Reflective pavement markings (or raised pavement markings) are small markers added to the street to help people driving see painted lines, especially in dark and wet conditions. This technology has existed for nearly 100 years and is already used in many places in Portland. The Oregon Department of Transportation uses reflective pavement markings along some highways in Portland. PBOT uses them in select locations, like along tight curves with limited lighting.
PBOT is exploring using reflective pavement markings along longer stretches of select streets based on crash history and roadway characteristics. In 2016-2020, there were 1,529 lane departure crashes during low light or wet conditions on Portland's non-freeway streets. As a result, 36 people died and 134 people were seriously injured. The Vision Zero team used this crash data to prioritize locations for reflective pavement markings. Additionally, the team considered land use and roadway factors like long blocks, low-density land use, street curvature, and lighting. ODOT reports that reflective pavement markings can reduce nighttime crashes by about 15%.
Reflective pavement markings typically has a short lifespan, and are often destroyed is a street is plowed during a winter storm event. The Vision Zero team is currently working on a program to deploy reflective pavement markings on a few prioritized streets every year, with the understanding that the markings will only last a short time, and will need to be replaced if the street segment remains a high priority.