Latest news with #PBOT
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Neighbors, PBOT fed up with NW 13th outdoor plaza
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Outdoor dining spots became quite popular during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. They popped up around the city and many restaurants continue using the extra, outdoor space. But neighbors who live near the Northwest 13th Avenue Plaza said things have gotten out of hand. 'It was a great idea. And certainly during pandemic, everybody was all for it. But it's now, it's really just become an extension of this restaurant,' said neighbor Steve Heard about the outdoor seating at River Pig. 'People don't know what to do. Then you've got this little narrow area here, like, the fire trucks can't get through here. And it's just been kind of a mess.' The Portland Bureau of Transportation, which regulates the outdoor seating areas, said the structures like the one at Northwest 13th Avenue were that officially began in 2023. Stone Soup Cafe offers 'workforce culinary training' However, some of the restaurants' permits expired in December 2024. PBOT gave them deadline extensions for several months but told them fines were possible. In May, began getting fined $500 weekly. On June 1, the PBOT $500 fines became daily. Ramzy Hattaar, who owns River Pig, told KOIN 6 News he's been trying to work with the city. The restaurant filed for another permit, he said. 'I think the biggest issue, and what people are misunderstanding is, you know, we're not opposed to a standardized solution,' Hattaar said. And, he said, he needs more time. 'We need to find a way to afford to make the changes and have it not collapse our businesses and still want people to come down to the Pearl District during the summer months,' he said. Though PBOT declined an on-camera interview, they did provide answers in an email. 'The three businesses have not complied with plaza requirements, despite a year and a half of notice and four deadline extensions,' spokesperson Dylan Rivera said. 'Portland Fire & Rescue raised concerns about the roofs of the large structures creating fire hazards, the blocking of a building fire escape and inability to access fire department water connections on the building facade.' PBOT said the three businesses are River Pig, Papi Chulo's and The Star. Because the businesses 'have not complied' with 'PBOT will be moving forward with the removal of these plaza blocks due to lack of compliance, declining public support at this location, and ongoing maintenance and operations issues.' Rivera also said these structures at the Northwest 13th Avenue Plaza are also too big. 'As we stated in a notice in April, if the businesses did not come into compliance by May 11, weekly fines would begin, and if they did not come into compliance by June 1, daily fines would begin,' Rivera said. River Pig's Hattaar said the soonest he can get a contractor he can afford to take down the outdoor seating will be June 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Portland Aerial Tram to close for Memorial Day weekend
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Aerial Tram, which takes commuters back and forth from the South Waterfront to Marquam Hill, will be closed for Memorial Day weekend starting Friday, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Beginning at 7 p.m., the closure will allow for crews to replace the tram's carriage, which officials say must be rebuilt and tested every six years. They add this time of year is 'when the tram experiences lower than normal use and also closes for the national holiday.' Portland city workers vote to authorize strike, impact may be 'drastic' During part of the closure, PBOT says that shuttle service will be offered Friday from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Riders can catch a shuttle at the Whitaker Lot on the South Waterfront and OHSU Kohler Pavilion turnaround on Marquam Hill. According to PBOT, the pedestrian bridge through the OHSU Kohler Pavilion garage will still be open for access into the main hospital buildings from OHSU Casey Eye Institute and the lower Campus Drive. However, the upper tram platform and tram elevator will be closed for safety purposes. The tram will officially reopen at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Portland ralliers: ‘We are not a Sacrifice Zone'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — People who live in this region understand that, at some point, a major earthquake will rock the area. Most of the time, talk about damage is centered on the major infrastructure and bridges that connect various parts of Portland. But the 20,000 people who are residents on the St. Johns Peninsula in North Portland are saying loud and clear, 'We are not a sacrifice zone.' Donna Cohen, who founded the , led the dozens of people who gathered Sunday to shine a spotlight on the fact they would be cut off and stranded from even a small quake. 'We are connected to Portland by 4 small bridges that are over 110 years old,' Cohen told KOIN 6 News. 'PBOT has evaluated these bridges and told us they are all going to collapse even in a minor earthquake. In fact, they may collapse before. One of them is already weight restricted.' Portland is America's cleanest metro area She said the other sides of the peninsula will liquefy, damaging all the structures and roads. Their only way out would be over Columbia Boulevard or Lombard Avenue. But there's a problem. 'They are not emergency routes because they go over the railroad cut. The bridges will collapse, we will be trapped, blocking about 20,000 people, workers and residents in the Rivergate Industrial area who will be trapped here after the earthquake.' But it gets worse, Cohen said. 'We live across from the which is where 90% of Oregon's fuel is stored,' she said. 'If the CEI hub ruptures – which it probably will – a toxic cloud could very well come across here and we will have no escape. So this is really a dire, life-and-death situation.' Cohen and her group, supported by , support written by . That bill provides '$5 million so that we could start planning for a new bridge over the railroad cut at Columbia Boulevard,' she told KOIN 6 News. But it's stuck in the Transportation Committee and her group is urging lawmakers to move it along to Ways and Means and then pass it before this legislative session ends. Frederick, who was at the Sunday rally, said elected officials are beginning to see how important this issue is. 'We have now started to see that we have to be ready for emergencies and we need to know how to deal with emergencies and make sure people are safe,' Frederick said. 'These folks see that. They're making their voices known. That's the key element.' The current KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this issue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City Councilor: PBOT budget presentation ‘most depressing'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Olivia Clark has only been on the Portland City Council for four months. But she described Monday's presentation on the budget woes facing the Portland Bureau of Transportation 'the most depressing presentation' she's seen to date. 'If anybody thinks that we're going to be able to address the potholes that are all over town, we're in deep trouble,' said Clark. The City of Portland is facing a $93 million budget deficit. To fill the gap, City Administrator Michael Jordan is proposing to slash roughly $38 million from PBOT. 'Literally every Portlander will be hurt by this,' said Millicent Williams the Director of PBOT of the cuts that would affect road work, lights and jobs. Port of Portland votes to revoke DEI policies to comply with Trump executive order Deputy Director of Finance and Administration Jeramy Patton said the reductions are 'going to seem quite dire, and they are because we're cutting almost half of a lot of those programs or full programs in some cases, as we move forward.' Pothole work is just one of several projects at risk of going away due to the budget constraints. Others include repairs to streets and traffic lights in areas that are not in a high traffic corridor. 'They would go to four-way stops,' said Williams. 'So imagine turning the clock back 30, 40, 50 years on moving around the city safely and efficiently.' It would also mean getting rid of street sweeping and leaf days entirely. 'That's a huge challenge. That affects everything. And it affects, not just as a condition, but, you know, things get into the waterway, and you'll see flooding in the streets. It's really quite the impact,' Williams said. Cutting those programs means an estimated 150 people will lose their jobs. 'If we end up laying staff off, that could impact other bureaus as well because of opportunities for people to bump into other positions,' she said. These recommendations will go to the mayor, the city administrator and the city council for review. Mayor Keith Willson will release his budget proposal on May 5. 'Portlanders have actively shared their priorities for our city's budget by attending listening sessions, calling, and writing to my office about the programs that matter most to them and their families. My budget proposal will carefully reflect this input to ensure we're funding services that align with community needs,' Mayor Willson said in a statement. Clark said the council will 'wait and see' what Wilson proposes. 'And then we, as a council, will have an opportunity to provide feedback and potentially amendments to that budget.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
PBOT offering ride discounts to curb impaired driving on St. Patrick's Day weekend
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Bureau of Transportation wants to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day safely this weekend by offering discounted taxi, Lyft and Uber rides. As part of its Safe Ride Home initiative, PBOT is giving out coupons for $20 off taxi rides and $10 off rides purchased on Uber or Lyft. They are valid daily starting Friday, March 14 and through Monday, March 17 from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Kohr Explores: Kells Irish Festival returns for St. Patrick's Day A limited number of taxi coupons will be will be available at Kells Portland Irish Festival on March 14-16 and at Paddy's St. Patrick's Day Festival on March 17. Discounted Uber rides are available online and while Lyft coupons can be found . Since its launch in 2017, PBOT says the Safe Ride Home initiative has helped over 3,300 Portlanders celebrate various events and get home safely. But ultimately, it serves as a tool to avoid traffic deaths, as 69% of fatal crashes that occurred from 2017 to 2021 were related to alcohol impairment, drug impairment or both, according to PBOT. These Portland-area bakeries are slinging pies to celebrate National Pi Day Further, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that St. Patrick's Day is for drivers and pedestrians in the U.S. Given these statistics, law enforcement agencies throughout Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties are planning to conduct a traffic safety mission all weekend long. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
