N Ainsworth Street Neighborhood Greenway (Willamette to Michigan)

UPDATED: What’s happening now? 

(Updated 5/11/26) Construction of speed cushions is completed. 

The pedestrian head start at N Interstate Avenue and N Ainsworth Street is implemented.

Bike lane construction from N Interstate to N Michigan avenues is tentatively scheduled for summer 2026.

The project will be built over the next several years in two phases:

• Phase 1 will include traffic calming on N Ainsworth St, new bike lanes over Interstate 5, and intersection safety improvements at N Interstate Ave and N Ainsworth St (near Ockley Green Middle School).  Phase 1 is currently in construction and will be implemented in Spring and Summer 2026.
• Phase 2 will advance a community-led traffic diversion strategy to reduce the number of vehicles on the local section of N Ainsworth between N Denver Ave and N Greeley Ave. The goal of this phase emphasize N Ainsworth St as a local street and meet speed and traffic guidelines for Neighborhood Greenways.

Phase 1 Schedule 

Last Updated April 2026

Project Description

The image above shows bicycle-friendly speed cushions. 

PBOT will include three different design elements as part of improvements for N Ainsworth neighborhood greenway project:

1. Install traffic calming to slow vehicle speeds between N Willamette Blvd and N Interstate Ave.
2. Install a pedestrian head start to provide more crossing time at N Interstate.
3. Install buffered bike lanes between N Interstate Ave and N Michigan Ave.

Project Background 

This improvement was identified as top community priority in PBOT's North Portland in Motion plan adopted unanimously by Portland City Council in 2024.

What are neighborhood greenways?

Neighborhood greenways are low-traffic and low-speed streets where we give priority to people walking, bicycling, and rolling. Neighborhood greenways form the backbone of the city’s Safe Routes to School network and connect neighborhoods, parks, schools, and business districts. 

Project Goals

• Slow vehicle speeds and reduce the number of vehicles along N Ainsworth Street.
• Provide more time for people crossing N Interstate Avenue.
• Provide a safer, more comfortable cycling connection to existing north-south bikeways, including N Willamette Boulevard and N Denver and N Michigan avenues

UPDATED Project Impacts

Parking Removal 

As part of Phase 1, there will be two blocks (approximately 400 feet) of parking removed on the north side of N Ainsworth St between N Montana Ave and N Michigan Ave and one block (approximately 160 feet) of parking removed on the south side of N Ainsworth between N Maryland and N Montana. 

UPDATED (3/17/26) Additional no parking areas were required to accommodate new pedestrian crossing improvement at N Montana and to update the visibility setback at N Michigan. The map below is updated with the additional no parking areas.

View full size image of Map shows new no parking areas as part of the project.

Can I briefly park my car in the bike lane? 

No. Parking in the bike lane is not allowed. Drivers may temporarily stop in the bike lane for loading and unloading passengers. That means a vehicle may pull into the bike lane to allow a passenger to get into or out of vehicle. Parking in the bike lane and waiting for passengers is not allowed.

Project Timeline

Spring and Summer 2025: Project Development. Public Outreach. Design.

Summer 2025: Design and public outreach.

Fall/Winter 2025/26: Pedestrian head start construction; bike lane outreach and public involvement.  

Spring/Summer 2026: Speed cushions and bike lane installation.

Public Outreach and Involvement

Phase 1 Engagement Summary

Past

April 2025:

• Bike Ride with Overlook and Arbor Lodge: Project planer joined local neighborhood associations on a bike ride to discuss future improvements.

June 2025:

• PDF file Ainsworth Mailer June 2025 2.26 MB

  Mailer to Ockley Green Middle School community with project elements will be delivered in fall 2025.

August 2025:

• 4,500+ postcards sent to residents in Overlook and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods.
  • PDF file Ainsworth Greenway Postcard 1.16 MB
• 36 Personalized letters sent to residents adjacent to the new bike lane connection over Interstate 5.
  • PDF file Ainsworth Parking Letter 197.86 KB

September 2025:

• Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association Meeting - September 18th
• Tabling at the MLK Dream Run at PCC Cascades - September 20th

October 2025

• Ockley Green Middle School Supporters Meeting - October 7th
• Joint Arbor Lodge and Overlook neighborhood project meeting, Arborlook Food Cart Pod 5916 N Greeley Ave, 4pm to 6pm with a walk to the Omaha diverter pilot site at 6pm - October 8th
• Overlook Neighborhood Association Meeting - October 13th
• Letter to Ainsworth area residents about speed cushions
  • PDF file Ainsworth speed cushion notification 129.59 KB

April 2026

Project Funding

This project is funded by a strategic partnership between the North Portland in Motion program and Portland's Clean Energy Fund with a $400,000 budget.