October 21, 2015
Page 5
Traffic Signal Improves Safety
New Seasons,
Legacy and
other businesses
pay for upgrade
A new traffic signal is improv-
ing safety at the intersection of
North Vancouver Avenue and
Cook Street. The device went on-
line last week, made possible by
a partnership between the Port-
land Bureau of Transportation
and a group of nearby property
owners, including the American
Red Cross, Legacy Health, Kaiser
Group, Karuna Properties, Cook
Street Apartments and New Sea-
sons Market.
The signal will improve safe-
ty for people riding bicycles on
Portland’s busiest bike route and
people walking will now have
crosswalks and pedestrian signals
- making it easier and safer for
them to navigate.
The Fremont Bridge opened in
1973, but traffic signals were not
installed on the nearby streets,
creating traffic flow problems and
safety concerns at nearby intersec-
tions. The un-signalized intersec-
tion had been on the city’s top 10
list for right angle crashes.
A Local Improvement District
allowed property owners to pool
their resources to share the cost of
the improvements.
“Credit goes to the members of
A new traffic signal at North Vancouver Avenue and Cook Street provides a safety upgrade for a busy traffic corridor. Pedestrian Joy
Mack was one of the first to use the new crossing during last week’s activation celebration.
the Boise and Eliot neighborhoods
and the local business community
– many of whom have been ad-
vocating for this traffic signal for
a very long time,” said Portland
Bureau of Transportation Director
Leah Treat, “It is because of their
community spirit and persistence
that we have this signal here to-
day.”
Teen Serves as
National Leader
A Lincoln High School student
has become the first youth to ever
serve on this city’s Human Rights
Commission. Alisha Zhao, 16, is
an ambassador for Youth Service
America and the Festival of Chil-
dren Foundation.
As one of 51 ambassadors se-
lected from a nationwide pool,
she will get the support and train-
ing needed to lead an initiative
to counteract the negative effects
poverty has on childhood devel-
opment.
Zhao will focus on youth expe-
riencing homelessness and what
affordable and convenient pro-
grams are available to help them
improve their education, creativi-
ty, physical activity, and health.
She recently travelled to Wash-
ington, D.C. for leadership train-
ing and meetings with the mem-
bers of the state’s congressional
delegation. Her Kids First Project
will address Oregon’s poor rank-
Alisha Zhao
ing in early childhood education
as well as its lack of recreation-
al programs for disadvantaged
youth.