Southwest In Motion is a short-term prioritization, refinement, and implementation strategy for active transportation investments in Southwest Portland. The final plan was adopted by Portland City Council in December 2019.
What's happening now
PBOT staff closed the Southwest in Motion Implementation Survey on June 25 and are currently analyzing the survey results. A summary report will be published in early September.
The survey included the following projects that are being considered for funding and implementation:
(Last update: September 2023)
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What's coming next
Over the coming months, PBOT staff plan to:
- September 2023: Publish a summary report and open ended feedback from the Southwest in Motion Implementation Survey, which closed on June 25, 2023. Provide an update on next steps.
- Summer-Fall 2023: Staff are exploring Central City in Motion / Southwest in Motion collaboration, including SWIM RP-02 Terwilliger Trail to 4th Connector.
- Summer-Fall 2023: Staff will gather updated data (traffic volume and speed counts), refine project development, and develop cost estimates for Fixing Our Streets II funded projects.
- Winter 2023: Staff will engage with community during early design phase.
- Fixing Our Streets II funded Southwest in Motion projects are expected to be constructed in 2024-2025.
(Last update: September 2023)
Public involvement summary
PBOT used multiple strategies to reach both established neighborhood voices and under-represented community members during the Southwest in Motion planning process.
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 (01.17.18)
- Kesser Israel (01.30.18)
- Markham Elementary School Somali Family Meeting “Sharing with Shawn” (02.16.18)
- OHSU Campus Outreach (02.20.18)
- SW Trails (02.22.18)
- PCC International Student Focus Group (02.26.18)
- Stephens Creek Crossing (03.15.18)
- Terwilliger Plaza Retirement Community (03.24.18)
Consulting with advisory committees and utilizing their professional knowledge. Groups consulted for Southwest in Motion included the Portland Committee on Disability (PCOD), Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC), 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.
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
Final Plan
Southwest In Motion 2023 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.
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.