City of Portland

SW 6th Avenue & Jackson Street Intersection Solution Study

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Presented By:• Josh Crain• Robert Acevedo

• Xiaowei Wu• Chengxin Dai

Presentation Outline

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•Introduction•Existing Conditions•Intersection Concerns•Recommendations•Cost/Benefits analysis

Introduction• Intersection of :SW 6th Ave & SW Jackson St• Located in:City of PortlandMultnomah County, Oregon1 mile SW of Pioneer Court-House Square• Street ownershipSW 6th Ave & SW Jackson St – City of PortlandI-405 exit ramp - ODOT

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Existing Conditions - Land Use• Max Station : Opens in September 2009Locates at East of the intersection• PSU Broadway Building:Commercial on the first floor Starbuck locates at the NWcorner of the intersection• Residential Four-plexStreet parking on SW 6th Ave infront of the building

Max StationResidentialFour-plex

PSUBroadway Building PSU

Sixth Ave Building

SW Jackson St

SW 6

th Ave

I-405 exit rampSW

6th

Ave

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Existing Conditions - Geometry• “Nontraditional” four-leg intersection• SW 6th Ave:One-way street (NB)Two lane South of the intersectionThree lane North of the intersection(I-405 exit ramp merge into SW 6th Ave)Bike lane ends prior to the intersection• SW Jackson StTwo-way street ( WB & EB)One lane WB; one lane EBEB ends at the intersection due to the Max station East of the intersection• Pedestrian island separating SW 6th Ave and I-405 exit ramp• Light rail track on SW 6th Ave East of the intersection

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Looking Northbound on SW 6th AveI-405 exit ramp merge into traffic

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Looking Eastbound on SW Jackson StLeft Turn only

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Existing Conditions – Traffic Control

• Unsignalized intersection• Stop sign on SW Jackson St EB• Signalized intersection on SW 6th Ave

downstream• No speed sign on site• Pedestrian crossing sign on site• No pedestrian cross walk striping on site

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Looking Northbound on SW 6th Ave Pedestrian Crossing sign on site

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Existing Condition – Public Transportation

• Tri-met bus service back on SW 5th and 6th Ave on May 24th 2009

• Bus line # 1, 8, 9, 19, 68, 94 on SW 6th Ave• No bus stop at the intersection Max green line

light-rail tracks East of the intersection on SW 6th Ave

• Protective cable, guard rail, and landscape on site

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Looking Northbound on SW 6th AveMax station East of the intersection

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Looking Northbound on SW 6th AveLight rail track East of the intersection

Intersection Concern

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Recommendations

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1. Stripe Crosswalk2. Speed Limit Signs3. Stripe End of Bike Lane4. Stripe Restricted Exit Lane on 6th Ave5. Rumble Strips on Freeway Off-ramp6. Pedestrian Warning & Crosswalk Lights7. Bollards in Pedestrian Island8. Update Guide Signs on I-5 & I-4059. Outreach to Businesses on Travel Directions10.Other Possible Improvements

Stripe Crosswalk

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Crosswalk should have been striped after construction.

Did the contractor miss it?

Speed Limit Signs

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There are no signs in this area indicating to drivers that they are entering the downtown core with a 20 mph speed limit.

Add speed limit signs to:• Freeway off-ramp• 6th Avenue before Jackson Street

Stripe End of Bike Lane

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Stripe an exit flange at the end of the bike lane on 6th Street.

Makes it apparent to drivers that cyclists will merge with car traffic.

Stripe Restricted Exit Lane on 6th Ave

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Striping prohibits drivers from dangerous weave maneuver, changing lanes twice in less than 200 feet.

30% of off-ramp traffic turns left on College St. Drivers are attention is focused to their left merge rather than pedestrians in the crosswalk on their right.

Stripe Restricted Exit Lane on 6th Ave

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Prohibited Permitted Permitted Permitted

Rumble Strips on Freeway Off-ramp

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• Will alert drivers that they are entering a slow-speed area where they need to pay extra attention.

• Increased crosswalk compliance in Boulder, CO by 25%

Pedestrian Warning & Crosswalk Lights

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Downside – Pedestrians may perceive security from lights and step in front of cars.

Add pushbutton activated in-pavement flashing lights at the crosswalk and on the pedestrian warning signs.

Drivers in the left lane and Jackson Street may not see pedestrians but will see flashing crosswalk lights.

Bollards in Pedestrian Island

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Add two bollards in the pedestrian island to shield them from errant vehicles.

Notice the center sign is missing? Someone hit it last weekend with their car.

Update Guide Signs on I-5 & I-405

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Current guide signs on I-5 andI-405 route hospital traffic to the 6th Avenue exit.

Update the guide signs to direct this traffic to 4th Avenue.

• Reduces exposure for pedestrians at mid-block crossing.• Reduces number of weaving vehicles on 6th Avenue.• 4th Avenue provides 460 feet before left turn to College.• Signalized intersection at 4th & Lincoln forces freeway drivers to adjust to pedestrian speeds.

Outreach to Businesses

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• OHSU directs travelers to take 6th Avenue exit and turn left on College Street.• Target high traffic generating businesses.• Advise businesses of safest routes for their customers. Google Maps, Mapquest, etc. are not yet updated to reflect changes in traffic patterns on the new mall.

Other Recomendations

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1. Add another parking kiosk for PSU parking structure on the West entrance to reduce queuing on 6th Street.

2. Upgrade Hall/Broadway, Harrison/Broadway signals to accommodate increased volume of left turning vehicles. Split pedestrian and left turn phases.

3. Additional enforcement at this location.

Cost/Benifits

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