Allen Boulevard-92nd Avenue Shared-Use Path Connection

Location: Beaverton

Cost: $3.7 million

Completion Date: December 2023

Owner/Developer: City of Beaverton

Architect: Not applicable

Engineer: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis

General Contractor: Not disclosed

Submitting Company: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis

Subcontractors: Epic Land Solutions, GeoDesign, Global Transportation Engineering, Morgan Holen & Associates

The Allen Boulevard/92nd Avenue Shared-Use Path Connection project was not just about paving trails and erecting signs it was about weaving safety, sustainability and community together into the fabric of the landscape.

Originally, the intersection of 92nd Avenue and Allen Boulevard was a sharp curve where 92nd Avenue split between the main route on Allen Boulevard in the city of Beaverton and a secondary, more rural route on 92nd Avenue in Washington County. The tight horizontal geometry, higher speeds, ambiguous intersection and Fanno Creek Trail crossing resulted in hazardous conditions for users.

The design team proposed a variety of solutions to meet project goals, and the solution of a roundabout and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at the intersection was selected. While one of the more expensive options, it was ultimately cost effective for the city as it addressed many other issues and provided a safe trail crossing.

The roundabout, a centerpiece of the design, served as more than a traffic management tool. It slowed speeding vehicles, clarified confusing intersections and provided a gateway from the rural expanse of Washington County into the heart of Beaverton. The resulting trail connection has the fewest number of street crossings with signalized or RRFB-enhanced trail crossings of all roadways.

Fanno Creek Trail serves 12,000 people per month for recreation, nature exploration and non-motorized transportation. The Allen Boulevard/92nd Avenue segment was a gap in the 4.5-mile trail network that required users to join the roadway or utilize substandard sidewalk to reconnect with the trail.

Stormwater planters were built as part of the improvements to provide water quality treatment within the project area. The city had previous issues with the deep sections of bioretention soil media and rock adjacent to roadways. HHPR developed details for deep retaining wall style perimeter walls to address the concerns. The project will serve as a case study for the city on the cost effectiveness of installing a robust and costly perimeter wall, and the reduction in long-term maintenance costs.

Cooperation was key for the project. HHPR worked closely with the city of Beaverton, the Tualatin-Hills Parks and Recreation District and Washington County. Despite the pandemic, the team adapted, shifting seamlessly to online meetings and an online open house presentation, ensuring the project stayed on track.

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