Portland, Oregon - Cornell Avenue

Location

• Portland, OR
• Cornell Avenue
• Start: 25th Street
• Finish: 30th Street

Background

NW Cornell Road is classified as a "Neighborhood Collector" street by the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Portland. It is also considered a primary fire response route by the Portland Fire Bureau for emergency services. The construction of Tri-Met's Westside Light Rail and Oregon Department of Transportation construction on US Highway 26 had added more vehicles to this collector street. The street was 36 feet wide with curbs and sidewalks for most of the street segment and, except for a pair of sharp curves, was fairly straight with a grade of approximately 3 to 5 percent. There was one lane of travel in each direction and parking on both sides of the street. Only two Local Service streets intersected with this segment of NW Cornell Road. Three pedestrian stairways and one school crossing were located along the street segment. The land use along the street segment is exclusively residential. This project’s goals were as following, in the order of importance:

1. Reduce traffic volumes.
2. Reduce vehicle speeds.
3. Enhance the neighborhood environment through noise reduction, increased safety, lower vehicle speeds, and the design of roadway surface modifications.
4. Improve pedestrian safety.

Notable Features

Median

At the existing school crossing, a Median Island Slowpoint designed for a mid-block location was installed. See Figure 4.55. This feature improved safety on Cornell Street by separating opposing vehicle travel lanes, preventing vehicles from passing other vehicles at this location, and placing limitations on access. This median slowpoint may also act as a pedestrian refuge at some points and enhances the aesthetics of the area.

Speed Humps

Three 22-foot Arterial Speed Humps were installed at 300-foot intervals along the straight, lower section of the street, and one additional 22-foot speed hump was installed at the western edge of the project area. Since 22 foot speed humps are most appropriate for street sections with 85th percentile speeds between 35 and 45mph, the addition of three such humps slowed the vehicle speeds slightly while maintaining the street's usability as a corridor.

Street Maintenance

The overall maintenance was not significantly impacted because only minor repairs may be needed to the asphalt or concrete. No significant landscaping was added.

Speed and Traffic Counts for Cornell

Public Response

Since there was much public participation and citizen involvement throughout the project, there was a very positive reaction to the finished product. The City of Portland places a great importance on citizen participation and education in their Traffic Calming Program.

Transportation Philosophy of the Town

Portland is quite well known for its innovative traffic calming methods.  It is often used as a model for other towns that are in the process of creating their own traffic calming guidelines.

Original Contact

Ms. Crysttal Atkins
Project Manager
City of Portland
Traffic Calming Section
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Room 730
Portland, OR 97204
(503)823-5163
Fax (503)823-7576

A median, striped crosswalk and signage in school zone on Cornell Street

22 foot speed hump constructed on Cornell Street

This information originally compiled by Angela Obeso, 1999, as part of a senior project.