Here’s what you need to know about Portland’s Forest Avenue redesign
Portland to Test “Road Diet” on Forest Avenue, Aiming to Boost Pedestrian Safety
Portland – City officials have approved a redesign of Forest Avenue, the main artery that links downtown Portland to the Westbrook town line. The proposal, which will cut the number of through lanes from four to three and add a center turn lane, will also install buffered bike lanes, new pedestrian crossings and side‑parking on one side of the street. The redesign will begin as a “demonstration” to gauge its effect before the changes are made permanent.
The move comes as part of Portland’s Vision Zero action plan, which lists Forest Avenue as a high‑injury corridor. The state’s Vision Zero initiative seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by the year 2030. Engineers began a comprehensive study of Forest Avenue in 2023, and in late 2024 the city held a public hearing at the Woodford’s Club that drew 80 residents to discuss safety improvements.
A series of public feedback sessions that year led to a proposed “road diet” – a plan that would remove one travel lane and replace it with a protected center turn lane. Because the new configuration would reduce the street’s capacity, the Maine Department of Transportation requested that the city first test the design in a demonstration phase.
What the Demonstration Will Look Like
City staff will hire a consultant to design traffic signal timing and equipment adjustments. The demonstration will use low‑cost materials such as pavement markings and bollards to test the design’s effectiveness before any permanent changes are made. If the pilot proves successful, the city will seek funding to “harden” the features – for example, installing permanent bike lane barriers and concrete medians.
The city’s capital improvement plan fund will cover the estimated cost of the demonstration, which is projected to be between $850,000 and $1.2 million.
“It will allow us to compare data from before and after, including the project’s impact on speeds,” said Bruce Hyman, Portland’s transportation program manager. “If we can demonstrate that the road diet does have an effect on lowering speeds, we might have a better chance of getting the speed limit reduced.”
Reactions from Residents and Businesses
Residents who attend the meeting noted that many avoid Forest Avenue because they feel unsafe cycling or walking, especially with children. Some also said the street’s perceived danger makes them less likely to shop at businesses along the avenue. Supporters of the redesign say that cutting the number of lanes will lower vehicle speeds, an issue that advocates have long pushed for on busy thoroughfares.
A business owner on Forest Avenue, who declined to be named, said he supports the safety upgrades but is worried the new layout could create more traffic congestion.
“We want safer streets for our kids and cyclists, but we also need traffic to flow smoothly,” he said. “If the redesign makes it harder for cars to get through, it could hurt local businesses.”
Timeline
With the city council’s approval in place, the next step is hiring the consultant. If all goes according to plan, implementation of the demonstration could begin as early as next summer. City staff will then monitor traffic patterns, speeds, and any changes in crash rates before deciding on a permanent redesign.
Portland’s move comes after a spike in pedestrian injuries and deaths in the city, prompting officials to take action on the city’s busiest streets. The Forest Avenue project is the latest effort to make Portland’s roads safer for all users while maintaining efficient traffic flow.
