Advocates from the local nonprofit BikeLoud PDX have brought to light troubling communications between city traffic engineers and officials within the city’s Public Environment Management Office (PEMO) regarding the decision to remove traffic diverters in northwest Portland.
According to documents released by BikeLoud today through a public records request, these internal communications reveal that staff from the transportation bureau were concerned about removing the diverters but the decision persisted nonetheless.
BikeLoud asserts that these findings demonstrate a lack of transparency and that city leaders were attempting to circumvent the recommendations of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)’s lead traffic engineer.
Key findings in the released documents include several memos from traffic engineering and operations teams that firmly state the diverters cannot be removed due to safety concerns. On January 13, one memo clearly stated, “We cannot remove these planters — they are addressing bike crashes that were occurring at this location.”
A subsequent memo dated January 29 reiterated this sentiment, stating, “I have revisited this location with the Traffic Engineer, and this diverter cannot be removed for safety reason.” A third memo from June 18 similarly emphasized, “The diverters are in place for good reason.”
These communications cast doubt on City Manager Michael Jordan’s claims in an August 11 letter that PBOT “ultimately recommended” the removal of the diverters. The only public record documenting this decision emerged on June 25, stating, “It has been determined that the diverters will be removed. ETA TBD.” This raises questions about who made this determination and the reasoning behind it.
In reaction to the released information, BikeLoud Chair Eva Frazier and Vice-Chair Kiel Johnson expressed their frustration. They stated, “We understand the rationale of PEMO to work quickly to take care of community concerns and allow small adjustments to happen. But as people who rely on a safe bicycle network, it is frustrating to feel once again let down by our city’s leadership.
After reviewing the City’s communications, we are concerned about our current leadership’s ability to execute council-approved policy with transparency and integrity.”
The recent revelations from BikeLoud underscore the tension surrounding this issue, as PEMO made it appear that PBOT supported the plans to remove the diverters.
Since Mayor Keith Wilson announced a pause on the City Administrator’s plan to remove two sets of diverters that facilitate one-way traffic in northwest Portland, community members have rallied in support of these vital traffic calming devices. Advocacy for the diverters stems from their importance in maintaining safe neighborhood greenways—a fact supported by a lengthy planning process that recommended their installation.
The Portland Police Bureau and City Administrator’s office have argued that the diverters on NW 20th (at Everett) and NW Johnson (at 15th) should be removed to allow police to better address crime. Despite numerous discussions and memos from Central Precinct Commander Brian Hughes and City Administrator Mike Jordan articulating their rationale, Mayor Wilson has halted progress on the diverter removal plan.
Both the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees have expressed opposition to the diverter removal plan, emphasizing the need for more transparency and community engagement. The Pedestrian Advisory Committee stated, “We are troubled by the lack of transparency and engagement apparent in the process to arrive at a proposal removing this infrastructure,” and urged that any changes be discussed within their committee first.
Meanwhile, the Bicycle Advisory Committee went a step further, issuing a city council resolution opposing the diverters’ removal and insisting on a transparent, data-driven process for any potential adjustments.
During an August 20 meeting of the PEMO “Problem Solvers” network, Director Anne Hill tried to downplay concerns raised about the diverters. When community members attended to discuss the issue, Hill stated that the meeting was not the appropriate forum for such a discussion.
In a follow-up chat, I asked Director Hill why she believed the meeting was unsuitable for discussions about the diverters and for clarification on her “misinformation” comments. However, neither she nor her staff responded to my inquiries.
As the city grapples with this contentious issue, the community’s call for transparency and the need for a comprehensive assessment of the diverters remains clear.
image source from：bikeportland
