UPDATED: What's Happening Now - July 20, 2024
PBOT contractors and staff are done with work around Kelly Plaza, including a new two-way bicycle lane and signals on NE Sandy Blvd, new access ramps on NE 42nd Ave, and associated striping improvements. Signal timing adjustments are complete and new signal activation takes place on Monday, July 22, 2024.
(Dec, 2023) PBOT is working on contracting out elements for Kelly Plaza improvements. See updated plans for specific details about the connection of the NE Hancock greenway from NE 42nd to 43rd avenues.
The plans do not include the signal upgrades at NE Sandy Boulevard. The signal improvements are being managed by PBOT's Signal and Streetlighting maintenance operations staff. Signal improvements include bicycle-only signals for people traveling east and west across NE Sandy Boulevard using the NE Hancock neighborhood greenway to access Kelly Plaza.
- Detailed design elements for access improvements to Kelly Plaza complete.
- Data collection in Hollywood District to evaluate NE Hancock operational changes complete.
- Construction completed on elements on NE Hancock Street from NE 32nd to 42nd Avenues.
- Advisory bike lanes are installed on NE 43rd Ave connecting to NE Tillamook & NE Hancock greenways.
Learn more about the Kelly Plaza and Sandy Boulevard Crossing Improvement
About Neighborhood Greenways
Portland’s neighborhood greenways are residential streets designed to prioritize bicycling and enhance conditions for pedestrians. They are a key component of Portland’s transportation system, and the City is committed to operating them as such. Currently more than 100 miles of neighborhood greenways, developed in three distinct phases since the first project on SE Salmon and Taylor streets occurred more than 30 years ago, connect the city.
To learn more about neighborhood greenways, visit the program webpage.
Neighborhood Greenway Assessment Report and Guidelines
Portland’s 2015 Neighborhood Greenway Assessment Report recommended a series of performance guidelines for neighborhood greenways that are based on national and local guidance. Download the Neighborhood Greenway Assessment Report.
Current Issues on the Tillamook Neighborhood Greenway between NE 28th and NE 62nd avenues
| Issue | Problem Definition | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Volumes | Vehicle volumes on the greenway are higher than PBOT's performance target, particularly on US Grant Place from 33th avenues. Disconnected street grid makes traffic diversion more challenging than usual. Narrow bike lanes through Hollywood Business District. Emergency Response route limits traffic calming and access management options | Develop NE Hancock Street between NE 32nd and NE 42nd avenues as a low-vehicle volume route alternative to the existing route between NE 32nd and NE 42nd avenues |
| Vehicle Speeds | Sections of the Tillamook Neighborhood Greenway see 85th percentile speeds over 20 miles per hour | Speed bumps at specific locations on the neighborhood greenway. Speed bumps are PBOT’s most effective tool to slow speeding auto traffic |
| Intersection Control | Local and national guidelines recommend limiting the number of stop signs along a neighborhood greenway route in order to decrease travel time for bicyclists | Convert stop signs along greenway to stop signs at the minor intersections, allowing people on bikes to flow continuously through the greenway. |
Planned Project Components
| Location | Element |
|---|---|
| NE Hancock between NE 33rd and NE 37th avenues | Concrete surface smoothing (complete). |
| NE Hancock and 33rd Avenue | Push button activated street crossing for people biking (complete). |
| NE Hancock between NE 28th and NE 62nd avenues | Speedbumps, striping and signage as needed (complete). |
| NE Sandy and NE 42nd & 43rd area | Enhancements to greenway crossing of NE Sandy via Kelly Plaza (in design). |
| NE Hancock between Cesar Chavez and NE 41st Avenue | One-way westbound from Chavez to 40th; one-way eastbound from 40th to 41st (complete). Two-way bike access. |
| NE 43rd from NE Sandy to Tillamook | Advisory bike lane connection between NE Hancock and NE Tillamook on NE 43rd (complete). |
View map of changes on for NE Hancock from Cesar Chavez Blvd to 41st Ave
Why build a neighborhood greenway on NE Hancock from NE 32nd to NE 42nd?
We're building a neighborhood greenway on NE Hancock from NE 32nd to NE 42nd to provide a low-stress alternative to US Grant Place. The route will include a smoother NE Hancock, traffic calming features like speed bumps, a bike-accessible crossing of NE 33rd and connections to the NE Tillamook neighborhood greenway to the west and Kelly Plaza and bike lanes at NE 42nd Ave to the east. The NE Hancock neighborhood greenway provides direct access to Beverly Cleary school as well as the NE 38th Avenue neighborhood greenway to the north.
US Grant Place from NE 33rd to NE 38th avenues has several challenges that make traffic calming or diversion untenable without a holistic look at the neighborhood street grid. As an intermediate step, PBOT is building an alternative route on NE Hancock. In the future, a neighborhood-wide traffic operations plan could examine the role US Grant Place and other streets in the neighborhood operate and how changes would impact the overall system.
Traffic Impact and Analysis
PBOT collected data at 17 locations from 2019 to 2022 to understand how neighborhood traffic operates (see map and information, below) and how the project impacted NE Hancock traffic patterns. PBOT's last 10 years of collected traffic data can be found on a publicly available web map.
Traffic continues to move through the area after the project with expected traffic changes and the benefit of slower speeds. The NE Hancock neighborhood greenway meets PBOT's guidelines for traffic volumes and speeds. Other streets in the neighborhood function similarly with some additional amounts of traffic volumes and generally slower speeds than before the project took place.
Highlighted traffic operational changes:
- Traffic speeds in the entire project area either remained the same or were reduced. Many streets experience prevailing speeds at or below 20 mph, creating a safer street system.
- The project did not significantly impact traffic patterns outside of the two block section on NE Hancock between NE Cesar E Chavez and NE 41st where changes took place:
- Traffic volumes on NE Hancock between NE 41st and NE 42nd remained similar (between 1,000 and 1,200 vehicles per day) before and after the project.
- Traffic volumes on NE Hancock between Cesar E Chavez and NE 41st dropped from 1,400 vehicles per day to 500. This was the intended project outcome to reduce people using NE Hancock to cut through the neighborhood to access NE Sandy Blvd and other points outside the area. Traffic was directed to more appropriate streets, such as NE 42nd and NE 33rd avenues.
- Traffic volumes on NE Hancock between NE 33rd and NE 37th remain similar (between 900 and 1,100 vehicles per day) before and after the project.
Parking changes were incorporated to better utilize existing on-street parking stalls and off-set a small amount of parking removal. This included working with business and property owners to create short-term parking zones along NE Hancock to encourage more turnover and parking access for business visitors.
