Four New Better Block PSU Projects Launched In Spring 2025

Four new projects took their first steps down the Better Block PSU Project Pathway, this Spring term at Portland State. Submitted by community members, the projects got underway with students beginning to investigate their potential in the Spring 2025 Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning course taught by Drusilla Van Hengel and Ryan Hashagen. The projects are:

• Alternative Pedestrian Walkways, submitted by Gena Gastaldi, Pedestrian Realm Coordinator, Complete Streets team, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)
• Northeast Lloyd Carfree Block, submitted by Joshua Baker, Lloyd EcoDistrict
• East Burnside Corridor, submitted by Strong Towns PDX and the Kerns Neighborhood Association
• Southeast Henry Street, submitted by Catie Tam, Woodstock Neighborhood Association's Accessibility Committee

PSU Researchers Help Create Design Guidance for On-Street Bicycle Facilities

A new resource has been published to help transportation agencies identify key factors that influence the safety of people riding bicycles. Many cities around the country share the related goals of increasing bike use, improving safety, expanding access and connectivity, and promoting equity. More and more, agencies and communities understand that meeting these goals requires building bike networks that work for people of all ages and abilities, with routes that feel safe and comfortable for everyone. "On-Street Bicycle Facility Design Features" is a data-driven guidebook created to assist practitioners in selecting appropriate design elements for bicycle infrastructure, depending on the surrounding context. The report is especially valuable for state and local agencies wishing to enhance safety and expand bicycle ridership.

Partnership Between PSU and PBOT Highlighted With Public Impact Partner Award

Last week, Portland State University (PSU) recognized the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) with its inaugural Public Impact Partner Award, celebrating the power of research to drive transformative change in the community. The award was accepted by PBOT’s Deputy Director of Planning, Projects and Programs, Art Pearce, at an awards ceremony at PSU on Friday, May 9 in recognition of the agency's commitment to ensuring that Portland's transportation network is designed and maintained using evidence-driven practices. A long history of research partnership between PSU and PBOT means that people traveling in this city are using some of the nation's most innovative, multimodal transportation infrastructure. And the partnership continues: A new intergovernmental agreement between PSU and PBOT was just signed in May 2025, which will support projects that foster innovation and meet Portland's goals of a livable, equitable and sustainable city. 

Applications Are Open Now: PSU Transportation Summer Camp for High Schoolers

Aug 3–8, 2025

Hosted at Portland State University since 2016, our week-long summer camp is free and open to any Oregon student entering the 9–12 grade. It offers an immersive introduction to transportation careers and the workings of transportation systems. Students hear from guest speakers, develop data collection and STEM skills, and go on daily field trips. Campers will stay on the PSU campus for one week as an overnight residential camp guided by TREC staff, as well as young adult Residential Counselors. Each day is tied to a theme, and half the day is spent in the classroom hearing from PSU faculty and guest lecturers from ODOT, the FHWA, PBOT, TriMet, the Port of Portland, and other public and private transportation agencies from the Portland metro area. The other half is spent outside, on field tours of Portland’s transportation infrastructure and public spaces. Students should apply by Sunday, June 8th in order to be considered in the first round of applications. 

IBPI Workshop: Comprehensive Bikeway Design

Aug 25–29, 2025

There are still spaces open in our 2025 summer workshop, Comprehensive Bikeway Design! Presented by the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), this week-long workshop held at Portland State University covers the fundamentals of bikeway design and planning, taught by instructors who are leading practitioners in the field and can draw from their years of experience designing Portland's innovative bicycle facilities. Daily field tours provide first-hand experience with these facilities and the projects discussed in the classroom. The tours showcase not just the operational qualities, but also how bikeway planning affects community livability and economic development. Participants will learn to design bicycling infrastructure that is appropriate for different contexts, communicate the value of active transportation projects to various stakeholders, and invest in the future of your city's bicycle network.

Transportation Alumni Highlight: Cassie Wilson, Class of 2024

We've started a brand-new Transportation Alumni Highlight series to showcase PSU graduates who are making a difference in the world of transportation, and our first installment is a stellar example: Cassie Wilson is a Disability Justice Advocate in Politics & Policy who is passionate about climate, transportation, housing, and land use. She graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies, and is now the Transportation Policy Manager for 1000 Friends Of Oregon. Her advice to current students interested in transportation? "There are so many directions a career in transportation can go! Interning at 1000 Friends reassured me that public policy was the direction I was most interested in. I did informational interviews and networking with transportation professionals, and learned a lot through interacting with them on community advisory boards. Whether you’re interested in research, planning, policy, engineering, or program implementation - I encourage you to connect with people doing the work you’re interested in!"

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

• SAVE THE DATE: PacTrans Conference: The 2025 Conference of the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans) Region 10 will be held at Portland State University – Mark your calendar for a full-day gathering on October 10!
• Public Transportation Research - Problem Statements Due June 20: Anyone interested in public transit can submit an idea for further research via a problem statement.
• Portland Sunday Parkways Returns May 18: Join PBOT in Southwest Portland for the first Sunday Parkways of the 2025 season, presented by Kaiser Permanente!
• Making The Most Of Your State's Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment: A Safe Routes Partnership webinar on June 3, 2025.
• Safe Streets for All Funding Opportunities: Cities, agencies & MPOs can apply for planning/demonstration or implementation projects by June 26, 2025.
• Planning Conference Session Ideas Due Tomorrow: Submit a session proposal by Friday, May 16 for the 2025 OAPA/WP/TIPD Annual Planning Conference in October.
• Evacuation Planning: Thursday, May 22, join WTS Portland with speakers Randy Johnson (DKS) and Joe Marek (Clackamas County) for a talk on emergency evacuations.

Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research.