In the heart of Portland, an intersection has become a symbol of the city's struggle with pedestrian safety. This isn't just any intersection; it's a place where the city's commitment to Vision Zero, its ambitious goal to eliminate pedestrian deaths, is being tested. The Franklin Street and Marginal Way intersection, dubbed 'Portland's purgatory' by Myles Smith, the chair of the city's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, is a microcosm of the challenges facing the city. It's a place where the choices made in urban planning and traffic management have real, and often tragic, consequences.
What makes this intersection particularly dangerous is its design. The series of traffic lights in close proximity encourages higher speeds, and the presence of slip lanes and curved corners allows drivers to make right turns on red, increasing the risk of collisions. This is not an isolated issue; it's a pattern that recurs across multiple high-crash areas in the city. The advisory committee has taken issue with how police reports often place blame on pedestrians and give deference to drivers, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach to crash investigations.
The death of Diane Bell, who was hit and killed while running with a group on the Bayside trail, brought the issue to the forefront. Her family and fellow runners argued that she did everything right: wearing reflective clothing, LED lights, and helping others cross the intersection. Yet, she was still hit by a driver who was not distracted and had no contributing factors, according to the initial crash report. This raises a deeper question: if a pedestrian follows all the rules, is it the fault of the driver or the intersection's design if an accident occurs?
The advisory committee's letter to officials described the intersection as 'totally inappropriate for an urban context.' They believe that the city's commitment to Vision Zero is sincere, but they need a lot of urgency if they're going to make meaningful changes. The committee has called for a crash response protocol that could implement low-cost safety fixes and more permanent solutions for unsafe street designs, and for a clear designation of who at City Hall is accountable for Vision Zero results.
While the city has adopted a Vision Zero resolution and action plan, and has increased funding for bicycle and pedestrian transportation projects, the progress is slow. The city's capital plan for next year includes $5.62 million for these projects, an increase from $3.85 million this year. However, the advisory committee sees the need for more urgent fixes while residents wait for the big projects down the road. Some could be temporary, like installing flex posts or bollards for traffic calming, while others are long-term, such as a comprehensive transportation plan and citywide lighting study.
The challenge is not just in the funding and attention, but also in the bureaucracy. For each project, the city requires permitting, and neighborhood groups must acquire insurance, which can be a significant barrier. The bicycle coalition, along with Greater Portland Council of Governments, is working on traffic calming demonstrations, but even these projects are caught up in red tape. The city also continues to pursue state and federal funding to address other high-injury networks, but the process is slow and often fraught with challenges.
In the end, the question remains: how can we create a safer system for pedestrians and transit users? The answer lies in the choices we make about moving cars through busy areas, and in the design of our intersections. It's a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach, from low-cost safety fixes to long-term infrastructure improvements. As Myles Smith stood at 'Portland's purgatory,' he offered a simple yet powerful solution: 'The safest solution is to have separate, prioritized infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles that aren’t roads.'
This is a call to action for the city, and for all of us. It's a reminder that pedestrian safety is not just a matter of following rules, but of creating a system that values the lives of all its citizens. As the city continues to pursue its Vision Zero goals, it must do so with urgency and determination, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a safer, more sustainable future.
