TriMet, Portland-area partners launch initiative to coordinate construction schedules

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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TriMet

A group of Portland area public works entities have joined forces to coordinate construction and maintenance projects to lessen potential negative impacts to the community.

The Get Portland Moving initiative is an effort by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Bureau of Environmental Services, the Portland Water Bureau, Portland Parks & Recreation, Multnomah County, the Oregon Department of Transportation, TriMet and Portland Streetcar to coordinate required project work in the Central Business District and Cully neighborhood of Portland, Ore.

Throughout 2017 and into 2018, the Central Business District will be the site of multiple projects to repair and replace aging streets, sewers, rail track beds and machinery, bridge structures and other important community assets throughout downtown. The Get Portland Moving partners say that by aligning work schedules they will maximize the opportunity to get as much work done in a specific area at the same time, saving time and avoiding the need to disrupt travel multiple times.

An example of this coordination is the re-timing of the Bureau of Environmental Services’ major sewer repair work along SW Yamhill and SW Morrison streets, Multnomah County’s Burnside Bridge project and Portland Parks & Recreation’s project at the Pioneer Square South MAX Station. All of this work will be aligned with TriMet’s planned Morrison-Yamhill MAX Improvements project. This coordination will limit MAX service interruption to a single disruption from Sunday, April 30 through Saturday, May 20.

The partners have agreed to make safe access for people walking, biking and rolling a priority and they have also partnered with Waze to share road closure information.

“This construction season we’re going to have to go through some short-term pain for some long-term gain,” said Transportation Commissioner Dan Saltzman. “That is why Get Portland Moving is so critical. With eight agencies working together — a really unprecedented level of coordination — we minimize the disruptions and maximize the results for Portlanders. I am also very happy to have a private-sector partner like Waze on board to help us get Portlanders information they can use to plan their travels.”

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