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OR 99W 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. 

In the downtown area, these streets are home to local businesses and community destinations, such as the Chehalem Cultural Center and the Newberg Public Library. They also connect people to nearby schools and bike routes. 

With the construction of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass creating new ways to connect to nearby communities, opportunities are emerging to enhance safety and expand mobility choices in Newberg. Previous plans, including the Newberg Downtown Improvement Plan and Transportation System Plan (TSP), identify community support to reconfigure E Hancock Street and E 1st Street to better serve everyone. The following sections explore proposed improvements to bring these plans to life.

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. 

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.
Check out the before and after photos.

​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​

✅ Benefits

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

  • Give pedestrians more options for getting around downtown Newberg and improve corridor safety. 
  • 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.


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 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 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:

  • Give pedestrians more options for getting around downtown Newberg and improve corridor safety. 
  • 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.