenue.
May 2023 Update
PBOT installed all 18 Advanced Transportation Controllers (ATCs) along 82nd Avenue in February 2023, replacing old and outdated equipment. Along with the controller replacements, PBOT deployed signal timing changes to provide pedestrian head start at several intersections and disabled flashing yellow left turn arrow operations to improve pedestrian safety.
PBOT, in conjunction with Oregon State University (OSU), is currently exploring ways to utilize existing detection along the corridor to collect speed data and effectively implement safe speeds signal timing strategies.
This initial study is scheduled to be completed spring of 2024.
January 2023 Update
The project team began field work in January 2023 with the installation of new traffic signal controllers (also known as Advanced Transportation Controllers) as well as two speed reader boards near McDaniel High School.
Project overview
As part of this project, PBOT will make critical safety, operations, and accessibility improvements along 82nd Avenue from Lombard Street to the Springwater Corridor Path. Improvements include signal technology upgrades, signal timing improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements at signalized intersections.
New Advanced Transportation Controllers (ATCs) have been installed at 18 intersections and are currently being programmed by PBOT staff as part of this project.
By installing Advanced Transportation Controllers, signal timing adjustments, and high-speed fiber optic communications interconnect, PBOT will make efforts to reduce opportunities for drivers to speed through multiple signals. Additionally, PBOT will remotely monitor performance in real-time and shorten overall wait time for all road users at traffic signals.
This newer equipment will enable PBOT to implement pedestrian head start at several locations throughout the corridor. Pedestrian head start is a signal timing strategy that improves the safety and visibility of pedestrians by giving pedestrians a walk signal several seconds before vehicles are given a green light.
As part of 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes, PBOT will improve safety for those moving along and across the corridor. Over the next several years, PBOT and ODOT will add a total of 21 new or upgraded crossings of 82nd Avenue to improve safety and fill many of the existing crossing gaps. As new crossings are installed, PBOT will update its traffic signal system to prioritize safety for all road users.
Lastly, PBOT is upgrading old technology in order to remotely collect traffic signal performance data, monitor intersection conditions in real time, assess operations, and make signal timing adjustments for all roadway users.
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Project timeline
- 2023: Signal equipment upgrades completed
- 2024: Initial signal timing improvements completed
- 2026: Additional signal timing improvements and "rest on red" implementation
Project funding
$4M from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Public involvement
PBOT faces a tight timeline to deliver critical fixes on 82nd Avenue.
To meet construction deadlines, PBOT will rely on insights from the extensive community engagement the bureau and other agencies conducted over the past 10 years, including:
- Bureau of Planning & Sustainability 82nd Avenue Corridor Study (1980)
- PBOT 82nd Avenue Roses High Crash Corridor Safety Plan (2008)
- Jade District Visioning Plan (2014)
- Portland City Council Town Hall Visioning Forum on 82nd Ave
- ODOT Avenue of Roses Implementation Plan (2018)
- Bureau of Planning & Sustainability 82nd Avenue Study: Understanding Barriers to Development (2018)
- PBOT 82nd Avenue Plan (2019)
- Connected Centers Plan (2019)
- Metro’s Get Moving Regional Funding Measure (2020)
- Grassroots efforts of groups including the 82nd Avenue Improvement Coalition
Through the ODOT-led planning process (2018), PBOT identified priority enhanced crossing locations on 82nd Avenue. These were vetted with the community through the planning process and included in the ODOT 82nd Avenue of Roses Implementation Plan.
The City conducted interviews with property owners, business owners, and community members, as well as market research to better understand barriers to redevelopment.