SWHRL has big news here: previously, SWHRL members cleared up the path behind the guardrail on the last stretch before I-405, and PBOT removed a small section of guardrail at the upper end to allow easy access to that trail. This allowed pedestrians to get out of the road, and has seen heavy use, despite its dirt surface and narrow width. We are overjoyed to announce that PBOT has AGREED to remove the entire guardrail in this area, emplace a solid concrete barrier along the fog line (white line at right side of road), and put gravel over this new, wider path. This is a HUGE improvement in safety for users of SW Broadway Drive, and is the culmination of years of advocacy by residents and hard work by PBOT staff. We’d like to thank the following PBOT staff in particular: Michelle Marx, Pedestrian Coordinator; Wendy Cawley, City Traffic Engineer; Carl Snyder, Engineering Supervisor; Dana Whitley, Maintenance Operations – Structures lead; Manchi Lai, PBOT Structural Engineer. And of course the men and women on the crews doing the roadwork! This project will involve some planning, but it is hoped to be finished by the end of the year, if not sooner.
SWHRL and PBOT will continue to work together to improve pedestrian safety uphill of this location – and of course, there’s the Gordian Knot of the SW Hoffman intersection – with the achievable near-future goal of a safer pedestrian path from downtown to the proposed path to SW Tangent at Tangent Village. We still want sidewalks, but until the numerous obstacles to THAT goal are removed, we will celebrate any improvements as they come.