Finance Committee forwards PBOT ordinance to acquire easements for Southwest Capitol Hill Road sidewalk infill

The Finance Committee on May 5 considered and moved to forward to full council an ordinance authorizing the Portland Bureau of Transportation to acquire property rights, including a permanent easement and temporary construction easements, for sidewalk infill on Southwest Capitol Hill Road between Bertha and Barber.

PBOT project manager Ashley Lopez told the committee the project will build roughly 740 feet of new sidewalk, install bike facilities and update street lighting; the Bureau of Environmental Services will add stormwater facilities and street trees as part of a joint project. Lopez said the project budget is about $2,666,000 and that funding comes from LTIC (Local Transportation Infrastructure Charge) funds, a federal/state grant secured by a community group (Southwest Trails), and general-fund or other local sources.

Easements and outreach

Right-of-way agent Heather Byers said the project needs permanent and temporary easements from 10 property owners (Byers stated that the set includes one permanent easement and 10 temporary easements). Staff described outreach since August 2023 plus earlier efforts and said they had used virtual open houses, tabling at community events, mailings, door-to-door contact and phone calls. Lopez said public input weighed in on tradeoffs such as parking versus sidewalk near a nature park and that the community favored sidewalks in that location.

Community and maintenance questions

Councilors asked how the project would serve renters and help with access to destinations; staff noted the corridor is adjacent to parks, schools, frequent transit and proposed or existing affordable housing projects and said PBOT used postal-service address lists and in-person outreach to reach apartment residents. On long-term maintenance, staff said sidewalks defined as sidewalks under City Code Title 17 become adjacent-property-owner maintenance responsibility after the two-year construction warranty; PBOT retains responsibility for multi-use paths not defined as sidewalks.

Vote and next steps

Councilor Novick moved the ordinance and Councilor Green seconded. The committee record shows the motion and second; a roll-call vote for this item does not appear in the transcript. Staff said the project is at about 95% design and construction is expected in spring 2026; PBOT will continue outreach and proceed with right-of-way negotiations and offers of just compensation.

Ending: Staff said they will return with finalized right-of-way materials as negotiations and design progress toward construction.