NE Sandy Boulevard and NE 74th Avenue Safe Routes to School Crossing Improvement Project

What's Happening Now? 

The construction is complete and the rapid flashing yellow light has been activated.

View full size image of student crossing at sandy and 74th

Project Background

View full size image of image of final design

Portland Bureau of Transportation's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program conducted outreach in 2017 with Portland Public Schools and their communities to determine future projects according to highest safety need. NE 74th Avenue was identified as part of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) priority network for students walking and rolling to and from Roseway Heights Middle School. NE 74th Avenue and NE Sandy Boulevard was identified as a difficult crossing. You can learn more about the SRTS outreach process and see the SRTS Infrastructure Plan map here.

Project Goals

• Provide a safe crossing for students and families crossing NE Sandy Boulevard
• Update existing concrete curb ramps to comply with current city standards

Project Design

• Curb Ramps: Update all four corners with new curb ramps (7 ramps)
• Crosswalks: Stripe two crosswalks to cross NE Sandy Boulevard on both sides of NE 74th Avenue
• Islands: Update median islands

• Rapid Flashing Beacon: Install a flashing overhead light to make drivers more aware of people waiting to cross the street. Push buttons to be installed on all four corners.

   

  • What is a rapid flashing beacon? 

    Rapid Flashing Beacons are installed at crossings to make drivers more aware of pedestrians. When people push the button, yellow lights begin flashing. When not in use, the lights remain dark.

    A Rapid Flashing Beacon catches drivers’ attention with a pair of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a pole under a pedestrian crossing sign. When the beacon is activated by a push-button system, its yellow LEDs begin flashing. Motorists are required to stop for pedestrians according to Oregon law even if the beacons are not lit. People walking should make sure that people driving stop before they begin to cross the street and be aware that motorists may not obey the law or see them.

    Push buttons are located on both sides of the crossing and in the median island. Brightly colored pedestrian signs and white markings on the street alert drivers and direct them to stop approximately 35 feet from the crossing.

    Pedestrian improvements such as the RFBs are important because they increase motorists’ awareness of pedestrians at intersections, particularly at multi-lane crossings such as those on SE 82^nd and SE Foster. In Portland 37 percent of pedestrian injuries occurred in crosswalks due to driver error between 1990 and 2000. And although pedestrians accounted for only 3 percent of total traffic-related injuries during that time, they accounted for 29 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Project Schedule

• 30% Design: July 2024- October 2024
• 95% Design: November 2024- June 2025
• Final Design: July 2025- December 2025
• Construction: April- June 2026

Public Involvement

2025

• July: Project notification postcards mailed to the neighborhood and neighborhood association.

2024

• October: Project notification letters were mailed to the nearby businesses.

Project Funding

This project is funded by the Portland Public Schools Bond. 

View full size image of Photo of crews installing new sidewalk