Why is transit priority needed on the Line 20?
Approximately 11,400 people rode the Line 20 daily in fall 2019.
During the most congested times, each rider’s one-way trip on the Line 20 could take up to 44 minutes longer than normal.
Combined, Line 20 buses are delayed for 100 hours each day due to traffic.* If you add that up for all Line 20 riders, that’s 5,194 hours of people’s time lost!
This delay wastes people’s time, costs our system money and keeps TriMet from being able to run more buses in this corridor.
*Based on 2018 observed run time data
What the Rose Lane Project will do for riders of the Line 20
Combined, the funded and proposed Rose Lane projects along the Line 20 could lead to faster trips and help people reach more places:
A faster trip
The projects identified along the Line 20 to date could save riders between 5 and 7 minutes if they traveled from end to end during the PM peak. If you ride the Line 20 round trip, five days a week, you could get up to 30 hours of your time back each year!
What could this look like for someone who works at the Fred Meyer on W Burnside and NW 20th and commutes home to E Burnside and SE 76th? This person could save around 5 minutes just from the Rose Lane improvements along that portion of the Line 20 route:
- Travel time today: 45 minutes
- With Rose Lanes: 40 minutes (11% faster)
Ability to reach more jobs and places
Faster trips mean you can reach more places within a reasonable transit ride. The map below shows the change in number of jobs and places people can access due the Rose Lane projects identified to date along the Line 20. The darker the shading, the more jobs and destinations you can now reach from that starting place in 45 minutes by transit.
| Demographic group | All Residents | Black Residents | People of Color | Households in Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average estimated change in jobs/places reachable in 45 minutes by transit due to Line 20 improvements | +790 | +460 | +620 | +730 |
Rose Lane projects along the Line 20
Completed
Project location: Burnside Bridge (W 2nd to E MLK)
Project type: Bus-only lane
Transit lines benefitting: 12, 19, 20
Learn more about this project 🡢
Funded and in progress
Project location: E Burnside St (MLK- 12th)
Project type: Bus-and-turn lane*, eastbound
Transit lines benefitting: 20, 12, 19
This project will be analyzed before and after construction to evaluate user safety, especially with respect to conflicts between turning vehicles, buses, and bicyclists at signalized intersections.
Learn more about this project 🡢
Project location: W Burnside St (Broadway - W 2nd)
Project type: Bus-and-turn lane* eastbound
Transit lines benefitting: 12, 19, 20
Project location: W Burnside & 23rd Ave
Project type: Signal upgrades
Transit lines benefitting: 15, 20
Proposed projects
Project location: W Burnside St (23rd - 15th)
Project type: Bus-and-turn lane*, eastbound
Transit lines benefitting: 15, 20
Project location: NE Couch St (12th - Grand)
Project type: Bus-and-bike-and-turn lane*, westbound
Transit lines benefitting: 20, 12, 19
Project location: E Burnside St at 20th Ave, 28th Ave and Gilham Ave
Project type: Right turn except bus lanes westbound approaching each intersection
Transit lines benefitting: 20
Project location: SE Stark St at 148th
Project type: Right turn except bus lanes, both directions
Transit lines benefitting: 20
We will monitor performance of this pilot project and make any needed refinements as part of the Safer Outer Stark project. Learn more about the Safer Outer Stark project.
*Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes, also called bus/transit-and-turn lanes, are primarily for transit use. Only transit may continue through the intersection every block. Other drivers can enter the lane mid-block to access a business driveway, on-street parking or to turn right at the next intersection.
Potential impacts and considerations for other modes
There are potential trade-offs to consider when implementing transit priority improvements. The impact of Rose Lane improvements on other modes will be considered along with the potential transit benefit of each improvement.
Emergency vehicles – Emergency response vehicles can use transit priority lanes to bypass motor vehicle congestion.
Pedestrian facilities – Many of the projects proposed along the Line 20 will also include benefits for pedestrians. The Safer Outer Stark project will provide safe crossings and improve comfort and visibility.
Bike facilities – Many of these projects will also benefit cyclists. For example, the E Burnside Bus/Bike Project will make it safer to bike from downtown to the Central Eastside. The proposed project on NE Couch will also accommodate bikes between 12th and 6th. Bus-bicycle user safety on the E Burnside (MLK-12th) project will be evaluated through a partnership between PBOT and the Kiewit Center for Infrastructure and Transportation Research at Oregon State University. Findings from this study will inform future intersection designs.
Traffic travel time and diversion – The proposed improvements along this corridor will likely cause some additional delay for drivers at peak times. These impacts are not expected to cause operational or safety impacts in the corridor. As we evaluate the performance of the Rose Lane pilots, we may make needed refinements in the future.
Parking removal – Some of the proposed projects along the Line 20 would require parking space to be repurposed. More information will be shared in future outreach as designs are refined
Next steps
We will consult the community as we continue refining the design of these proposed projects.
We expect to construct the E Burnside Bus/Bike Lane project in 2021.
We plan to pilot the Rose Lane improvement on SE Stark and 148th, monitor performance and make any needed refinements to the design through the Safer Outer Stark project. Learn more about the Safer Outer Stark project here.