SW Capitol Highway Rose Lane Project

Transportation
Under Construction
Through the Rose Lane Project, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is helping improve bus speed and reliability on SW Capitol Highway from SW Barbur Boulevard to SW Bertha Court. This project benefits the bus riders who ride TriMet lines 39, 44, 45, 54, 55, 56, 61 and 64.
Street with a sidewalk and multiple lanes of traffic. A green dashed striped bike lane next to a red dashed striped lane with a white turn arrow. A TriMet Line 39 bus is in the red lane with vehicles next to and behind it.
Major Construction Completed September 2022
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What's happening now?

Construction update 1/3/2023

We will be upgrading traffic signals in the project area in coming months. New Wavetronix detection equipment and wireless communications will allow us to better coordinate traffic signal timing to support traffic flow. These enhancements are slated for SW Capitol Hwy at Terwilliger Blvd., Sunset Blvd., Hillsdale Center (crossing), and Bertha Ct.

Construction update 9/27/2022

Major construction is substantially complete. The project team will begin post-project monitoring as described in the Draft Monitoring and Mitigation Memo. We will share monitoring results with the community on this project website and though our project mailing list (sign up below). Please send any comments and questions to the Rose Lane Project RoseLaneProject@portlandoregon.gov email address.

Construction update 9/22/2022

Construction is progressing and ahead of schedule. Long lines have been installed and the contractor will begin applying red paint Thursday evening.

Nightwork is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 22 through Saturday, Sept. 24 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

People riding transit should visit trimet.org/#alerts/ for the latest service impacts.  

Construction update 9/13/2022

Construction begins Monday, Sept. 19 on the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) SW Capitol Highway Rose Lane Project.

Construction will take place weekday evenings from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and is expected to last for two weeks. 

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Project overview

Western segment of the SW Capitol Highway Rose Lane project, which reallocates road space to make eight TriMet bus lines more reliable and faster. PBOT will also make several street crossings safer.
Western segment of the SW Capitol Highway Rose Lane project, which reallocates road space to make eight TriMet bus lines more reliable and faster. PBOT will also make several street crossings safer.

This project will implement bus-and-turn (BAT) lanes on SW Capitol Highway from Barbur Boulevard to Bertha Court in both the east and west directions. The bus lanes will be installed in place of the two outside general purpose travel lanes.

Using these lanes:

  • Buses will continue straight through intersections.
  • People in other vehicles will be able to turn right at intersections and use the lanes to reach business driveways and on-street parking before an intersection.

Project benefits 

This project will benefit the bus riders who ride TriMet bus lines 39, 44, 45, 54, 55, 56, 61 and 64 to and through Hillsdale Town Center. Bus-and-turn lanes improve transit reliability and speed, helping bus riders during congested times.

During the evening commute peak, this project is expected to save between one and two minutes per bus trip.

Learn more about project benefits.

Project impacts

Traffic volumes on SW Capitol Highway were down by 50 to 80 percent in 2021, compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Given current traffic volumes, PBOT anticipates minimal traffic impacts with the implementation this project. 

The Capitol Highway Rose Lane Project may impact future auto capacity and routing decisions if traffic volumes return to pre-pandemic volumes. If auto traffic increases in the coming years, people driving may experience an additional 20 to 90 seconds of delay — less than half the length of a typical song on the radio.

PBOT has published a draft Monitoring and Mitigation Memo to outline our approach to tracking and responding to potential project impacts. In spring 2022 visited community groups to gather input on where we should focus limited monitoring and mitigation resources.

This project is not expected to affect parking.

Adjusting to the pandemic and building a just recovery 

Covid-19 has had a profound impact on the way we get around, including Portland’s transit system. It has also amplified racial inequities. Our pandemic response must prioritize racial justice and investments that serve communities most affected by this public health crisis.  

The Rose Lane Project is still a priority for PBOT. Transit remains one of the most efficient, sustainable and equitable ways to move people around our growing city. The Rose Lane Project will give buses and streetcars a leg up, helping today’s transit riders enjoy a better journey and encouraging more to get on board when it is safe to do so. The improvements we plan to roll out this year will have an immediate impact on Portlanders who must keep riding transit during the pandemic, including frontline workers. It is also a down payment on the future we want, helping our most important transit lines to keep running smoothly as traffic returns and demand grows.  

The Rose Lane Project can help us achieve a just recovery. The project timeline is subject to change as we assess and respond to changing conditions.  

Project timeline

Construction September 2022 

Project funding 

$200,000 from Rose Lanes

Public involvement 

Upcoming public involvement opportunities 

Contact the project team at roselaneproject@portlandoregon.gov to schedule a time with your organization or group.

Past public involvement 

  • 2022
    • March 15 - Southwest Community Services, Office of Community & Civic Life  
    • March 21 - Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. Transportation Committee (SWNI TC)
    • April 6 - Hillsdale Neighborhood Association
    • April 20 - Hillsdale Business and Professional Association  

Planning documents 

(Note: The following documents have maps and information that may not work with a screen reader. While we work toward providing that level of accessibility, please contact PBOT Project Manager Briana Orr at briana.orr@portlandoregon.gov for assistance with providing access to the information in the documents. You can also contact PBOT’s ADA Coordinator at Lisa.Strader@portlandoregon.gov or at 503-823-5703. Thank you for your patience and understanding.) 

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