SE 104th

From Harold to Reedway

Focus Area:

In the middle of the day on November 27, 2021, a speeding car lost control, tore through a neighbor’s fence, and flipped in their yard. Drivers habitually run stop signs at high speeds, and cars parked on 104th are routinely hit by moving vehicles.

Heading South on 104th toward Harold

At the 104th and Harold Intersection

Nearing the 104th and Ellis Intersection

IMG_0500-2.jpg
IMG_0504-2.jpg

  • People heading south on 104th don’t stop at Harold. Cars have been seen catching air going down 104th and are often seen speeding through the Ellis stop sign.

  • The problems we’re seeing stem from larger issues in the area.

    First: Our assumption is that people don’t know if 104th meets up with Foster, so they head down 104th before turning on Ellis or Reedway to continue down 103rd to Foster.

    Second: Drivers heading south on 104th toward Harold (from Holgate) are confronted with speed bumps. However, the bumps end too soon and drivers get going very fast and accelerate through the Harold stop sign.

    Third: There is a general sense in the neighborhood that traffic rules do not apply here.

What Neighbors Have to Say

 

“Every day and night numerous (more than 20) use the stop sign as a starting point to drag race in either direction on Harold St at SE 104th. There are numerous almost hits when cars on 104th turn onto Harold because the line of sight at the top of the hill is limited.”

— Maria, 104th & Harold

 

“I have been wanting to apply for a street painting permit on 104th and Ellis, but I can’t in good conscience create a space that would invite people into the street under the current conditions. On April 8, 2022 a car crashed into our parked car so hard that the front wheel got pushed up onto the sidewalk. This was the second time a vehicle hit our parked car in the past three years. Our car has also been hit with debris (an old door) that flew out of the back of a speeding truck hauling junk. My old car also got hit while parked in front of our home on 104th. We need traffic slowing measures now.”

—Julianna, 104th

 

“We take our toddler on walks in this area almost every day. This photo was taken a couple weeks before the speeding car took out this fence and crashed in our neighbors yard.”

—Cody, 104th

A Snapshot of 104th

  • Ellis & 104th School Bus Stop

    The intersection of Ellis and 104th is an official school bus stop. Children gather there in the mornings and are dropped off in the afternoon.

  • A Route to the Park

    Kids walk up and down 104th because it’s the most direct route to Bloomington park for many families.

  • TriMet Bus Stop

    The westbound #10 stops at 104th and Harold. People from the area walk this route in the morning to get to the stop.

Crash data is underreported in neighborhoods such as ours for a variety of factors related to the socio-economic makeup of our neighborhood. 104th and Harold is no exception.

 

Solutions

  • Clarify that this is a "local access" street.

    In the short term, add “Local Access Only” signs and barrels where 104th meets up with Harold.

  • Add solar powered flashing red lights at Harold and 1o4th

    Drivers often miss this stop sign, seemingly unintentionally.

  • Add solar powered flashing red lights at Ellis and 104th

    PBOT ha come out to assess this intersection and has claimed that the stop sign is visible, but people continue to run the stop sign on a daily basis (2024). We need more thoughtful attention paid to this intersection, especially with the expansion of the Safe Rest Village.

PBOT Plans

PBOT has indicated that they do not plan to address the safety issues in this section of 104th.

Are there modifications that can be made elsewhere to slow traffic that is heading South on 104th? As stated above, some of our ideas include:

  • Place a “Local Access Only” sign and barrel at the top of 104th at the Harold intersection.

  • Add one additional speed bump on 104th just north of Harold that’s closer to the intersection

  • Add a flashing red light at the Harold/104th intersection that reminds drivers to stop before it’s too late

  • Or, in an ideal world, construct a mini round about to alter traffic patterns at the Harold/104th intersection

Is there additional evidence that we can provide to show that this section of 104th is a safety hazard and worth addressing?