Not seeing the light

City says no to street lights without district-wide study

Intersection of Northwest 21st and Quimby streets.

For years, neighborhood representatives have been pleading to the Portland Bureau of Transportation for pedestrian-oriented lighting near dark intersections in the Northwest District. Many intersections are dark, and even those with tall “cobra head” fixtures don’t do a good job of making pedestrians visible to motorists.

Money to install the kind of lighting community members want is available through a program that sets aside half of the revenues from parking meters in the district for local improvements. But PBOT has been holding up this and other projects until a comprehensive streetscape plan is conducted, initially estimated to cost $300,000.

In 2021, the Northwest Parking Stakeholders Advisory Committee said no to spending that much on a study, and PBOT has been saying no to pedestrian lighting, which would cost far less than that.

SAC member Steve Pinger says no study is needed to ensure that new lighting fixtures are compatible with future street improvements. Just copy the design of the lights installed at the Slabtown end of the neighborhood, which are functional and attractive.

To hear the ongoing saga of bureaucratic intransigence versus practical results, attend the next meeting of the committee Wednesday, April 16, at 5 p.m. at Friendly House, Northwest 26th and Thurman streets. More information is at:

https://portland.gov/transportation/parking/northwest-parking-district/sac