The walkway is simpler and faster to build than a sidewalk, letting the city quickly and cost-effectively improve pedestrian safety on important walking corridors.
The city of Portland is experimenting with a new type of pedestrian walkway that could "improve walking conditions without the expense or complication of building a full-fledged sidewalk." Jonathan Maus of Bike Portland reports on the "alternative pedestrian walkway," a one-mile pilot project on Portland's Northeast 60th Avenue.
"Identified as a major walking corridor in the city’s pedestrian master plan (Ped PDX, 2019), 60th was like many streets in Cully and other less-developed parts of Portland: it had two general lanes and no space for shoulders, bike lanes or sidewalks. To get the space for a six-foot wide walkway on one side of the street, PBOT shifted the centerline over about four feet. They then leveled and paved the existing gravel shoulder." The walkway is marked with pedestrian markings and crossings feature "zebra-striping, truncated domes (those tiny yellow bumps), and a few plastic delineator wands."
Although not designed as a bikeway, use by bicycles is allowed. "Until PBOT establishes good bikeways nearby, this could become a useful bikeway." The project provides a template for quick, low-cost pedestrian improvements.
FULL STORY: First Look: Portland’s novel ‘alternative pedestrian walkway’
Portland Transportation Bureau Faces ‘Existential’ Cuts
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
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Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
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Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
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LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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