14,500 cars per day, 85% confirmed to be speeding, a crosswalk & a chat with the Council President

Hi Everyone,

I hope this finds you well! I wanted to reach out with a quick update and to stay in touch regarding safety efforts along NE 33rd. This week, I had the opportunity to meet Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and share the community's concerns surrounding traffic calming on NE 33rd. She spoke at an Alameda Neighborhood Association meeting and I followed up with her team by email. If you have time, I encourage you to share your support and flood her inbox: councilor.pirtle-guiney@portlandoregon.gov.

Sample email:

Dear Council President Pirtle-Guiney,

I’m writing to express my strong support for traffic calming efforts for NE 33rd Avenue. I’ve seen firsthand the growing safety concerns related to high vehicle speeds and limited pedestrian crossings.

I’m grateful for the leadership you and I urge the City to prioritize NE 33rd for speed reduction measures, traffic cushions, enhanced crosswalks, and other safety improvements that protect our families, neighbors, and community members.

Thank you for your attention and continued commitment to neighborhood safety.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or Neighborhood, optional]

Additionally, here are some updates from our contact at PBOT about progress we've made: 

• Speeding confirmed: Traffic count shows the 85th percentile speed is 31–32 MPH, above the 25 MPH limit — confirming a speeding issue.
• Traffic volume: Approximately 14,500 vehicles per day use NE 33rd.
• New crosswalk approved: A crosswalk will be installed at NE 33rd & Bryce (north leg).
  • No signalization planned due to existing median and narrower roadway.
    Estimated installation by March (timeline subject to change).
• Next review: The NE 33rd & Shaver intersection is under review for additional crossing improvements.
• Speed reader boards: NE 33rd currently ranks low for deployment due to citywide prioritization criteria (e.g., high-crash network, income score, Safe Routes to School, fatal crash history). This means it may take time before temporary speed readers are installed.

Peace and appreciation to you and yours!