Southwest In Motion is prioritization, refinement, and implementation strategy for active transportation investments in Southwest Portland. The Southwest in Motion plan was adopted by Portland City Council in December 2019.
What's happening now
PBOT staff asked community members about priority projects for the next round of implementation. PBOT staff are using that feedback to implement projects using $500,000 of funding from the Fixing Our Streets 10-cent gas tax. Staff expect to fund a subset of the eligible projects with the current funding. PBOT staff are also seeking other funding opportunities to implement additional Southwest in Motion priority projects.
View the results of the summer 2023 survey:
(Last update: October 2023)
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Active projects
- Southwest in Motion: Crossing Enhancement Projects
- SW Capitol Highway - Multnomah Village to West Portland Project
- Tryon-Stephens Neighborhood Street Improvement Project
- SW 35th Ave Sidewalk Infill and Crossing Project
- SW Multnomah Blvd: A Safer Shoulder Walkway from 37th to 40th
- OR99W/SW Barbur Blvd Area Sidewalk Infill Project
- SW 45th Flower Pl. to Vermont St. Pavement Project
- SW Bertha Blvd. (SW Vermont St. to SW Barbur Blvd.)
- Boones Ferry Road walkway from Orchard Hill Road to city limits
Community involvement during the Southwest in Motion planning process
PBOT used multiple strategies to reach both established neighborhood voices and under-represented community members during the Southwest in Motion planning process during 2018 and 2019.
Building upon previous planning efforts and respecting past public involvement work. The foundational policies and projects for Southwest in Motion have been before City Council and included important community engagement efforts worth recognizing.
Assembling a Stakeholder Working Group that met 11 times during the planning process. This group advised the project team and served as a sounding board for reviewing and reflecting on project recommendations.
Gathering feedback using online mapping tools. Using online tools allowed community members to map their active transportation needs, express support for projects, and submit their priorities. It also allowed the project team to expand and verify the list of planned projects with respect for community needs and desires. Used by over 1,000 people, the online mapping tool provided a broad snapshot of community priorities and needs across Southwest Portland
Facilitating community focus groups to connect staff with diverse voices and to better understand community priorities regarding public investment.
- SWNI Transportation Committee (January 2018)
- Kesser Israel (January 2018)
- Markham Elementary School Somali Family Meeting “Sharing with Shawn” (February 2018)
- OHSU Campus Outreach (February 2018)
- SW Trails (February 2018)
- PCC International Student Focus Group (February 2018)
- Stephens Creek Crossing (March 2018)
- Terwilliger Plaza Retirement Community (March 2018)
Consulting with advisory committees and utilizing their professional knowledge. Groups consulted for Southwest in Motion included the Portland Committee on Disability, Bicycle Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and the Southwest Neighborhood, Inc. Transportation Committee.
Hosting an in-person and online open house event to share the draft project list and recommendations with the public and receive feedback from community members. 133 people attended the in-person open house and 155 participated in the online open house.
- Identification of priority short term walking and biking projects, such as bike lanes, sidewalks, shoulders, and neighborhood greenways.
- List of short-term crossing enhancements, including enhanced and new crosswalk designs.
- Discussion of other potential road safety enhancements, including walkable shoulders and traffic calming.
- Promotion of key programs to support community-initiated projects, such as block parties, community plazas, and urban trails.
- Policy recommendations to advance walking and biking in Southwest Portland.
On December 4, 2019, City Council adopted Southwest in Motion (Resolution No. 37464): link to records of adopted plan
Final Plan
Plan Recommendations
Identification of priority short term walking and biking projects, such as bike lanes, sidewalks, shoulders, and neighborhood greenways.
- List of short-term crossing enhancements, including enhanced and new crosswalk designs.
- Discussion of other potential road safety enhancements, including walkable shoulders and traffic calming.
- Promotion of key programs to support community-initiated projects, such as block parties, community plazas, and urban trails.
- Policy recommendations to advance walking and biking in Southwest Portland.
On December 4, 2019, City Council adopted Southwest in Motion (Resolution No. 37464): link to records of adopted plan
Southwest In Motion Progress Report
2023 Southwest in Motion Progress Report
(Published May 2023)
PBOT adopted the Southwest in Motion plan in December 2019. Since 2019, PBOT crews and contractors have completed 9 projects and 21 crossing enhancements identified in Southwest in Motion. Read the 2023 Progress Report to learn more about Southwest in Motion projects, policies, and programs.
Past documents
Southwest In Motion 2022 Implementation Update
(Published June 2022 / Formatting revised September 2022)
Since the adoption of the Southwest in Motion plan, 21 crossing improvements and 8 projects have been completed. Five crossings and 13 projects are funded, in design and engineering or in construction, referred to as "active" projects below. Dozens of projects are neither active nor complete, but still designated as planned. PBOT continues to identify funding sources to complete these projects. Some of the planned projects are highly complex and costly, while others are low-cost improvements. All the projects are important for safety and connectivity for people walking and biking in Southwest Portland.