Vision Zero is Portland's goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets
In this newsletter...
- Recent E Burnside Street project supports increased safety and reduced transit delay
- Recent and upcoming changes to speed limits
- High Crash Network projects
- It's about to get a lot darker. Get ready!
- World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is Sunday, Nov. 17
- Bike events and opportunities
- Deadly crash data is updated monthly on the Vision Zero Dashboard
- Remember to say crash, not accident!
- Free Vision Zero pins, stickers, brochures, fliers, and yard signs
- Personal safety resources
- What we're reading
Recent E Burnside Street project supports increased safety and reduced transit delay
What is the East Burnside Bus and Bike Lane Improvements Project?
The East Burnside Bus and Bike Lane Improvements Project—identified in the Central City in Motion Plan adopted by city council in 2018—was constructed in 2023 to improve transit speed and reliability. Project elements include:
- A new bus-and-turn lane between MLK Jr. Boulevard and 12th Avenue
- Traffic signal upgrades at E Burnside Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard
Evaluation
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) staff collected data before and after project construction to evaluate changes to speed, transit travel time, vehicle travel time, and diversion onto neighborhood streets.
Results align with project goals
The evaluation shows the project achieved desirable outcomes in line with the project goals with minimal undesirable side effects. (Traffic patterns associated with Covid-19 impacts contributed to some of the project findings.)
Safety
- Top-end speeding (10+ mph over the speed limit) substantially reduced
- Upgraded traffic signal separates buses, people biking, and people driving
Transit
- Reduced transit delay
- One bus line increased frequency during project construction
Traffic
- Travel times decreased
- Traffic volumes decreased
Once post-project crash data is available, PBOT staff will update the report to show the project's impacts on serious injury and deadly crashes.
Read the East Burnside Bus and Bike Lane Improvements Project Evaluation Report
Recent and upcoming changes to speed limits
Speed is a top contributing factor to traffic deaths
Speed is a top contributing factor to traffic deaths—at least 42% of deadly crashes in recent years involve speed. And as people travel faster, the risk of death or serious injury rises dramatically. For example, a pedestrian struck by a person driving at 40 mph is eight times more likely to die than a pedestrian struck at 20 mph.
Setting safe speed limits
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), as committed to in the Vision Zero Action Plan Update 2023-25, is updating speed limits citywide to set safe travel speed.
Recent changes
Locations where PBOT recently reduced speed limits:
40 to 35 mph
- NE 6th Drive from Marine Drive to Vancouver Way
30 to 20 mph
- NE Willow Street from 60th Avenue to approximately 63rd Avenue
25 to 20 mph
- W Burnside Street from 2nd Avenue to 24th Place
Upcoming changes
Locations where PBOT recently received approval from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to reduce speed limits (and will post new speed limit signs in the coming months):
30 to 25 mph
- SE 92nd Avenue from 91st Place to Reedway Street
- SW Huber Street from Capitol Highway to 35th Avenue
- SW Stephenson Street from 35th Avenue to Boones Ferry Road
25 to 20 mph
- NE 42nd Avenue from Prescott to Killingsworth streets
- Naito Parkway from NW Everett Street to approximately SW Harrison Street
Establishing 25 mph speed limit
Locations where PBOT recently received approval from ODOT to post speed limits:
- N Force Avenue from Marine Drive to Victory Boulevard
- SW 18th Place from SW Taylors Ferry Road to Maplecrest Drive
- N Macrum Avenue from Columbia Boulevard to Fessenden Street
Some street segments do not have a posted speed limit because there is either no established speed zone or the segments are under a statutory speed zone. In that case, drivers are required to obey the Basic Rule Law. (This law states that people driving vehicles must travel at a speed that is reasonable and cautious for existing conditions—on all streets at all times.)
Mapping speed limits in Portland
PBOT's speed limit map shows the locations and extents of speed limits on Portland's streets—excluding freeways. (It may be several months before the map displays the updated speed limits due to limited staff capacity.)
Learn more about speeding and speed limits in Portland
High Crash Network projects
The Portland Bureau of Transportation prioritizes safety investments in Portland's highest-crash streets and intersections. These 30 streets and intersections with the most serious crashes represent 8% of Portland streets yet account for 62% of traffic deaths in recent years. The High Crash Network also disproportionately intersects with communities with higher proportions of people of color and lower median incomes.
Recently completed projects
70s Neighborhood Greenway: SE Flavel to NE Sacramento (NE Halsey Street Connection)
New protected bike lanes make the brief transition on this busier street safer and more comfortable
- Location: NE Halsey Street and 77th Avenue
- Completed: May 2024
Additional recently completed projects:
- SW Broadway Bike Improvements Project (hotel loading zones)
- 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes: Signing and Striping
Project under construction
SW Fourth Avenue Improvement Project
Repave roadway, new and upgraded signals, new ramps, and lighting
- Location: SW 4th Avenue from Lincoln to W Burnside streets
- Construction: started in May 2024, expected to last 18 months
Additional projects under construction:
- 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes (Klickitat to Lambert Crossings and Beech and Ash Crossings)
- SW Broadway Bike Improvements Project (signal improvements)
- Central Eastside Access and Circulation Project
Learn more about Portland's highest-crash streets and intersections
It's about to get a lot darker. Get ready!
In just a couple weeks, many Portlanders will be heading home after sunset during the evening commute. As we prepare for these changes ahead, it is important that people driving slow down, use caution, and look out for people walking, biking, and rolling on the street.
We all have a responsibility to help make our streets safe
- Slow down and travel at or below the speed limit
- Take care when making turns and approaching crosswalks
- Turn on headlights—day and night
- Maintain a safe distance between vehicles
- Keep windshields clean
- Stay alert and avoid distractions, like using your phone
- Dress as visibly as possible when traveling outside of a motor vehicle
Did you know that pedestrians wearing reflective clothing are visible to people driving up to 500 feet away? Compare that to just 55 feet away when pedestrians wear dark colors and no reflective gear or lights.
Drivers kill more pedestrians in darker conditions
Portland's Vision Zero team reported that 77% of all traffic deaths last year occurred in darker conditions (which includes dusk, nighttime, and dawn). Of pedestrian deaths last year, 83% occurred in darker conditions. These trends are consistent with traffic safety research.
When possible, avoid travel at night—especially if you're older
As we age, we have greater difficulty seeing at night. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year-old. Research indicates that people over age 60 may have a hard time driving safely at night, and may want to consider limiting themselves to daytime driving.
Street lighting investments save lives
Our lighting guidelines call for consistent illumination across and along major streets. Infill lighting combined with tweaks to existing lights support safety while conserving energy. As we work to improve lighting on Portland streets, please take extra care when traveling in dark conditions.
Learn more about how to stay safe during changing weather conditions
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is Sunday, Nov. 17
Each year, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims honors those who have been killed and injured on roads around the globe—1.35 million people each year worldwide. This year, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is Sunday, November 17. Check back in on this webpage to stay up-to-date as the event organizers finalize day-of details.
Learn more about World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Bike events and opportunities
Reducing driving is core to our Vision Zero work
Eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in Portland is possible. Two metrics are closely correlated with traffic deaths:
- Vehicle miles traveled (total distance all people driving vehicles travel over a time period)
- Car ownership
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) can lead the way by significantly changing the design of our most deadly streets to lower speed limits and slow drivers—as well as make it easier for people to get around without a car.
Below are several free, open to the public events PBOT created to help make biking more desirable and easier to incorporate into your daily routines!
Rainy Rider Photo Contest
Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Thursday, Oct. 31
Participate in PBOT's Rainy Rider Photo Contest throughout the month of October for the chance to win some waterproof bicycling gear! Riding in the rain is not only possible, but also fun! Text BIKE to 888-520-0526 followed by a photo of yourself and your bicycle in the rain for the chance to win rain capes from Cleverhood or bike bags from Ortlieb and North St. Bags! If your photo features a BIKETOWN bike, you'll be entered in an additional drawing to win a free annual BIKETOWN membership!
Learn more about the Rainy Rider Photo Contest
All-Season Cycling Workshop
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 5 - 6 p.m.
Go Lloyd, 700 NE Multnomah Street
Is rain, cold, and darkness keeping you off your bike right now? Sure, it gets pretty wet in the Pacific Northwest, but with a little extra preparation you can get around by bike in all seasons. Join us for an interactive All-Season Cycling Workshop to learn tips and techniques for staying dry, comfortable and safe while riding all year 'round. We’ll also talk about how to keep your bike happy when the weather is gloomy. Presented in collaboration with Go Lloyd, and made possible with support from Metro and the U.S Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.
Learn more about the All-Season Cycling workshop
See and Be Seen Ride
Thursday, Oct. 24, 5 - 7 p.m.
Salmon Street Springs, SW Naito Parkway at Salmon Street
The days are getting shorter and the skies are getting cloudier—it's time to See and Be Seen! Dress up in your most visible attire, light up your bike, and join us for a fun 7-mile evening ride (check out this page for some visibility tips) through Portland's eastside. We'll also hear from the Vision Zero team on the importance of being visible on our streets. Meet at 5 p.m. Ride starts at 5:30 p.m. We'll return to a spot near the start point where folks can purchase food and socialize if so inclined. We ride at an easy pace, and no one gets left behind. Beginners and families welcome, the ride is free and open to everyone!
Learn more about the See and Be Seen Ride
Celebrate the Rain Bike Ride
Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
PCC CLIMB Center Stormwater Plaza, SE Clay Avenue at Water Street
Keep riding through the seasons on this tour of community spaces that celebrate the rain. We'll see some hidden gems where people are turning precipitation from a problem to a gift and let our smiles be our umbrellas (but bring rain gear if needed). This ride is a loop (will return to start) and is about 11 miles long. We'll travel at an easy-pace and no one left behind - and we'll ride rain or shine. Free and open to everyone! Meet at 10 a.m. Ride starts at 10:15 a.m.
Learn more about the Celebrate the Rain Bike Ride
Deadly crash data is updated monthly on the Vision Zero Dashboard
The Portland Bureau of Transportation's Vision Zero Dashboard provides an overview of traffic safety improvements from the past five to 10 years—as well as data relating to our performance measures.
The Vision Zero team updates the dashboard regularly:
- Deadly crash data is updated monthly
- Other data is updated quarterly or annually based on availability from our Vision Zero program partners, including the Portland Police Bureau
Learn more about the Vision Zero Dashboard
Remember to say crash, not accident!
We’re inviting our community to change the way we talk about crashes. We want to shift the broad cultural perception that crashes are inevitable and remind each other that they are predictable and preventable. A Vision Zero approach refuses to accept traffic violence as a byproduct of “just the way things are.” So, will you join us?
Learn more about why we say crash, not accident
Free Vision Zero pins, stickers, brochures, fliers, and yard signs
Help educate family, friends, neighbors, your school, or your organization about Vision Zero, Portland's commitment to eliminate serious and fatal traffic injuries.
- Order and receive in the mail pins, stickers, brochures, and fliers. These materials are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Vietnamese, Somali, and Lao.
- Pick-up a yard sign from the Portland Building front desk during regular business hours.
If you're interested in making a bulk request, please email us.
Learn more about how to get free Vision Zero materials
Personal safety resources
We want to help create a transportation system that allows all people to feel safe getting where they need to go. Check out our webpage full of resources that address personal safety on our streets, including information about how to:
- report a non-urgent traffic safety concern,
- sign-up for a personal safety workshop,
- report a bias incident or hate crime,
- stand up against street harassment, and more.
And remember, you can always start with PDX 311 for help with any local government questions or service needs. Staff are fluent in English, Spanish, Romanian, and Tagalog and have resources to assist community members in additional languages.
Learn more about personal safety resources
What we're reading
- The journey to zero traffic deaths: Metro staff share updated tool for prioritizing safety investments in the most vulnerable communities (Oregon Metro)
- We embedded with the street takeovers in Portland (CHAOSTOWN)
- The case against driving city kids to school (The San Francisco Standard)
- How school drop-off became a nightmare (The Atlantic)
- Bicycle rolling-stop laws don’t lead to unsafe behavior by riders or motorists, research shows (Oregon State University)
- Drive ethically: On the morality of speeding (McGrath Institute for Church Life Journal)
- The key to safer roads? Narrow the lanes. (Route Fifty)
- Not quite a street, not quite a road—why "stroads" are disasters of urban planning, and how to fix them (The Conversation)
- Badly designed streets are an overlooked car crash cause, traffic engineer warns (Scientific American)
- Study: Crosswalk lighting radically improves pedestrian safety (Planetizen)
- National Transportation Safety Board chief warns that people underestimate marijuana's impact on drivers (WUSF)
- As cars and trucks get bigger and taller, lawmakers look to protect pedestrians (NPR)
- Dark highways, fast cars, few sidewalks—and more pedestrian deaths (Stateline)
- Pedestrian deaths have fallen for the first time since the pandemic (NPR)