What's Happening Now?
PBOT staff have completed work on a conceptual design for the crossing and have received support from both Union Pacific and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to move forward with final design. Staff at PBOT and ODOT are currently at work on an Intergovernmental Agreement to fund the project design and construction.
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Project Goals
- Establish a street-grade crossing of Naito Parkway south of the Steel Bridge for pedestrians and people biking
- Complete the NW Flanders Neighborhood Greenway project, providing a continuous connection for people walking and biking on NW Flanders between Tom McCall Waterfront Park and NW 24th Avenue
- Allow for the installation of a Quiet Zone at the rail crossing
Project Background
In 2003, Portland Police Bureau requested the removal of a pedestrian overcrossing of Naito attached to the Steel Bridge due to concerns around crime. Since then, PBOT has been working to reestablish a crossing of Naito at street grade south of the Steel Bridge. Such a street level crossing requires changes to the signals and safety gates owned and operated by Union Pacific Railroad underneath the Steel Bridge at Naito. These upgrades to the rail crossing itself would have the additional benefit of enabling a quite zone, as long requested by neighbors in Old Town / Chinatown.
