Safety improvements near Cleveland High School (SE 26th Ave and Powell Blvd)

Transportation
Under Construction
Short-term and long-term safety improvements by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) near and around Cleveland High School at SE 26th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. Working in tandem with partners at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), TriMet, and Portland Public Schools.
PBOT maintenance crews in yellow safety vests and N95 masks stand on or around ladders to install a School Speed Limit 20 mph sign on SE 26th Avenue near Cleveland High School.
October 2022 - TBD

Short-term critical safety fixes identified by PBOT

  • Add bike boxes, stop bars, and cross-bike markings along SE 26th Avenue
  • Paint high-visibility crosswalks (complete)
  • Institute school speed zone along SE 26th Avenue, northbound and southbound (complete)
  • Install warning sign to remind people driving to stop for pedestrians and people biking (complete); future upgrade to electronic sign
  • Add pedestrian and bike head start to signals
  • Tighten the radius of the southeast corner of SE 26th Avenue and Powell Boulevard (complete)
  • Remove overgrown vegetation
  • Add green bike lanes with buffer along SE 26th Avenue

Mid-term to long-term work (shared with other agencies)

  • Evaluate freight classifications and truck routing on SE 26th Avenue
  • Work with ODOT to figure out cost of jurisdictional transfer that achieves “state of good repair” and a safer Powell Boulevard
  • Upgrade signal to allow pedestrian/bike head start at all signals on Powell Boulevard
  • New pedestrian crossing with refuge island by Cleveland entrance on SE 26th Avenue
  • Permanent speed feedback signs and speed cameras on Powell Boulevard
  • Elevate bike lane on SE 26th Avenue to increase separation

Public involvement

Thursday, Oct. 20: Oregon State Senator Kathleen Taylor and State Representative Rob Nosse hosted a public forum at Cleveland High School with presentations from and Q&A with representatives from ODOT, PBOT, TriMet, and Portland Public Schools. PBOT's handout at the event outlining short-term and long-term fixes below: