Category: Advocacy

While We’re Waiting for the Transportation Package…

Posted on by Street Trust

Mid-session updates from the city, state, and more on transportation policy, budgets, where we’re building solutions, and what we’ll be looking for in Oregon’s forthcoming 2025 Transportation Package.

 

At the Oregon Legislature

Lawmakers are still negotiating the details of Oregon’s 2025 transportation package, expected to be the largest in nearly a decade. A draft framework is currently circulating the Capitol and could be released any day now.

The stakes are extremely high, with competing visions for how to fix ODOT’s funding crisis (while providing adequate oversight), complete projects statewide, and address the epidemic of traffic fatalities. Meanwhile, transit providers and local governments are facing their own severe funding shortfalls (more on the situation in Portland below). Lawmakers must act now to stabilize and reinvest in the transportation access Oregonians rely on every day.

What we’ll be looking for:

  • A complete package that fully funds walking, biking, rolling, and transit. Anything less is out of step with what Oregonians actually need. The economic, health, and social benefits of a safe, multimodal transportation system are indisputable. This is our bottom line.
  • The Street Trust has been pushing for solutions that will help provide sustainable, diversified funding to support safety and multimodal investments. We’re cautiously optimistic that some of those solutions will be included in the final package. Whatever quilt lawmakers patch together to cover ODOT’s needs, it cannot leave our communities, transit agencies, or active transportation users out in the cold.

📌 Pro-tip: Check out MN Larry Kraft’s presentation on delivery fees from last year’s Oregon Active Transportation Summit and our panel on Oregon’s transition from the fuels taxes to a tax on miles driven (VMT) aka road user charge (RUC) from OATS in 2023.

It’s time to truly Move Oregon Forward with fully funded safe routes for walking, rolling, biking, and accessing transit. We’re not waiting for someone else to lead while Oregonians are in dire need of transportation options. Guaranteed access to transportation is fundamental – it means access to food, education, health care, family and community.

Panels and discussions from last year’s OATS (like the one pictured above) helped shape our work and demands for the 2025 Transportation Package.

The Street Trust is the only organization in Oregon with a dedicated lobbying presence in Salem focused on fully funding safe routes for walking, rolling, biking, and accessing transit. Our staff, board, and members are working hard to secure a sustainable, equitable transportation package for all at a time when the federal government is slashing budgets and abandoning its commitments.

That means we need your help now to ensure safe streets and transit are prioritized in Oregon. To keep our advocacy strong and independent, we need help from caring people like you to finish this session. If you believe in this movement, now is the time to show it.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY

If you are unable to donate, you can still support safe streets and a better future for all Oregonians:

  1. It’s an understatement to say there is a lot going on, but when you see action alerts from us, please take a moment to act and speak out. Lawmakers need to hear from you, so all Oregonians, not just people who can drive, are at the center of this package.
  2. Know a business or organization who supports active, multimodal transportation and equity? Ask if they can sponsor this year’s Oregon Active Transportation Summit. Details on how to get involved at www.oregontransportationsummit.org/Sponsorship
  3. Attend Oregon’s premier active transportation summit (April 23-25), so you don’t miss out on the conversation. Get your passes to network with Oregon’s transportation leaders and organizers now: www.oregontransportationsummit.org/tix
  4. Sign up for Move Oregon Forward’s Advocacy Day in Salem on April 17 to meet with state lawmakers and tell them why we need green neighborhoods with safe sidewalks, bike paths, public transit, and the freedom to choose how we get around. Sign up here

 

 

 

Image Source: www.portland.gov/council

At the City of Portland

The world has changed a lot since legislators Shemia Fagan and Jessica Vega Pederson convened Salem’s “East Portland Caucus” to win safety funding for sidewalks in their districts. What did Fagan have to say back in 2013?

“Every time I’ve knocked on doors in Portland,” Fagan said, “people are pissed off —because for the last 30 years they’ve been hearing Powell was five to 15 years away from being a priority.” (to Willamette Week)

Portland’s leaders have kicked billions in deferred maintenance down the road budget cycle after budget cycle and now, in addition, PBOT is facing a significant operating budget shortfall with no sustainable funding solution in sight. Essential PBOT staff and safety programs, as well as beloved community initiatives, are on the chopping block.

We’re encouraged by City Council’s ambitious new ordinance to invest $20 million in sidewalks for East and West Portland, led by Councilors Smith (D1) and Green (D4). Yet, we are concerned that this one-time funding does not solve PBOT’s underlying fiscal crisis or protect the everyday work our communities rely on.

You might recall that our sister organization, TST Action Fund, endorsed 7 of the 12 councilors currently on council (a majority, we’re proud to say). To win the Action Fund endorsement, candidates were required to complete a nonpartisan Candidate Transportation School.

As we head into the budget process, we hope Portland electeds will remember core lessons we covered:

  1. Council must make funding for complete streets a legislative priority and direct the city’s government relations team to fully fund safety and transit this session. The stakes could not be higher for local jurisdictions in terms of their share of the pie or access to safety grants.
  2. Price Portland’s system correctly, especially parking, and innovate new funding mechanisms to keep the bureau functioning day-to-day. Options include delivery fees and a transportation utility fee, like you heard about fromMayor Wilson last month (or from the City of Bend at last year’s OATS).
  3. Depoliticize project selection and prioritization. Portland transformed its government to increase equity, not foster parochialism. Council needs to make it a matter of policy to address the needs of vulnerable system users first. What does that mean? Council must lead with race when picking projects (equity areas) and invest first where people are dying in crashes (high crash network).

    Image and Data Source: PBOT’s 2024 Deadly Traffic Crash Report
  4. Finally, don’t launch new plans and projects until you finish the ones already on the books (where some have languished unfinished for a very long time).

What’s Next? Budget Timeline & Action Steps

  • Now through April – City Council is reviewing PBOT and other bureau’s budgets. The decisions made now will determine whether Portland cuts essential safety and transit programs — or invests in the future.
  • March 27 to April 10 – City Council work sessions and public hearings are happening now. This is the most critical window to speak up.
  • April 24 – Mayor releases the Proposed Budget.
  • May to June – City Council holds public hearings and makes final changes before the budget is adopted in mid-June.

Federal Legislation: HR 1668 Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act

There’s far too much happening in transportation right now for The Street Trust, with our limited capacity, to reliably monitor and mobilize you at both the state and federal levels (if you wish that were different, please hit

DONATE

 to help). Meanwhile, we suggest heeding 

Transportation For America’s

 national calls to action.

That said, one of our board members, Dr. Armando “AJ” Zelada, just returned from the National Bike Summit in DC with a special request: please email Senator Merkley’s office asking him to sign on to co-sponsor HR 1668.

This bill will help small Oregon communities access federal safety funds without needing local match dollars. Sparked by the tragic death of U.S. diplomat Sarah Debbink, killed by a driver at a stop sign in D.C. after being evacuated from Ukraine, it allows Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to be used as match for Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants.

Image and Data Source: League of American Bicyclists HR 1668 FAQ Sheet

This federal-to-federal match removes a major barrier for places like Klamath Falls, Pendleton, and Talent. It’s not a new idea: Oregon used a similar strategy in the 2010s with its 1% “Bike Bill” HTF dollars. Critics may argue local governments need “skin in the game,” but this bill prioritizes lives and safety where it’s needed most.

P.S. We need your support to continue this transformative advocacy work. Please join us as a member of The Street Trust here. You’ll get discounts, free entry to community events, and insider updates on the legislative session. Thank you!

Our 2025 Legislative Agenda

Posted on by Street Trust

 

2025’s Context

The Oregon Legislature convened last week for a 160-day session to tackle some of the state’s most pressing challenges, like how to keep people and goods moving equitably, safely, and efficiently through our state. The rising costs of transportation projects and declining revenue from the fuel tax — combined with Oregon’s constitutional mandate to ensure that passenger vehicles and heavy vehicles pay into the system equally (which hasn’t been happening as of late) — means the funding mechanisms present a difficult set of challenges.

Lawmakers are making transportation a priority, despite competition with other major issues like housing, healthcare, and education. House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-14) even kicked off the session by gifting wooden cars, trains, trucks, and boats to representatives to underline the urgency of transportation issues.

As advocates, The Street Trust’s job this session is prioritizing the core elements of a transportation system that meets the everyday needs of all users, not just people who drive. That’s why we are focused on “reclaiming the basics” to create an equitable, accessible, and efficient transportation system for all Oregonians. So in addition to funding system maintenance like paving potholes, we’re championing:

  • Adequate funding for complete sidewalks and bikeways
  • Transforming Orphan Highways into vibrant Main Streets
  • Ensuring everyone has access to safe public transit that runs on time.

During the last transportation package HB 2017, The Street Trust achieved historic amounts of funding for Safe Routes to School and public transit.

📝 Pro-tip: Bookmark The Street Trust’s Bill Tracker here to follow key transportation-related legislation. We’ll update it as the session progresses and keep you informed on critical opportunities to advocate for or against specific bills that impact transportation and our community.

How We Win in this Political Environment

The session begins with Democrats holding supermajorities in both chambers and the governorship, giving them the power to pass revenue-raising legislation without Republican support. While this provides an opportunity to tackle significant challenges, such as funding ODOT’s $1.8 billion projected revenue shortfall, history shows that bipartisan collaboration leads to more durable, effective outcomes.

The recent history of walkouts means that failing to gain minority support can stall progress. It’s also true that a Democratic majority does not equal a clear path to victory. We still need to win over Democrats in fiscally conservative or purple districts.

Those who benefit from maintaining the status quo may be banking on these divisions to derail the session. The risk of not achieving a transportation package is very real.

Local efforts to expand bike lanes and bus service often encounter resistance from these lawmakers, but the opposition isn’t solely rooted in partisanship. Geography plays a key role, and the politics of transportation often follow the urban-rural divide. Many Oregon legislators represent more rural areas where shopping streets do double duty as freight routes, public transit may be less cost-efficient to operate, and safe access to schools or services without a car can seem impossible.

There’s a saying that transportation isn’t politically red or blue, but grey like asphalt, concrete, and steel. At The Street Trust, we take this one step further: investing in transportation system is green — good for our economy and good for the environment.

From years of research, we know that, regardless of geography or political affiliation, both household and state budgets benefit from investments in public transit, active transportation, and maintenance and operations, like filling potholes and plowing roads.

To reach our goals this session, we must demonstrate that a sustainable transportation system can bridge the urban-rural divide and transcend party lines for the betterment of all Oregonians. By focusing on our values shared across the aisle — safety, affordability, resiliency, and economic opportunity — we can achieve broad, bipartisan support in Salem.

So how do we build the political power to win?

Ride2Own.org ribbon cutting in Milwaukie, Oregon. This innovative public-private partnership demonstrates how investments in electric micromobility in less urban communities can reduce climate pollution and increase economic opportunity.

Our Three Pillars for Success

1. Defending & Growing Investments in Safe Streets for All & Transit that Works

2. Finding the Courage to Innovate
3. Convening and Communicating Toward Common Ground

We are at a critical moment for our transportation future. The stakes could not be higher for us and for future Oregonians. Oregon needs a long-term investment strategy to preserve and modernize our transportation infrastructure now, while prioritizing holistic maintenance that supports all modes of travel.

The relationships, coalitions, and strategies we’ve built can help get transportation legislation that works for everyone funded and across the finish line, despite the many potential obstacles. This will require targeted prioritization, spending flexibility in partnership with local governments, and likely, dedicated revenue mechanisms for broadly popular programs like Safe Routes to School, which are in high demand and consistently underfunded.

Pillar #1: Defending & Growing Investments in Safe Streets for All & Transit that Works

In 2024, traffic crashes claimed 529 lives in Oregon, a devastating public health epidemic that disproportionately impacts BIPOC and low-income families. Now lawmakers need to prioritize safety by investing in complete routes for walking, biking, and transit. These investments are proven to save lives, while reducing costs for households and communities.

We need to fiercely defend broadly popular programs that prevent crashes — without allowing internal or partisan divides to distract us from our common goals. That’s why we are committed to fully funding:

For the past two years, The Street Trust has been setting the table to make these investments happen by chairing the state’s Jurisdictional Transfer Advisory Committee, or JTAC, established through Majority Leader Ben Bowman’s (D-25) leadership in passing HB 2793 in 2023. Through collaboration with statewide partners in JTAC, we helped create fair and objective criteria for improving “Orphan Highways,” some of Oregon’s deadliest arterials, across urban and rural communities

This led to the creation of HB 2161, which prioritizes the transfer of Hall Boulevard to the City of Tigard and a portion of the Hood River Highway to the City of Hood River. Recognizing that many jurisdictions can’t take on Orphan Highway projects without sufficient funding, we are also working with Rep. Rob Nosse (D-42) to secure $30 million for additional safety improvements to Inner Powell Blvd in Portland (currently LC 4111, soon to be assigned a bill number).

While bike lanes can be highly polarizing, our extensive participation in the statewide public listening tour, leadership roundtables, and legislative working groups in 2024 confirmed that:

Urban or rural, red or blue, investments in safety programs and vibrant main streets are universally popular across all legislative districts, and can enjoy broad bipartisan support in Salem.`

This intersection, where several fatal crashes have occurred, illustrates the extent of the safety funding needs, especially on Oregon’s deadliest urban arterials, AKA “Orphan Highways.”

Pillar #2. Finding the Courage to Innovate

So what is the plan to pay for these investments across the state? As Oregon transitions away from outdated and declining revenue sources like the gas tax, The Street Trust is championing innovative, equitable, and environmentally sound funding mechanisms.

Next month, we’ll take a deep dive into the various revenue streams under discussion for the 2025 package and unpack the Highway Cost Allocation Study (HCAS). Public policy doesn’t get more complicated than HCAS! Fortunately, The Street Trust sits on the HCAS team and can break down how it works and why it is so critical to this session.

We want to ensure that all road users contribute equitably, while prioritizing investments in multimodal infrastructure and system maintenance, but it’s going to be a heavy lift. To advance innovative solutions, we will need to stay laser-focused on:

  • Clearly breaking down costs and funding sources like local taxes, fees, federal grants, and tolling (if implemented) to build public trust and long-term understanding.
  • Reliable data and modeling to demonstrate how each project will improve safety, reduce congestion, and boost economic development in specific communities.
  • Educating the public on how highway projects compare to multimodal alternatives like transit improvements to foster a deeper understanding of Oregon’s priorities and decision-making process (and in turn, help build the broad support needed to move transportation systems forward).

As the session unfolds, transportation revenue options are where the rubber is going to hit the road. Democrats are going to need to avoid unilateral action, while Republicans will have to abandon obstructive tactics like walkouts to get this package done. Despite the challenges, The Street Trust will do everything we can to support legislators in crafting policies that benefit the entire state, lead us into a prosperous future, and stand the test of time.

Pillar #3. Convening and Communicating Toward Common Ground

Over the past year, we’ve worked across sectors and organizations to advance our mission and policy priorities in community with other stakeholders.

That’s why we helped revitalize the Oregon Micromobility Network (OMN). Formerly the E-Bikes for All working group, we convened experts, manufacturers, advocates and riders in a single statewide network to craft sensible, enforceable e-bike legislation. After collaborating with lawmakers and state agencies over the summer, we’re currently tracking and revising several key pieces of e-bike and micromobility legislation. Stay tuned for our next edition of On The Move where we’ll provide a detailed update from the group.

📝 Pro-tip: Sign up for the OMN mailing list here to stay up-to-date on the bills they are refining and to get urgent calls-to-action.

To build the political power needed to win a transportation package that works for all Oregonians, we’ve also been holding conversations, conducting research, and working with advocacy groups since the summer of 2023, resulting in the Move Oregon Forward campaign.

Powered by over 40 active transportation, climate, labor, and environmental justice organizations from across the state, we mobilized turnout for public testimony at this past summer’s statewide listening session, identified community leaders for roundtable discussions, and secured a significant number of seats on three statewide legislative working groups shaping the transportation package (Operations & Maintenance, Public & Active Transportation, and HB2017 Commitments/Megaprojects).

Together, we’re advancing a safety first and climate forward agenda for the legislature.If you or your organization would like to endorse the Move Oregon Forward campaign, please complete this interest form.

What’s Next and How to Help Move Oregon Forward

The first draft of the 2025 transportation package is scheduled to drop just before The Street Trust’s 2025 Oregon Active Transportation SUmmit (OATS) creating a pivotal opportunity for advocates, policymakers, and community leaders to convene and work together.

More than a celebration of our shared vision, the year’s OATS will provide a strategic space to hear from stakeholders and coalitions, tackle challenges, build consensus, and turn shared goals into actionable solutions, forging the power needed to secure a transportation package that works for all Oregonians.

You can submit proposals here for workshops, presentations, panel discussions, mobile workshops, and study tours at OATS through February 14th. We hope you’ll join us!

Beyond hosting a working summit, the next few months are going to be a busy! Sign up for email updates here and follow us on Bluesky to stay informed and take action when it matters most. Let’s work together to shape an equitable, accessible, and resilient transportation system that works for all Oregonians.

What’s Next? We’ll cover the details of the Oregon Micromobility Network and proposed E-Bike Legislation.

 

P.S. We need your support to continue this transformative advocacy work. Please join us as a member of The Street Trust here. You’ll get discounts, free entry to community events, and insider updates on the legislative session. Thank you!

The Street Trust’s Newest Collab: Parkrose High School

Posted on by Burgin Utaski

 

November 7, 2024

In February of 2023, The Street Trust connected with The Pathfinder Network to discuss community engagement and collaboration with the students at Parkrose High School. The Street Trust is currently working as the backbone organization behind an initiative to build a multi-modal pathway in East Portland at the cross levee spanning from Sandy Blvd to NE Marine Drive at about 142nd (running north-south), strategically linking Argay and Parkrose Neighborhoods to the bustling Columbia River. 

Guided by The Street Trust, this community-driven project will increase accessibility, connectivity, safety, and resilience within our neighborhoods. We envision an interconnected path between Parkrose and Argay Neighborhoods, providing crucial access to the Columbia River. By improving access to green spaces and reducing the urban heat island effect, the path will assist in creating a harmonious relationship between people, nature, and the built environment.

Essential to this project is extensive community engagement, understanding the needs of those living, working, studying, recreating, and playing in the Parkrose, Argay-Terrace, and surrounding neighborhoods. By fostering collaboration across sectors and stakeholders, we aim to enhance the quality of life for residents, creating a more vibrant and accessible community while championing historically underserved populations. 

Thanks to a grant from APTA, The Street Trust was able to fund this collaboration, including a presentation at The PATHfinder Club about civic engagement through public space, the onboarding of a Youth Steering Committee Member (Parkrose sophomore Bradynn D.), and a compensated walk audit with thirteen club members. 

Bradynn, our Youth Steering Committee Member, has participated in stakeholder meetings for the project, where we government, private sector, and community partners oversee the project. Her contributions to the communications and public safety plan as a well-connected Parkrose resident have been invaluable. 

Most recently, Club members joined The Street Trust staff in a walk audit along the proposed pathway. During the walk, students received a meal and provided feedback about what they would like to see on the path. Students highlighted the need for good lighting, a paved path, vibrant public artwork, and security features. Some students even highlighted interest in community activation projects like a community garden or a monthly food truck event. Of all student attendees, 100% said they would use this path if built! At the end of the walk, each student received a $25 Visa gift card.

Looking forward, The Street Trust would love to continue collaboration with The Pathfinder Network and the amazing students at Parkrose High School, encouraging students to get involved with local community projects and feel empowered doing so. One way to encourage this is continued compensated engagement, where students are paid for their time and expertise. This multi-modal path project is a several-year-long process to plan, fund, and build, and we hope to continue this partnership with The PATHfinder Club throughout.

 

Coordinated Response Needed to Prevent Street Racing Events in Portland

Posted on by staff

 

August 3, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR – As Oregon’s leading safe streets advocacy group, The Street Trust is appalled by the City of Portland’s inability to effectively address the street takeovers and racing events posing a threat to street safety for its residents. Despite the additional measures provided by state lawmakers in 2023 via SB 615, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) claims they cannot track basic data or muster adequate resources to counter these dangerous gatherings and life-threatening behavior. This contrasts sharply with PPB’s swift and resource-intensive responses to the 2020 protests, where they frequently deployed significant personnel and equipment to disperse gatherings in Portland’s streets.

These illegal street racing events predominantly occur within Portland’s High Crash Network, areas already suffering from poor infrastructure and high crash rates. These streets and intersections are located in neighborhoods which are, according to PBOT’s Equity Matrix, often lower-income and home to higher percentages of BIPOC and immigrant residents. These areas require immediate traffic calming measures, such as raised hardened centerlines, which are effective at stopping street takeovers without compromising the safety of other street users such as bicyclists and motorcyclists. Portland’s deadliest streets, like Marine Drive, should be a priority for these interventions. The lack of immediate investment in these areas poses a daily threat to Portland’s most vulnerable communities.

Moreover, the city’s response continues to be dominated by a failing law enforcement-centric approach when a coordinated, community-oriented approach is essential for sustainable solutions. Engaging with other bureaus and government agencies, traffic safety advocacy groups, neighborhood associations, and community-based organizations is crucial. The Street Trust is calling on City of Portland leadership to mount a unified community response to address these takeovers, emphasizing diverse community engagement, awareness campaigns, and proactive data-driven and equity-focused public safety interventions.

To truly safeguard our communities and address the epidemic of traffic fatalities on our streets, Portland must invest with urgency in traffic calming measures and work to foster collaboration with the community in an ongoing manner. Additionally, addressing the thrill-seeking and competitive attitudes driving these street racers requires a long-term public health approach. Educational campaigns and youth intervention models are vital to changing risky driving behaviors and ensuring lasting safety improvements.

We urge Portland city officials and the PPB to reevaluate their strategies and prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents by adopting these comprehensive, collaborative, community-centered solutions as recommended by The Street Trust. 

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Nicole’s Story: Championing Safe Routes to School in Clackamas County

Posted on by Kayla Kennett

In Clackamas County, where diverse geography and demographics present unique transportation challenges, our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is at the forefront, offering customized solutions with a strong focus on equity.

Our SRTS work in Clackamas County includes infrastructure safety assessment and evaluation, community engagement through events, education programming, a K-8 art poster contest, and creating action plans alongside communities. These initiatives empower students, families, and communities to recommend vital projects and activities, ensuring the safety and equity of all students, regardless of their background or location.

The driving force behind this program is Nicole Perry, our dedicated Clackamas County Safe Routes to School Coordinator.

A Personal Journey for a Safer Community

Nicole’s personal journey within the Clackamas County Safe Routes to School program began when her eldest child started kindergarten. They intentionally moved to be within walking distance of their local school. However, she soon realized that while she had a relatively complete pathway system for her kids, some neighbors on the other side of the school did not. This prompted Nicole to work alongside Safe Routes to School advocates, securing grants, creating action plans, and organizing encouragement events at Linwood Elementary/Sojourner School in Milwaukie.

Advocacy That Creates Lasting Impact

Nicole continued her involvement in Clackamas Safe Routes to School as a Confluence AmeriCorps member, serving Clackamas County. Her advocacy efforts focused on House Bill 2017, which played a crucial role in securing cyclical grant funding crucial to sustain the program and support the Linwood Ave Improvement project. This project stands as Nicole’s proudest accomplishment, as it had a profound impact on her community.

“The Linwood connection is the proudest one for me as it is literally my community. I live in the neighborhood. The improvements were completed well after my children went to school there, but my neighbors are using them with their kids and the entire community benefits, including my dog!”“I believe that everyone deserves safe, reliable access to the places they want to go, and that we need more options to make this a reality. When someone can’t access work, community or recreation, just because they can’t drive or don’t have a car, it has countless ripple effects on their health and well-being.”

Impact on Safety, Participation, and Community Engagement

Over the years, Nicole has seen her efforts lead to increased community involvement and higher participation of kids in active transportation, all while raising safety awareness. Her motivation to continue stems from the program’s increasing longevity and the growing interest from school districts and cities in collaborating on solutions to transportation challenges. Nicole is passionate about teaching kids how to safely navigate their communities and is optimistic about the revitalization of programs that encourage active transportation choices.

“There are so many ways kids can get to school and around their community, and there needs to be resources to teach them how to do so safely. Clackamas County is considering multiple modes of transportation. By prioritizing pedestrians, bicyclists, and other wheel-operated contraptions, the awareness of all users grows. I envision my role as a conduit of information and opportunities for people to grow their knowledge and put forth action toward more active transportation choices.”

A Promising Future

Looking ahead, Nicole envisions a promising future for the Clackamas Safe Routes to School program. Today, she supports the program full time as a staff member of The Street Trust. She is hopeful for the resurgence of programs like Safety Town and crossing guard initiatives, and anticipates additional pedestrian and bicycle education opportunities. The program’s focus on multiple modes of transportation in Clackamas County is set to raise awareness among all users, encouraging active transportation choices.

Get Involved

To learn more about the Clackamas Safe Routes to School program visit: https://www.clackamas.us/engineering/srts.html

To learn more about how you can support Safe Routes to School, contact [email protected].

World Day of Remembrance 2023

Posted on by staff
World Day of Remembrance Graphic

 

Families for Safe Streets of Oregon and SW Washington, in partnership with The Street Trust, invites you to join us for the observance of World Day of Remembrance 2023 on November 19. This international event honors the memory of those who have lost their lives in road traffic crashes and advocates for safer streets.

Event Details:
11:00 am Gathering begins outside The Street Trust offices at 1259 Lloyd Center

11:30 Processional Walk led by Oregon Walks departs Lloyd Center for Memorial Coliseum

12:00 Program with Invited Speakers starts at Veterans Memorial Coliseum

  • Charlene McGee, Director Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Multnomah County Health Department
  • Wendy Serrano, Equity and Inclusion Manager, City of Portland Bureau of Transportation

The Morrison Bridge will be lit up yellow all day in observance and participants will wear yellow, as well. There will be an installation under the portico of Memorial Coliseum of black “body bags” representing the lives lost in traffic on Portland streets to date in 2023. (Actually sleeping bags, they will be donated to people in need following the event.)

Objectives of the Event:

  • Remember all individuals killed and injured in traffic crashes this year
  • Advocate for improved support for road traffic victims and their families
  • Raise awareness about the legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries
  • Promote evidence-based actions to prevent future road traffic incidents

The Challenge in Oregon:
Between 2010 and 2022, annual traffic fatalities in Oregon increased from 351 to 606. The rate per 100,000 residents surged from nine to 14. This alarming rise highlights a public health epidemic, emphasizing the urgent need for safer and complete public streets.

Policy Makers Pledge:
Transportation leaders and decision-makers will be challenged to commit to meaningful action to reverse this epidemic, ensuring safer streets for all. We are asking leaders to sign this pledge acknowledging the harms and inequities of this crisis and committing to actions that can save lives. Signers are encouraged to attend the event and the full list of signers and their comments will be shared with attendees.

Transportation Options:
Veterans Memorial Coliseum is easily accessible by MAX (red, green, blue lines to Rose Quarter Transit Center or yellow line to Interstate/Rose Quarter) and *TriMet* bus lines (*4, 8, 35, 44, 77 to Rose Quarter Transit Center*).

Join Us:
We encourage all concerned residents, road safety stakeholders, elected leaders, and members of the media to participate in this crucial event. Help us remember those we’ve lost, advocate for safer streets, and support initiatives that can save lives. 

Please visit the event page to RSVP.

Getting Back To The Streets: TST’s ’21-22 Impact Report

Posted on by staff

 

Back in September, The Street Trust published our first annual impact report. This report details our most transformational successes that we were able to achieve in FY 21-22. These successes would not have been possible without the dedicated support from our board, our members, and our partnerships. To everyone who has been part of our hard work over the past year:

Thank you!

 

When Protesting For Bike Safety Is Scary (And Worth It)

Posted on by staff

 

In my thirteen years living in Oregon, the protest on Powell Blvd last week was the first I’ve ever attended. 

 

Assembling peacefully in the street demanding government accountability on traffic safety was my first exercise of my First Amendment right to assemble as a U.S. Citizen. I’m originally from Nepal and was proud to be naturalized this past year. At this protest, I witnessed firsthand the power of the community coming together to demand something like safer streets from our officials. 

 

Not only was it my first time at a protest, it was my first time being a ‘Human Bike Box,’ meaning participants stood together with our bodies in front of traffic in the intersection representing where safety infrastructure used to be. Each time the light would turn red, I’d step into traffic to form the Human Bike Box; each time, so many feelings welled up within me. I felt a sense of power, to be able to stand arm in arm with other community members, I felt a sense of strength in the statement we all were making. I felt brave and a little bit scared to be standing in front of an oncoming car, especially since I’d brought with me my mother, who is visiting the U.S. from Nepal. Most of all, I felt connected to diverse people from parts of society who use the street in different ways – people who walk, people who ride bikes, people who ride transit and people who drive. There were young people and elders, families, and people with disabilities.

 

Standing in traffic changes your perspective. Even though as Strategic Partnerships Manager for The Street Trust it’s my job to connect with a wide range of people around our mission, it was a new experience to talk with people sitting in stopped cars right in the middle of street – answering questions, sharing information, and for the majority of people, sharing sadness around Chef Pliner’s death and wanting safer intersection for everyone whether they’re walking, rolling, or motoring through it. Many people in cars wanted to know how they could help and how the demands we were making would be put into effect and when. It really put our current strategy in context, and drove home why it’s important to include people who drive cars in the movement for safer streets and a better transportation system. 

 

I live in Washington County but decided to take my mother to the protest because we wanted to gather in solidarity to honor Sarah Pliner, who was killed the previous week in the intersection where we were protesting. My mother shared with me how when they protest in Nepal, the tactics and demands differed a lot from what we were doing at our protest. But at the end of the day, the goal was the same – accountability from the government and justice for the people. 

 

Participating in the protest in the streets was an empowering, and satisfying experience for me, but it was also scary. Scary because there were motorists who didn’t like us being there in the streets. Scary big trucks passing so close to our feet while we stood on the sidelines. And scary because of the aggressive drivers intentionally racing through at high speeds and loudly revving vehicles to make some sort of misguided point. 

 

At the end of the day, the protest on Powell was amazing to see because not only did nearly 200 people come together in silence, with signs and solidarity, to convey the message that enough is enough: we demand safer streets for people now. 

The Street Trust Demands Emergency Action Following Traffic Violence at SE 26th Ave and Powell Blvd in Portland

Posted on by staff

 

The Street Trust is tired of issuing statements and offering condolences for the loss of life and limb due to government inaction on SE Powell Blvd. in Portland and are demanding immediate action -today- from local and state government to prevent future injuries and deaths. 

On May 10th, 2015 at this intersection, Alistair Corkett was struck by the driver of a pick-up truck, resulting in the loss of one of his legs. Just a few weeks later, on May 29th, Peter Anderson was bicycling through the intersection and had his leg broken by the driver of a Jeep Cherokee. On Tuesday, October 4, Aviary restaurant founder Chef Sarah Pliner was killed there while bicycling by the operator of a semi-truck. Our condolences go out to Sarah’s family and community as well as the over 400 families affected by traffic violence this year across Oregon. (Read the BikePortland report.)

These injuries and Sarah’s death were preventable and the lives of the Cleveland High School population and other street users in the area remain at risk. The Street Trust is demanding that the City of Portland and State of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) cooperate to immediately physically separate from motor vehicle traffic all vulnerable street users including people on bicycles, pedestrians, and transit riders until a full investigation of yesterday’s killing is completed.

The Street Trust proposes immediate emergency installation of a protected intersection for people walking and biking, as illustrated. This could be constructed immediately with concrete jersey barriers, event fencing, or other materials the DOTs have on hand, similar to those implemented for pedestrian safety during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.  The Street Trust is also asking that Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) install metal signs that read, “High Crash Intersection” in that location. 

NACTO Illustration of protected initersection
Source: NACTO, “Don’t Give Up at the Intersection”

Powell is owned and maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation and The Street Trust has long protested against their mismanagement of this street, a so-called “Orphan Highway,” which is a state highway forced to function as a city street, (Read former ED Rob Sadowsky’s statement on violence in this intersection from 2015.) Powell Blvd. is notoriously dangerous. The intersection of SE 26th and Powell Blvd. is considered a high crash intersection for people traveling by bicycle, in particular. Between 2010-2019, there were two pedestrians and seven people riding bicycles injured there. 

“We’ve accepted death and serious injury as a product of our transportation system and desensitized ourselves to the severity of its violence. We’ve convinced ourselves that death and injury are the expected outcome for people who navigate our transportation system outside of a motor vehicle… that is absurd!” says André Lightsey-Walker, Policy Transformation Manager at The Street Trust. “We have the data and tools necessary to solve these problems but we need the political will to redirect energy and resources toward our most vulnerable and historically disadvantaged street users or we’ll continue to see tragedies like yesterday’s occur.” 

High Crash Intersection Sign
Source: The Oregonian

One year ago, on November 16, 2021, The Street Trust Executive Director, Sarah Iannarone, emailed ODOT Region 1 Manager, Rian Windsheimer, with her concerns about safety on this stretch of Powell Blvd., excerpted below:

“As the parent of a Cleveland High School grad who worried – quite rationally –  whether my child would make it back and forth across Powell alive each school day, I can’t help but wonder what criteria (such as the presence of schools or community centers) and/or how many deaths in a concentrated area it takes before we’re willing to fully commit to Vision Zero? I am excited to hear that ODOT is planning an emergency speed reduction between SE 20th – SE 36th but hope you’ll consider an Emergency Speed Reduction to 20 MPH in that stretch rather than 30 MPH until the fatalities stop. 

Please let us know how The Street Trust can support you in this effort, the jurisdictional transfer, or other safety improvements on this and other orphan highways across our metro region.”

Iannarone was joining a chorus of voices from the public and active transportation advocacy community in demanding critical investments in Powell Blvd., including the jurisdictional transfer of Inner Powell Blvd. to Portland Bureau of Transportation in a state of readiness and with an adequate -and mutually agreed upon- level of resources to upgrade the street to ensure safety for all users regardless of mode. 

Given how long the transfer of 82nd Avenue from ODOT to PBOT took, we understand that this heavy lift could take years to research, negotiate, and fully fund. In the meantime, we are demanding that ODOT adhere to its own Blueprint for Urban Design (BUD) guidelines how streets like Powell Blvd. should be updated to meet the needs of multimodal transportation. To date, ODOT Region 1 Manager Rian Windsheimer and his enginners are using their discretion and choosing to NOT implement the BUD in Region 1. The public does not need to wait for a jurisditional transfer to see upgrades on Inner Powell: if ODOT is truly prioritizing safety (as they claim) and focused on reducing the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on their facilities, it will implement their existing policy standards on Inner Powell in advance of the jurisdictional transfer.

 

Source: Kittelson & Associates

 

TST Leads on Combining Bike and Bus Trips

Posted on by Madi Carlson
A teenager poses next to his bike on a bus rack

 

Combining bike and bus trips opens up a world of possibilities, making it possible to access places far away, exhaustingly hilly, and otherwise hard to reach.

This is why The Street Trust loves helping people learn and practice this important skill.

On Monday we took a group to visit the PSU Transportation Center demonstration rack. In addition to the usual discussion of rack specs, gear, and security, we took a deep dive into bike lifting–which is a great first step anyone with a bike can practice at home beforehand. There are a variety of spots to place each hand on your bike to comfortably lift it a couple feet straight off the ground and then move forward onto the rack. The weight of your bike and how that weight is distributed will influence what works best for you. You’ll probably put one hand somewhere below your saddle and one on or near your handlebars.

A woman holds a silver ebike aloft in front of her torso by the chainstay and downtube

Holding the chainstay and downtube

A teenager lifts a silver bike up onto a bus rack by holding its seatpost and headset

Holding the seatpost and headset

New to us this session was someone hefting their bike by the chainstay! (The chainstay is the short tube parallel to the ground between pedals and rear wheel.) The chainstay on the far side of the bike, no less! Grasping that and the top of the downtube (the lower main tube between handlebars and pedals) was this person’s preferred method of lifting a very light bike.

Requirements

Not every bike fits on the rack. The below requirements from TriMet are spot on, as we’ve learned from explorations in pushing the boundaries during practice sessions:

  • Wheel sizes 20-29 inches
  • Wheelbase up to 44 inches (this is the distance from the *center* of your front wheel to rear wheel, not end-to-end of your wheel edges)
  • Tires up to 2.35 inches wide
  • 55 pounds and lighter

Tutorials

There are some terrific resources you can watch before setting hand to top tube…or stem, down tube, chain stay, headset, etc…

Want to try?

The PSU Transportation Center is located at 1812 SW 6th Ave, next door to the PSU Bike Hub. The demonstration rack is indoors and masks are encouraged. Summer hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and once classes begin on September 26th hours will change to Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It’s convenient to arrive by MAX: catch the green or yellow line to PSU Urban Center/SW 6th & Montgomery.

What about FX?

FX2-Division is TriMet’s new high-capacity bus service along Division Street in Southeast Portland, starting September 18th. FX bendy buses have interior floor racks and TriMet has produced a video tutorial: How to load your bike on an FX bus.

Practice with us!

We’ll visit the PSU demo rack again soon, and we’re in the process of coordinating visits to Portland’s other demo rack at Community Cycling Center. These sessions and all our other events can be found on our event calendar. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll let you know via email.

 

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