In a significant turn of events, the City of Portland has decided to halt plans to remove traffic diverters and alter traffic flow on two neighborhood greenways in the city’s northwest region. This decision comes amidst mounting pressure from residents and an advisory committee.
The Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held last night began with a pivotal announcement from BAC Chair Jim Middaugh, who shared that Mayor Keith Wilson has recognized the need for a more deliberative approach. Just minutes before the meeting commenced, the mayor expressed his desire to pause the diverter removal plan, marking a notable shift from previous statements about the timeline. This announcement came a day after City Administrator Michael Jordan issued a five-page memo attempting to justify the rationale behind the removal.
The memo faced unanimous disapproval from BAC members, city council officials in attendance, and numerous Portland residents present at the meeting. Many voices in the crowd displayed bright green signs declaring, ‘We Love Diverters,’ ‘Diverters are Public Safety,’ and ‘Save Our Greenways,’ illustrating the strong community support for maintaining these traffic features.
Following the meeting, Middaugh spoke with Deputy City Administrator of Public Works Priya Dhanapal and Mayor Wilson’s Chief of Staff Aisling Coghlan to discuss the unfolding situation. According to Middaugh, both Dhanapal and Coghlan acknowledged the necessity for further dialogue. They expressed concern over the livability issues that prompted the initial plan but emphasized the need for a more comprehensive public process.
Middaugh conveyed a sense of urgency from the city officials to address the livability problems outlined in the controversial memo. However, he questioned the basis for this urgency, as the concerns raised had persisted for several years without evidence of an immediate safety threat.
The BAC meeting’s original agenda included a presentation from Director Anne Hill of the Public Environment Management Office (PEMO), who was scheduled to explicate the reasoning behind enhanced access for vehicle traffic on NW 20th and NW Johnson. However, significant officials, including Dhanapal, Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams, and even Mayor Wilson himself, were notably absent from the meeting, leading to speculation about the preceding developments that prompted their withdrawal.
Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane, representing District 3, expressed her disappointment concerning the lack of city staff leadership present to address public inquiries. She stated, ‘It is absolutely reasonable for Portlanders to expect data-driven decision making, open communication, and transparency around changes to our streets which impact our lives.’ Despite the issue not falling within her district, Koyama Lane expressed her intention to advocate as a political champion for traffic safety and Vision Zero.
Councilors Sameer Kanal and Mitch Green, representing Districts 2 and 4 respectively, joined Koyama Lane’s concerns. In light of the criticisms lodged against the city’s plans during the BAC meeting, the councilors reflected on the need for visibility and accountability in the decision-making processes affecting community infrastructure.
Frustrated by the recent series of events, Green assured attendees that they must hold the city accountable. ‘They mayor and city manager made a decision. They didn’t tell anyone. They decided to do a thing, but then a couple of your councilors raised some red flags. We reached out to press and said, ‘Hey, this is a big issue,’ and then the community mobilized.’
Green voiced strong criticism regarding CA Jordan’s memo, labeling it ‘really problematic’ due to the ‘specious arguments’ it comprised. He further emphasized that the existence of diverters does not impede police access to neighborhoods, asserting, ‘There is nothing currently prohibiting the Portland Police Bureau from driving a car through that right-of-way.’ He argued that removing the diverters merely incurs costs without providing benefits to public safety, leading to otherwise angering residents who value the diverters.
Concerns about the opaque manner in which the diverter removal plan was formulated have led Green and Koyama Lane to draft proposed amendments to Portland City Code 16.10.100, which governs ‘Road Authority.’ Presently, the code stipulates that the City Council holds authority over public streets, with the option to delegate certain powers to the City Administrator or Emergency Incident Commander.
Green articulated, ‘City Council adopted the NW In Motion Plan which led to these diverters. That was city council’s will. The city administrator is allowed to execute our vote. It’s inappropriate for the city administrator to pull back on investments they’ve made without at least notifying city council and asking for permission. That needs to change and that will change.’
Koyama Lane expanded on their intentions, stating that she and Green are pursuing legislation intended to clarify road authority and will review this incident to assess whether principles of public involvement were upheld in the decision-making process.
Councilor Kanal raised additional concerns regarding discoveries of public engagement practices related to the diverter removals. He highlighted that despite PEMO citing its Problem Solver meetings as the source of concerns about the diverters, there has been a lack of transparency regarding meeting documentation compared to the rigorous processes community members must follow for alterations to public space.
Kanal expressed his skepticism of claims that the Portland Police Bureau had indeed requested the diverter removals. ‘I’ve seen no evidence that PPB asked for this. I hear people talking about it, but we have not seen it directly,’ he stated, reflecting his role as co-chair of the Public Safety Committee on City Council.
The meeting also featured testimonies from local residents supporting the diverters. One such resident, Sabrina Williams, shared her personal experience, asserting that these installations represent more than mere physical barriers. Her confidence in her community was restored through the diverters and the adjacent community garden following a distressing bias crime.
In an unprecedented response, with backing from Councilors Green and Koyama Lane, BAC members drafted a resolution during the meeting advocating against the diverter removal plan. This text, expressing disapproval of the proposed changes and mandating public consultation for any future alterations to greenways, will be forwarded to Green’s office for review and progression through the city attorney’s office before its proposal at an upcoming City Council meeting.
The outcry surrounding this plan, amplified by the BAC and increasing media scrutiny, suggests that the diverters will remain intact for the time being. However, the community remains on edge, uncertain about potential future changes.
The next opportunity for public discussion on the diverter issue is set for Thursday when Councilor Green is scheduled to attend the Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee meeting to provide an update on the situation, following an invitation from Councilor Novick.
image source from：bikeportland
