N Charleston Traffic Diversion Pilot Project

What’s happening now? 

The traffic diverter was installed on August 19, 2026. You can provide early feedback on the pilot with the link below, or email comments to bettergreenways@portlandoregon.gov.

Provide pilot feedback

View full size image of Three large, yellow concrete barrels placed across the intersection of Central & Charleston. A parent & child bike between while others cross the street behind.

September update:
In the month since the pilot was installed, PBOT has been collecting feedback from the community about the new installation at the N Charleston Avenue and N Central Street intersection. About 100 comments have been received via email and an online feedback form, with more than half of those received in the first five days after installation. Overall, about a third of comments have noted positive results, like fewer vehicles on Charleston, feeling safer walking and biking, and less speeding by the school. About two thirds of comments provided more critical feedback, which generally falls into three categories: 

• More traffic and speeding on side streets, particularly on N John Avenue and N Dickens Street, and to a lesser degree N Richmond Avenue and N Hudson Street.
  Small increases in traffic can feel dramatic on neighborhood streets, but staff expect that some of this traffic will dissipate as people find alternative routes over time. The pilot project's six-months duration allows traffic patterns to adjust. PBOT is able to mitigate potential negative impacts if traffic data shows significant operations changes. Mitigation efforts can include speed bumps, signage, or other traffic control devices. 
• It's harder to drive or access their destination with a car, with people mentioning the library, school, downtown St. Johns, and the St. Johns bridge.
  Central and Charleston were both common neighborhood cut-through routes for people driving, which is one reason why changes are focused at this intersection. All local destinations can still be accessed with a car, but a different route may be required.
• Dangerous, unacceptable driving behaviors like speeding and driving over sidewalks.
  PBOT has received reports about people speeding down small side streets and driving over the sidewalk at the intersection to circumvent the diverter. One person experiencing a disability reported a driver harassing them, demanding they move out of the way so they could drive over the sidewalk. Concrete planters were installed on the sidewalk in response to ensure safer operations of all users. PBOT will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary.

An assortment of other issues have also been brought up including a perceived lack of need from drivers for this intervention, the pre-pilot communications (see public engagement information below), and the aesthetics of the infrastructure.

This project was part of a broader Neighborhood Greenway Bike Bus project that worked near four schools. More information about the other bike-bus related improvements around Portland will be released soon.

Learn more about the Neighborhood Greenway Bike Bus project

Updated 9/16/2026

Pilot Project Timeline

Project Element	Where	When
Public outreach and design.	St Johns neighborhood and business community.	Winter & Spring 2026
Install traffic diverters and minor parking changes with temporary materials.	N Charleston Ave at N Central	Summer 2026
Collect traffic data and public input from the neighborhood on impacts/trade-offs.	See "Traffic analysis and impacts" section.	Winter 2026/27
Report results of traffic data analysis and public feedback to neighborhood and school community and determine next steps.	Website, email, mailers, and public meetings.	Spring 2027

View full size image of The James John bike bus rides down Charleston Ave, with the trees casting long shadows across the street. A lot of kids on bikes follow 2 parents at the lead.

Project Description

To improve bicycling and walking along the N Charleston neighborhood greenway where it is used by the James John bike bus, PBOT will be piloting traffic diversion. Installation is expected in summer 2026. 

Diversion (also known as traffic filtering) will create a better street for walking and bicycling by reducing the number of cars using the N Charleston neighborhood greenway. People walking and biking will be able to filter through the diverter, while cars and trucks must turn off N Charleston.

The N Charleston neighborhood greenway currently has higher traffic volumes than desired for a street prioritizing walking and bicycling; especially one that is used by an elementary school bike bus. Daily vehicle traffic on N Charleston Street averages over 1,700 vehicles near James John school and 128 vehicles traveling northbound in the peak hour. PBOT guidance for neighborhood greenways sets a goal of 1,000 or fewer vehicles each day and 50 or fewer vehicles in the peak hour and direction.

The pilot project aims to reduce vehicle volumes on the N Charleston neighborhood greenway to better serve the community and bike bus. After the project,

• N Charleston Ave should average 1,000 daily auto trips or fewer;
• N Charleston Ave should have 50 or fewer vehicles in the peak hour and peak direction of traffic.
• People biking and walking should report improved safety and/or comfort on the greenway.

Design Alternatives

PBOT considered multiple options to address high vehicle volumes on N Charleston Ave and asked the community for input on three alternatives for diversion at 1) N Smith Street, 2) N Smith & N Lombard Streets, 3) N Central Street. A fourth option was to provide no diversion. 

View full size image of A map of the street network around James John, with traffic circulation changes related to the various diversion alternatives.

• N Smith Street: Diversion at this location would prevent vehicles from continuing or turning south onto N Charleston from Smith St. People traveling on N Smith or northbound on N Charleston would be unaffected. Vehicles could still use N Charleston southbound behind the diverter, for example when exiting driveways and continuing towards N Hudson.
• N Smith & Lombard Streets: This would implement diversion as described at N Smith St and add a second diverter at Lombard to prevent vehicles from continuing or turning north onto N Charleston from Lombard. Vehicles could still use N Charleston northbound behind the diverter, for example when leaving the St Johns Library or Union building and continuing towards N Central.
• N Central Street: A single, diagonal diverter at the intersection of two greenways—N Central & Charleston—would require cars to turn at the intersection. The diverter would stretch from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the intersection.
• None: No diversion would be added to N Charleston Ave, maintaining current conditions.

The diagram below/right shows all the design options that were considered, and the recommended design. 

Design Recommendation

PBOT staff recommend the diagonal diverter at N Central St & N Charleston Ave for the pilot project. 

View full size image of a diagram of a diagonal diverter at Charleston Ave & Central St showing how car circulation will change; cars will have to turn at the intersection.

The survey revealed substantial support for diversion on N Charleston Avenue. More than 80% of survey respondents selected one of the three diversion options when asked which option would best meet the goals of the project. About 45% of survey respondents selected the Lombard and Smith proposal, 27% selected the diagonal diverter at N Central St, and 11% selected the Smith-only option. Approximately 17% of respondents selected "none."

After considering the public input, traffic conditions, and project goals, PBOT staff are recommending the N Central & Charleston proposal, for these reasons:

1. It will prevent cut-through car traffic from Smith to Lombard on N Charleston.
2. It will have less impact on access to key destinations, like the St Johns Library and The Union apartments.
3. It responds to numerous concerns reported about this intersection during early project work (like visibility and stop compliance), providing a more robust improvement at N Central than any other option.
4. One diverter costs less than two, preserving additional funds for any potential traffic mitigation needs.
5. A diagonal diverter cannot be driven around.
6. Though not a primary consideration for this project, it has the advantage of reducing car volumes on the N Central St neighborhood greenway. Bike bus leaders indicated they don't use the Central greenway in part because they find the traffic conditions too scary for riding with their children.

View full size image of the intersection of N Central & Charleston with three barricades superimposed across the intersection. Blue arrows shows that cars will have to turn once the pilot is installed.

After installation, PBOT will monitor conditions in the area and make adjustments if needed. After six months, PBOT will conduct a full evaluation to determine next steps and report back to the community.

This pilot is part of the Neighborhood greenways bike bus project, which is compiling a full report on project selection that will have more information about the selection process and other projects prioritized for the St. Johns area.

View full size image of the James John bike bus coming down N Charleston Ave as seen from a drone above.

Project Background

This improvement is part of the Neighborhood Greenway Bike Bus Project, which will improve the safety and comfort of neighborhood greenways used by families and students walking and biking to school. This pilot is designed to improve the experience of all neighborhood greenway users, including students at James John elementary school, based on public input collected through meetings with bike bus participants and a public survey. Traffic analysis also informed the design and location of the traffic operational changes.

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. 

Where did this project come from?

The North Portland in Motion Plan, adopted by City Council in 2024 ranks the N Charleston neighborhood greenway as a community priority project. After the neighborhood greenway was constructed, traffic volumes continued to exceed adopted PBOT operational guidelines.

The James John bike bus, a group of students and community members that bicycle to the school, have consistently reported concerns about traffic volumes while trying to bike to school. James John school staff have also reported concerns with levels of traffic on N Charleston and how families can safely access the school during pick up and drop off times. Through the public survey conducted in fall of 2025, concerns about too many vehicles, unsafe passing by people driving, and school drop-off issues were concentrated along this section of N Charleston, all of which can be addressed through diversion.

Pilot Project Goals

The goals of this pilot project are: 

• Meet or exceed traffic goals for Neighborhood Greenways on N Charleston Ave, specifically
  • Fewer than 1,000 average daily vehicle trips;
  • Fewer than 50 vehicles trips in the peak hour and direction.
• Monitor traffic volumes on parallel local streets.
• Create a more comfortable street for people biking and walking to support the James John bike bus.
• Test traffic diversion impacts in coordination with community members and make changes where needed.

Traffic Analysis and Impacts

Traffic counts

PBOT collected data at more than a dozen locations on or near Charleston during the last year to understand vehicle volumes and how neighborhood traffic is operating. Approximately six months after pilot implementation, another round of data collection will take place in the same locations. This change over time will help determine the traffic impacts of the project. Below are the vehicle counts on and near N Charleston Ave since 2025; vehicle volumes that exceed the goals for neighborhood greenways are bold. The last 10 years of traffic data collected by PBOT can be found on our publicly available web map.

As mentioned in the project goals, the pilot is intended to meet or exceed the goal for Neighborhood Greenways established by the Neighborhood Greenway Assessment Report: Fewer than 1,000 average daily vehicle trips and fewer than 50 vehicles trips in the peak hour in any direction.

Traffic impacts to the neighborhood

PBOT's policy is to improve neighborhood greenways and keep nearby neighborhood streets working well for residents and community members. If pilot project impacts create high volumes of traffic on other nearby local streets or transportation safety issues PBOT will share the issues with community and discuss options, including:

• Changing the location of the pilot project diverter(s).
• Removing the pilot project diverter(s).
• Adding safety features and/or other traffic control changes (like stop signs or speed bumps) to other nearby local streets.

View full size image of Parents and kids with the James John bike bus on the way to school. Many participants are wearing high-visibility vests or their bright yellow bike bus jackets.

Related work

Vision clearance at schools

Through the Safe Routes to School program, PBOT is clearing the parking at corners adjacent to all K-12 public schools to improve visibility where small children frequently cross the street. Known as "vision clearance" or "daylighting," this treatment will be applied to all school-adjacent intersection as funding is available.

James John drop off and pick up plan

PBOT is working with James John and the school community to develop a clear and consistent traffic pattern for picking up and dropping off students at school. The diagram below shows the circulation plan that moves the vehicle drop-off and pick-up from N Charleston Ave to N John Ave & Kellogg St on the west side of the school. The new circulation will be implemented in the next school year. New ADA ramps and crosswalks will also be constructed across N Leavitt Ave.

View full size image of Map showing new circulation plan for James John school.

Public Outreach and Involvement 

October 2025

• James John principal & bike bus leaders met with PBOT staff to discuss needed street improvements.
• 6,000+ postcards were mailed to addresses around James John Elementary about the Neighborhood Greenway Bike Bus Project and a survey to gather broader neighborhood input.

November 2025

• Approximately 400 filers were sent home with students as "take home mail."
• Presentations to PTAs at James John.
• Neighborhood Associations in Cathedral Park.
• Tabled at the St. Johns Farmers market on two Saturdays.

January 2026

• Canvassed adjacent business owners/managers at Charleston & Lombard to discuss their business needs and notify them of potential future traffic changes.

April 2026

• Met with James John principal and bike bus leaders to share draft project and pilot concepts.
• Reviewed pilot concept with District 2 city councilors' offices.
• Pilot concepts released and online public survey launched.
• 5,000 postcards mailed to the neighborhoods near James John elementary.

May 2026

• Posters hung at James John Elementary and around downtown St Johns, including at The Union Apartments, iQ Credit Union, the St Johns Library (Hold Pick-Up), The Sparrow Bakery, StormBreaker Brewing, and Safeway.
• Tabling at the St Johns Farmer's Market for three consecutive Saturdays.
• Outreach to neighborhood organizations, businesses, and churches to share survey with their communities, with cooperation/assistance from the Sweet Day Community School, Montessori House, The Union Apartments, St Johns Neighborhood Association, Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association.
• Presentations to St Johns Neighborhood Association, Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association.
• Email to the North Portland in Motion plan email list and the Willamette Blvd Active Transportation Corridor Project email list (~2,500 people).
• Approximately 350 filers were sent home with James John students as "take home mail."

June 2026

• Follow-up outreach to neighborhood organizations, businesses, and churches to share survey with their communities, with cooperation/assistance from the St Johns Church and Red Sea Community Church.
• Online public survey closed (June 15).

July 2026

• Mailed approximately 7,250 postcards to St. Johns/Cathedral Park area addresses informing them of the pilot and recommended design.

Project Funding

This project is funded by Fixing Our Streets and is part of the Neighborhood Greenway Bike Bus Project. For more information, visit the project website.