In other news, we have (at least) 50 miles of unpaved, gravel streets in the area. From my inbox:
(Nov. 4, 2026) Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) maintenance crews start servicing residential gravel streets on Thursday as part of the city’s Gravel Street Service, provided at no cost to residents and funded by Fixing Our Streets. Crews will be starting in the Linnton, Forest Park and Northwest District neighborhoods before moving southward to Marquam Hill, Maplewood and concluding near Lewis & Clark College by the spring.
The Gravel Street Service improves the condition of the 50 miles of unpaved gravel roads in Portland. These streets are not maintained by the city and deteriorate with regular use. As part of the service, PBOT crews fill in ruts and potholes and grade the streets for a smoother surface. Crews may or may not place new gravel, depending on the condition of the roadway. These smoothed-out streets help people more easily get around their neighborhoods and access their homes.
PBOT started the Gravel Street Service in 2018. Over 5,000 Portland residences are located alongside gravel streets. Crews work on a three-year cycle, working from November through springtime, tackling all sections of the city over the course of three consecutive years. Thanks to voters in May 2024 who resoundingly supported a renewal of Portland’s 10-cent per gallon gas tax-funded program, Fixing Our Streets, the program was funded for an additional four years through 2028.