Why Don't We Do It In the Road?

As we think about ways to make Woodfords Corner a more pleasing destination and a village hub, slowing and reducing traffic on Forest Avenue is always a priority. Friends of Woodfords Corner has been advocating for years for the City of Portland to make crossing Forest Ave safer. There are major safety hazards when a pedestrian has to cross FOUR lanes of fast-moving cars.

Thank you to the City of Portland for responding to our concerns! The City is currently in the midst of constructing improvement on two Forest Ave crossings - at Lincoln an Arlington Streets and at Coyle Street. The improvements include:

Small bump-outs on the side streets so that motorists turning onto those side streets, such as Lincoln, Arlington, and Coyle (east and west), have to slow down

• Crosswalks that are perpendicular, not diagonal, to Forest Ave so the crossing distance is shorter and therefore safer

• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB), which pedestrians can activate on either side of the street

• Flex posts in the middle of Forest Ave to slow traffic down where pedestrians might be crossing

• Elements that make the crossing ADA compliant

We are hopeful that these changes will improve pedestrian safety and reduce the barriers for community members that live in the east side of Forest Ave to get to businesses and other points of interest on the west side of the street.