Why is transit priority needed on the Line 4?
Approximately 6,890 people rode the Line 4 daily in fall 2019.
During the most congested times, each rider’s one-way trip on the Line 4 could take up to 24 minutes longer than normal.
Combined, Line 4 buses are delayed for 65 hours each day due to traffic.* If you add that up for all Line 4 riders, that’s 3,649 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 could the Rose Lane Project do for riders of the Line 4
Line 4 is already seeing the benefit of early Rose Lane projects implemented in the last two years (see completed projects below). In addition, we have identified two more minor improvements that will help the bus while having no impact on other modes (see proposed projects below).
There is still more that can be done along the Line 4 to make bus trips faster and more reliable, including spot improvements to address delay on Williams approaching Russell and Fremont. We recognize the Williams/Vancouver corridor has experienced significant change in recent years, and are committed to consulting the community to better understand transportation priorities and trade-offs before advancing design further.
Combined, the completed, proposed and potential next phase of Rose Lane projects along the Line 4 could lead to faster trips and help people reach more places:
A faster trip
The projects identified to date could save riders between 1 and 2 and half minutes if they traveled from end to end during the PM peak. If you ride the Line 4 round trip, five days a week, you could get up to 8 hours of your time back each year!
What could this look like for someone who travels from Pioneer Square to take a class at the PCC Cascade Campus? This person could save around 2 minutes just from the Rose Lane improvements along that portion of the Line 4.
Travel time today: 45 minutes
Estimated travel time with Rose Lanes: 43 minutes (4% faster)
Ability to reach more 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 (completed, funded/in progress and proposed) along the Line 4. 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 4 improvements | +90 | +80 | +80 | +90 |
Rose Lane projects along the Line 4
Completed projects
Project name: NW Everett Bus Lane Project
Project location: NW Everett from Broadway to the Steel Bridge
Project type: Bus-and-turn lane* eastbound
Transit lines benefitting: 4, 8, 35, 44, 77
Learn more about this project 🡢
*Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes, also called bus-and-turn lanes or transit/right-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.
Project location N Williams Ave at N Wheeler Ave
Project type: Signal upgrades
Transit lines benefitting: 4, 44
Project location: NW 5th/6th Ave (Burnside – Irving)
Project type: Signal upgrades and Line 17 re-route
Transit lines benefitting: 2, 4, 8, 9, 17, 35, 44
Proposed projects
Project location: N Vancouver Ave (Fremont - Ivy)
Project type: Add delineators between bike lane and travel lane to prevent early merging into bus lane
Transit lines benefitting: 4, 24, 44
Project location: N Richmond Ave & Lombard St
Project type: Bus only protected left turn
Transit lines benefitting: 4, 44
Projects for consideration through deeper community engagement
Project location: N Williams Ave approaching N Russell and N Fremont
Project type: Transit spot improvements
These projects have the potential to address significant bus delay approaching these key intersections. PBOT is planning to hold transit-focused workshops with community members in the Albina area in 2021 to better understand needs, priorities and potential trade-offs in this area before advancing design further.
Potential impacts and considerations for other modes
There are potential trade-offs to consider when implementing transit priority improvements. The impact of proposed 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.
Bike facilities – The proposed project on N Vancouver between N Fremont and N Ivy is expected to improve the safety and comfort of cyclists traveling through this area by providing a buffer between the bus-and-bike lane and general travel lane. Possible designs for further consideration on N Williams approaching N Fremont could also create a more comfortable, safer connection for people biking. As we further consult the community further about projects along the N Williams and Vancouver corridor, we will continue to evaluate potential impacts to bike facilities.
Traffic travel time and diversion – The proposed improvements along the Line 4 are not expected to have significant impacts on drivers or traffic diversion.
Parking removal – The proposed project on N Vancouver between N Fremont and N Ivy may include the restoration of parking spots by repurposing the minimally used forced left-turn lane approaching N Cook.
Next steps
Albina area residents have historically been asked to make trade-offs to benefit the ‘greater good’ of the region, while often not realizing those benefits for themselves. Over the past generation, this neighborhood has experienced rapid demographic change, displacement, and gentrification. PBOT is committed to consulting the community, elevating Black voices and delivering a project that addresses community priorities.
We plan to hold transit-focused workshops with community members in the Albina area in 2021 to better understand these priorities and trade-offs before advancing design further. This will include exploring non-infrastructure related concerns related to fare-enforcement, personal safety and discrimination in the right-of-way, adequate street lighting, and other experiential considerations that Portlanders of Color (and especially Black Portlanders) have elevated during prior public engagement.