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Downtown Improvements

Aerial photo of NewbergThe OR 99W Couplet through downtown Newberg includes E Hancock Street and E 1st Street and is a critical link both within the City of Newberg and to nearby communities. These streets are home to local businesses and community destinations. They also connect people to nearby schools and bike routes. 

The construction of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass has reduced traffic through downtown Newberg. Now we have the opportunity to build on projects identified in previous plans to re-envision how E Hancock and E 1st Streets can better serve the traveling public.

We expect to implement recommendations in two phases:
  • Phase 1 improvements include lower-cost approaches, such as striping and signs.
  • Phase 2 improvements include investments in wider sidewalks and other changes to existing curbs. 
Upon completion of this study, we'll look to identify funding for downtown improvements. 
 E 1st Street

Today, E 1st Street has three lanes for traffic, a narrow striped bike lane on the south side of the street and parking generally on both sides of the street.

The solutions we're looking at between S Harrison Street and S Meridian Street include:

  • Installing a parking-protected bike lane on the south side of the street. Existing parking on the south side of the street would shift to the outside of the bike lane.
  • In Phase 1, we could use striping to create a buffer. Bike parking could be added to this space.
  • In Phase 2, we could expand the sidewalk on the south side, consistent with the Downtown Improvement Plan. 
  • Keeping parking on both sides of the street. 
  • Maintaining two lanes for traffic.

​In our first online open house, Newberg residents said that crossing safety and comfort is the key concern. 

Some of the improvements we're looking at to address these concerns are:

🚦 At intersections with traffic signals, we can:

  • Add pedestrian islands. This would help reduce potential conflicts with the bike lane and make it easier for people to see and be seen by drivers. These islands also reduce the crossing distance.
  • Restrict parking near the intersection to improve visibility for all roadway users. 

🚫🚦 At intersections without traffic signals, we can:

  • Add pedestrian islands. This would help reduce po​tential conflicts with the bike lane and make it easier for people to see and be seen by drivers. These islands also reduce the crossing distance.
  • Restrict parking near the intersection to improve visibility for all roadway users. 
  • Add improved crosswalk striping and advanced stop lines to make it easier to see people crossing. 
  • Add Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at key crossing locations, including School Street and Washington Street.
Example of improved crossing on E 1st Street, looking west​
​

Option 1 – a parking-protected bike lane

Check out the before and after photos.

✅ Benefits

The improvements we recommend for E 1st Street reflect priority projects identified in the Newberg Transportation System Plan and Downtown Improvement Plan. They:

  • Improve the corridor’s quality and comfort for people walking, rolling and biking.
  • Establish the space for future sidewalk expansion, consistent with the Downtown Improvement Plan. 
  • Improve pedestrian crossings by reducing the crossing distance, increasing visibility and enhancing crossing locations without traffic signals.​
  • Keep the on-street parking. 

❌ Limitations

  • By restricting parking near intersections, we may have to remove a few parking spaces to improve safety and visibility. 
  • We need to identify the best approach for the bus stop design at Thriftway. 
  • To reach destinations, drivers may choose other nearby routes, including the Newberg-Dundee Bypass or local streets. 
  • Fewer lanes of traffic may impact future travel conditions for drivers. For example, it may take up to an additional three seconds to travel eastbound through the intersection of E 1st Street and College Street.

Option 2 – a parking-protected bike lane with vertical posts

Check out the before and after photos.

​✅ Benefits

  • Traffic is farther from pedestrians on the sidewalk, creating a quieter more pleasant walking experience.
  • Space for future sidewalk expansion.
  • Reduces crossing distance, increases visibility and enhances crossing locations without traffic signals.
  • Keeps the on-street parking.
  • Vertical separation protects by preventing drivers from going into bike lane.

❌ Limitations

  • May need to remove a few parking spaces.
  • Need to identify best approach for the bus stop design at Thriftway.
  • Drivers may choose other nearby routes to get to their destination.
  • Less traffic lanes may impact future capacity.
  • Maintenance of bike lane will require getting behind the vertical barrier.​




Option 3 – a parking-protected bike lane with curbs

Check out the before and after photos.

​✅ Benefits

  • Traffic is farther from pedestrians on the sidewalk, creating a quieter more pleasant walking experience.
  • Space for future sidewalk expansion.
  • Reduces crossing distance, increases visibility and enhances crossing locations without traffic signals.
  • Keeps the on-street parking.
  • Vertical separation protects by preventing drivers from going into bike lane.

❌ Limitations

  • May need to remove a few parking spaces.
  • Need to identify best approach for the bus stop design at Thriftway.
  • Drivers may choose other nearby routes to get to their destination.
  • Less traffic lanes may impact future capacity.
  • Maintenance of bike lane will require getting behind the vertical barrier.​


Why the bike lane and parking lanes should swap places

Image showing cross section of road with two travel lanes, a bike lane and two parking lanes  

If the parking lane was by the curb, there would: 

  • Be 14 feet available for a buffered bike lane (buffers on both sides of the bike lane). 
  • No options for a protected bike lane with vertical elements like median separators or posts as motor vehicles will be traveling across the bike lane to reach parking. 

Since 14 feet is wider than the motor vehicle travel lanes, and with only paint separation, there would be nothing to discourage people from using the bike lane as a drive lane.


E Hancock Street

Today, E Hancock Street has three lanes for traffic, a striped bike lane on the north side of the street, and parking on the south side of the street.

The solutions we're looking at between N Meridian Street and N Washington Street include:

  • Changing the north vehicle lane to a buffered bike lane.
  • In Phase 1, we could add temporary on-street parking to the north side of the street. 
  • In Phase 2, we would remove parking for wider sidewalks. 
  • Keeping parking on the south side of the street.

  • Maintaining two lanes for traffic.

Check out the before and after photos.

In our first online open house, Newberg residents said crossing safety and comfort are key concerns. 

Some of the improvements we're loo​​king at to address these concerns are: 

🚦 At intersections with traffic signals, we can:

  • Add pedestrian islands. This would help reduce potential conflicts with the bike lane and make it easier for people to see and be seen by drivers. These islands also reduce the crossing distance.
  • Restrict parking near the intersection to improve visibility for all roadway users. 

🚫🚦 ​At intersections without traffic signals, we ca​n:

  • Add pedestrian islands. This would help reduce potential conflicts with the bike lane and ​make it easier for people to see and be seen by drivers. These islands also reduce the crossing distance.
  • Restrict parking near the intersection to improve visibility for all roadway users. 
  • Add improved crosswalk striping and advanced stop lines to make it easier to see people crossing. 
  • Add Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at key crossing locations, including School Street and Washington Street.​
Example of improved crossing on E Hancock Street, looking east​

✅ ​Benefits

The improvements we recommend for E Hancock Street reflect priority projects identified in the Newberg Transportation System Plan and Downtown Improvement Plan. They:

  • Improve the corridor’s quality and comfort for people walking, rolling and biking.
  • Improve pedestrian crossings by reducing the crossing distance, increasing visibility and enhancing crossing locations without traffic signals.
  • Keep the on-street parking. 

❌ Limitations:

  • We need to identify the best approach for the bus stop design near Blaine Street.
  • To reach destinations, drivers may choose other nearby routes, including the Newberg-Dundee Bypass or local streets.
  • Fewer lanes of traffic may impact future travel conditions for drivers. For example, it may take up to an additional 73 seconds to travel westbound through the intersection of E Hancock Street and College Street.