SW Multnomah Blvd: A Safer Shoulder Walkway from 37th to 40th

Transportation

Engineering And Design

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will restripe the existing paved space to provide a safer shoulder walkway along the north side of Multnomah Blvd from SW 37th to SW 40th . The project is funded by Fixing Our Streets and recommended in the Southwest in Motion Plan (SWIM).

Construction expected to be completed by November 2024.

On this Page

What’s happening now? (Updated January 2025)

The project is complete.

Project Overview

PBOT is designing improvements to SW Multnomah Blvd from SW 37th Ave to SE 40th Ave. The project will restripe the existing space to provide an interim safe shoulder walkway and bikeway along the north side of the street. The project will feature concrete separators and delineators in various locations along SW Multnomah Blvd on the outer edges of the infrastructure to protect vulnerable users from vehicles.

This project will:

Update the existing bike lane
- Paint the bike lane green
- Add green bike striping on SW Multnomah Blvd, across SW 37th Ave
- Add concrete curb to separate the bicycle and driving lanes
Create a walkway
- Paint the walkway yellow
- Add concrete curb in select locations to separate the walking lane from other modes

Project Timeline

Project Development: 2019
Design: July 2022- July 2023
Paused: July 2023- March 2024
Design: March 2024- August 2024
Construction: October-November 2024

Project Background

PBOT identified this segment as a sidewalk gap in PedPDX. This project will restripe the existing paved space to provide an interim safer shoulder walkway and bikeway with physical separation from the roadway, separate people bicycling and pedestrians where possible, and clarify legal turning movements to and from adjacent businesses and residences. This project is recommended in the Southwest in Motion plan and it is funded in part by Fixing Our Streets.

Design Concept of improved walking and biking path along Multnomah Blvd.991.65 KB

Project Funding

$150,000 from Fixing Our Streets and $150,000 from Quick Build program. The Fixing Our Streets $0.10 per gallon fuel tax was approved by voters in May 2016 and again in May 2020.

Public Involvement

To date, the following engagement has occurred:

2024
- June 4: Emailed the project design to impacted property owners and business along the project corridor
- June 28: Mailed project notification postcards to impacted property owners, businesses, and residents
2023:
- Winter - Spring: Phone calls and emails with affected and interested stakeholders
- May 31: Meeting with affected businesses and property owners regarding freight deliveries
2022:
- August 4: Distributed flyers to affected properties and discussed project with available stakeholders
- August 16: Multnomah Neighborhood Association Transportation Committee meeting
- August 20: Multnomah Days PBOT table
- September 15: Multnomah Neighborhood Association Transportation Committee follow-up meeting
- September 21: Southwest Neighbors, Inc. (SWNI) Transportation Committee meeting
- September 29: Multnomah Village Business Association meeting
- October 11: Multnomah Neighborhood Association Meeting
- Fall - Winter: Phone calls and emails with affected and interested stakeholders
2018 - 2019: Southwest in Motion Plan engagement, including Stakeholder Working Group, online feedback, community focus groups, advisory committee meetings, and an online and in-person open house event