New Crosswalk Policy Adds to Safety of Main Streets

By Sam Adams

Neighborhood representatives and I unveiled the new crosswalks to the mediaI am happy to say that crossing NW 21st and NW 23rd Avenues as a pedestrian will be safer as a result of the safety improvements being installed over the course of this month. Safety is my number-one priority as Transportation Commissioner and I believe that the unique pedestrian environment and situation on NW 21st and 23rd warranted action.

Working with the Northwest District Association, the Nob Hill Business Association, former Mayor Bud Clark, and traffic safety advocates, the City of Portland Office of Transportation developed a set of new criteria for marking crosswalks on main streets with high levels of pedestrian and vehicle activity. Main streets are defined as streets that are two-lane, two-way streets that carry both higher than average auto traffic and that see higher-than average pedestrian activity.

Along six qualifying corridors, ladder-bar style crosswalks will be installed at intersections to provide drivers with a visual cue that they are in an area with a significant amount of pedestrian activity and can expect pedestrians crossing the street. Former Mayor Bud Clark was among those who worked with my office and PDOT to identify priority pedestrian crossings

Two corridors that have recently been marked are- NW 21st Avenue between Burnside and Northrup and NW 23rd Avenue between Marshall and Vaughn. The bold, white, pavement markings are designed to provide better recognition by motorists that these are areas of high pedestrian activity. In my eyes, as well as those of the Nob Hill community, the combination of high pedestrian and auto traffic really makes these safety improvements necessary.

Sadly, these improvements were triggered by a pedestrian fatality in January 2006. 66-year-old Sara Cogan was crossing NW 23rd here at Quimby when she was struck by a car and killed. The community concern that grew from this tragedy resulted in a new examination of safety concerns on main streets.

I requested -and the Mayor and my fellow Commissioners approved- one-time, previously unbudgeted revenue from the General Fund to fund these pedestrian safety improvement projects.

Today, the intersection of NW 23rd and Quimby has a marked crosswalk. It is my sincere hope that this improvement prevents any more tragedies like the one that happened to my friend Sara Cogen.

You might not be aware, but pedestrian safety is a major concern in Portland. A third of all traffic fatalities in Portland are pedestrians and bicyclists. And this is not simply because pedestrians are not paying attention... Citywide, 37% of pedestrian injuries are the result of driver error when the pedestrian is in the crosswalk crossing at the appropriate time.

I want to remind all drivers that Oregon law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians at all intersections, regardless of the presence of marked or unmarked crosswalks. In addition, motorists must stop for pedestrians in mid-block crossings that are marked.

Police intend to conduct crosswalk enforcement actions at these new crosswalks over the next year in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities and pedestrian collisions. But I want to remind you that as a pedestrian, you can help, too: