Service on line 24- Fremont/NW 18th is changing March 1st
– N Kerby Ave and N Russell St will be eliminated for faster trips between North, Northeast and Northwest Portland.
Note: map updated January 13.
Map shows part of north Portland from N Russell St to N Fremont, with details of the old route for bus Line 24 side-by-side with the new route. The old route travels from the Fremont Bridge, down Kerby, turns east at Russell, and forms a loop on Vancouver and Williams past Russell, Knott, Graham, Stanchion, Morris, Monroe, Fargo, Cook, and Ivy before turning at N Fremont St. The new route eliminates the turn on Kerby, and instead continues generally east from the Fremont Bridge to N Fremont S, where it turns onto Vancouver, then Morris, then Williams, to form a loop back to Fremont. Stops 14099 and 14031 will be closed, and the following stops will no longer be included on Line 24: 5997, 6006, 6364 and 6362. Stop 5984 at Red Cross will become an eastbound stop to Gateway Transit Center.
It looks like there will still be connections from line #24 to lines #4 and #44.
Many Eliot residents will have a longer walk to get to line #24
Where: Meet at Harder Day Coffee on MLK and Tillamook. 2031 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
What:
We will walk North along MLK and talk about the benefits of adding street parking along the majority of the corridor to revitalize the street, improve business access and calm traffic.
We will do some data collection about vacant spaces
We may post some flyers
We will also talk about the places, spaces and buildings and the spots that could be future places.
Walking tour 2/21 3pm – StrongTownPDX, L&C Students
MLK Grant exists – upgrading crosswalks. Was at city council recently
Discuss the Lloyd Center Master Plan – there’s been some opposition to demolishing the mall. Do we want to take a position on the project and send a letter to the city?
Motion 3-0 – Anders will send a letter supporting redevelopment
Update on Parking District
City Council has this on their radar after we sent a letter
Current parking price of $5/hr is not reducing on-street occupancy the way we want
The city is doing parking studies
Any other topics you are interested in
Dawson Park street closure or parking removal- why no action from the city. Individuals will follow up
Anders (Chair) Andrew (Vice Chair) Allan (Recorder) Mike W – accepted continued LUTC membership Mike Faden – non-member
Minutes – started 6:02 at the Albina Library (NE Russell or NE Knott entrance)- upstairs room 2A
1 – Updates on Allan’s I-405 project – 3 tracks – community vision, starter project, restitution
2 – Updates on the NE 7th diverter effort – couple with MLK prosperity and health project
3 – Updates on the leaf blower letter we sent to the city – Parks bureau is working on getting new electric equipment
Other discussions:
– What is happening to traffic while the Broadway bridge is closed? There was a question about whether anyone studying the traffic impacts?
– Development in Eliot – not much happening – townhouses on Sacramento St rented – didn’t sell.
History discussion – RUNT house – ( renewable urban neighborhood team ). Former Eliot activist house. ENDA (now ENA) kind of came out of that. Was renamed to Eliot Energy House.
Former (long ago) LUTC member Wes Ayers wants to join – We will wait for him to show up in person
Allan Rudwick – Chair Andrew Champion – Recorder Anders Hart
Guests
Steve Cole – Irvington Community Association (ICA) President Mike Faden Liz Zenger
Traffic Calming on NE 7th Avenue
Allan presented a slide deck about the Lloyd-to-Woodlawn Greenway, a PBOT project that stalled in 2017.
Leaf Blowers in Portland Parks
Anders wrote a letter urging the Parks bureau to complete its transition from gasoline to electric outdoor power equipment. Steve indicated that ICA may be willing to co-sign.
Motion to approve letter: Allan | Second: Anders | Approved (one abstention)
LUTC Elections
Committee Members
Andrew Champion
Anders Hart
Allan Rudwick
Officers
Chair: Anders Hart
Vice Chair: Andrew Champion
Recorder: Allan Rudwick
Motion to approve slate: Allan | Second: Andrew: | Approved (unanimous)
Updates & Announcements
Fremont Bridgehead – Allan
Allan held the first citizen meeting about this land reclamation project. Members of PBOT, Russell & Williams, Boise NA, ODOT, and others attended.
Parking – Allan
Zone V enforcement changes (from 2-hour to meters) have been delayed until 12/31.
Parking continues to not be allowed on the N Flint overpass. ODOT says that it needs these spaces for construction.
An area planner (Valeria) from the Bureau of Planning & Sustainability will be invited to join in the upcoming months.
Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)
Kevin Bond
Nicholas Starin
Guests
Mike Faden – Resident
BPS – Kevin & Nicholas
The Central City Code Amendments project (CCCAP) is adapting the 2035 Central City plan, initially adopted in 2018, to post-COVID realities.
Encouraging housing is an overarching goal. One specific goal is to migrate some industrial zoning to general employment and mixed use, including the Lower Albina region. Another is to increase the number of streets where ground floor dwellings are allowed.
Economic recovery is another overarching goal. Use allowances would allow manufacturing, production, and small warehouses in CX zones, as well as retail in the Central Eastside.New surface parking areas may also be opened up on ODOT property and for five years on sites slated for future development. Consolidation and simplification of zoning regs for food carts, no longer classified as vehicles requiring parking spaces. Stretch consideration: all retail, not food carts.
Increased building heights and floor area ratios (FAR) with consideration of viewsheds, are being considered for both housing and recovery.
Allan asked if ground floor retail could be rented out for residential purposes. Nicholas confirmed that it already can be.
LUTC Meeting Schedule
Agreed to new schedule: 2nd Wednesday of the month
Other Updates
Parking Zone V (Rose Quarter)
Allan has verified that the N Flint overpass of I5 can support parked vehicles and is writing a letter to PBOT in support of allowing it with a Zone V permit.
Max says that painting the curb at 7th & Russell has shown moderate success and that parking in the area is tight. She asked ENA to write a letter to Russell Apartments management requesting lower rates for the building’s off-street parking spaces.
Fremont Bridgehead Update
Allan is trying to assemble a committee for the project.
Zone V Parking Update
Allan reports that PBOT found parking enforcement difficult in its first year, and is converting the zone to meters. Delivery for new signage about the meters is behind schedule.
Walking Tour of 7th Avenue
The group walked NE 7th and discussed multiple approaches to traffic calming for the proposed greenway alignment.
The Russell & Williams Community Development Corporation is hosting a ‘Warm the Block’ coat and food drive at Dishman this coming Saturday from 1-4pm. Details below
The Eliot Parking Task Force met with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) over the summer and they talked about a number of changes. As you may know, last year’s permit program for Zone V was not very effective at discouraging Moda Center event-goers from parking in our neighborhood. However, this year the City proposed a new plan, we made some tweaks and it is just taking a little bit longer to implement. We’re seeing December 31st as the implementation date.
One issue that we worked with the City on was trying to add the missing link on N Flint avenue between N Tillamook and N Hancock to the permit area. ODOT engineers say the N Flint bridge across I-5 is strong enough to support parked cars and we have lots of pictures documenting cars parked on the bridge. ODOT has denied this request saying that “because construction staging space is very limited in this area, it needs to be reserved and available for the contractor to use during project construction”.
From ODOT’s project website, it looks like “phase 1A” has started construction. This project appears to be bridge maintenance and stormwater facility construction only- unrelated to the main part of the Rose Quarter project that we have been fighting against. These two pieces of the project are 0.8 miles and 0.5 miles away from the project site on the shortest routes to these two projects. Storing materials on bridges is not always the best idea since some previous bridge collapses have been connected with extra materials and weight being stored on them, but I’m sure ODOT’s engineers know this and are taking precautions.
We are disappointed to see ODOT unwilling to take simple action to free up parking near the first 2 residential buildings downhill from I-5 in 50 years. ‘Albina One’, which just opened, and ‘Analog’ which has been open only a few years. We urge ODOT to reconsider this decision.
For more information on the parking zone changes, see this from PBOT or visit their webpage:
Zone V Permit Changes Coming Soon
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is expanding the Zone V permit area in the Eliot neighborhood with some changes. Permits make it easier for those who live and work in Eliot to find on-street parking during large events in and around the Rose Quarter. See map below. PBOT will begin installing new pay stations and “Pay to Park” signs soon. The Zone V expanded area and new rules go into effect Dec. 31. Here’s what’s new for visitors without a Zone V permit when the Lloyd Event District is active: – Pay-to-park for on-street spaces (up to $5/hour) – 5-hour time limit – Rules apply year-round For Zone V permit holders when the Lloyd Event District is active: – No payment required – No time restrictions
PBOT is installing new pay stations and “Pay to Park” signs soon. The Zone V expanded area and new rules go into effect Dec. 31
Sign up now Residents in the areas of the map—plus businesses, nonprofits, and their employees—may sign up for Zone V permits. PBOT uses a license plate-based system and does not issue physical permits. Apply, submit documents, pay, and manage permits through our online system. Visit Portland.gov/EliotParking to get started. Resident permits The cost of an annual Zone V permit is $135 with two discounted rates of $50 or $105 depending on income. Households can purchase one annual guest permit for $100 and up to 100 daily guest permits in packs of 10 for $22. Income-based discounts have been changed. Percentage thresholds have been adjusted to help ensure the Zone V program is self-sustaining. Employee permits Employees in the shaded areas of the map who need to park for work may purchase an annual Zone V permit for $135. Two discounted rates of $50 or $105 are also available, depending on income. Employees may not purchase guest permits. Business and nonprofit permits Businesses and nonprofits operating in the shaded areas of the map are eligible to purchase guest permits for vendors or visitors. Businesses and non-profits can purchase one annual guest permit for $100 and up to 100 daily guest permits in packs of 10 for $22.
Need Assistance Applying for Your Permit? PBOT Parking Permits PBOTParkingPermits@portlandoregon.gov503-823-2777 Stay informed For more information, including permit details or schedule, or to sign up for our email list that will notify you when the Lloyd Event District is active, visit Portland.gov/EliotParking
Friends of Trees is planting FREE street and yard trees in Eliot! We have a wide variety of species for you to select from, and provide planting support, tree care education, and free watering for street trees. Sign up here for your trees today: friendsoftrees.org/get-a-treeIf you’d like to participate in our Eliot neighborhood planting event on January 17 but not receive a tree, please sign up here: friendsoftrees.org/event-calendar
after cutting back the overgrown “parking strip” yellow paint was found on the curb from past city paint
A local Eliot resident, known as Lady Max, attended our July general meeting to share her safety concerns during the open public comment period.
Her first concern is the overall volume of fast moving vehicle traffic on NE 7th, even after the speed bumps were installed. She feels that rush-hour traffic has also increased, possibly diverting away from MLK by apps like Waze, or drivers just wanting to bypass stoplights. On 7th, this higher traffic is clashing at busy pedestrians crossings as they near Knott, and an increase in cycling numbers since the Earl Blumenauer pedestrian and bicycle bridge opened across I-84 on NE 7th Ave in 2022.
On NE 7th, there is an added crash risk is from blocked crossing visibility from cars parked too close to crossings. Especially when cars park in marked no-parking zones close to corners
Lady Max shared one spot specifically that she has observed and photographed over 50+ violations in only a few months period. The location has a sign, in which the homeowner keeps very well pruned around, but drivers continue to park there. After hearing a neighbor’s dog yelp because a truck got super close close when its owner tried to cross at Russell, Lady Max got really mad and decided to take action for the sake of ALL the neighbors.
She asked various city staffers including PBOT’s Safe Streets program for ideas during community events. Considering PBOT budget limitations, she learned it might be necessary to do a little tactile urbanism. PBOT won a grant to paint 200 daylight corners but that doesn’t cover the need over all of Portland, it barely scratches the surface.
They suggested she attend her local neighborhood association meetings, and reach out to organizations like Strong Towns PDX. She created a petition to ask the city for traffic reduction with a diverter, and has several hundred signatures so far. She attended city counselor’s ‘Coffee in the park’ to bring attention to the matter. Lady Max rallied attendees to our August 11 Land Use meeting, which included Senior Council Aide Jacq Tjaden who works with councilor Sameer Kanal’s office and Mauricio Leclerc – a manager in the Area planning team at PBOT. Eliot’s Land Use and Transportation Committee (LUTC) met with some neighbors including Steve Cole from Irving neighborhood association. We talked for a bit and then went for a walk 7th. We left the meeting with no firm commitments from the City, but it was good to retell the story from our perspective and we think there may be room to continue the conversation there.
After the meeting, Lady Max and the LUTC came up with a plan to clean and paint the No-Parking section of the curb that Max had documented more than 50 violators at. Over Labor Day weekend, a few of us gathered to get the first curb done. It looks great and we are already seeing the impact of less drivers parking there.
replenished paint marking the no parking zone on NE 7th
We are always looking for community involvement and new ideas on how to make our neighborhood more livable and safe. This project was doable with tools we had readily available. If other neighbors want to do a similar project or have any other issues they want addressed feel free to reach out at info@eliotneighborhood.org or attend a future next meeting.
Our next LUTC meeting will be TODAY, September 8th at 6:30 PM – meeting indoors at 7th and Russell again.
Minds Matter Portland empowers high-achieving, low-income students to reach their goal of attending and graduating from college. This 3 year mentoring program offers academic support and hands-on opportunities. Students gain the tools they need to navigate the college admissions process and thrive beyond it.
In the wake of recent changes, the need for community-based support is more urgent than ever. Volunteer mentors play a vital role in closing the opportunity gap for talented students who deserve equitable access to higher education.
Founded over 30 years ago in New York City, Minds Matter has operated in Portland since 2006. Last year, the program expanded to Hillsboro. With two sites now serving students, there are more ways than ever to get involved. 100% of Minds Matter students are accepted to four-year colleges, and 90% go on to graduate from those institutions.
Volunteers are needed in both the Portland and Hillsboro locations. In Portland, they meet with students on Saturdays during the school year in NE Portland site on Alberta Street, next to Eliot School in the adjacent King neighborhood. Sign up for a coffee chat to learn more about what it’s like to volunteer, or fill out an online application if you’re ready to get started today!
On a personal note, I have also been volunteering as a mentor with Minds Matter for the past 4 years, and have found it an incredibly rewarding journey. If you’d like to hear more about my personal experience, please email serena@eliotneighborhood.org.
Eliot Neighborhood 