The bike trap at the tracks on Queen Avenue is easy to see in hindsight, not so easy from the direction of travel. (July 7, 2025)
If you approach the rail crossing on Queen Avenue from the east, beware of the trap they’ve left for people on bikes.
Who’s “they,” you ask? Well, “they” is a combination of city engineers and contractors, the railroads, and ODOT.
I first pointed out this little problem back in January. On a ride last week I noticed it’s still there.
The marked bike lane on the north side of Queen leads directly into a deep gap about a foot wide and then the first rail. Drivers have to be ready for any bike riders approaching the crossing to veer into the traffic lane if they don’t want their front tires to hit the gap and smash into the rail.
Depending on speed, weight and tire inflation, hitting that rail might break a rim or cause a crash.
The City of Albany had Queen Avenue on both sides of the crossing repaved last year, and the contractors did a beautiful job. But the new surface stops at the crossing. Paving the crossing is a railroad job.
Years ago, when this paving job was first talked about, it was supposed to coincide with a “safety project” ODOT was planning at the Queen Avenue crossing itself.
But time and again, the crossing project has been postponed. ODOT still says construction May start in 2027, but considering the trouble the agency is having, don’t count on it.
ODOT estimates the crossing work will cost about $2.2 million. Having sent lay-off notices to 500 employees, it might want to rethink spending that much.
But fixing that bike trap wouldn’t cost millions. A couple of wheelbarrows of asphalt would fill the gap between the end of the bike lane and the rail.
The railroad — Portland & Western in this case — could take care of it in an hour or less. (hh)
So, do you stop your bike and get off and walk it across the tracks? Are you saying if someone on a bike proceeded forward, onto the coarse gravel, that when they came to the railroad track, that is to the steel rail, their tire would likely go sideways and they would crash?
Reading local blogs doesn’t help if you don’t pay attention.
Unfortunately, GOP recalcitrance at the Oregon Legislative session slowed the ODOT mission from going forward, thinking that fewer employees will somehow be better for Oregonians.
It is deliciously ironic that just when the GOP Naysayers mercilessly vote to eliminate jobs at ODOT (some of those eliminated were likely involved with discussions with the Railroad to move Hering’s bugaboo project to completion. Now, with the draconian cuts at ODOT, the Railroad has EVEN LESS incentive to cooperate with state and local government agencies. And so, Shelly Boshart-Davis has once again voted against the interests of the Queen Boulevard Bicycling Claque. When will Albanians learn?
Are you really that dense to blame the Republicans when the Democrats have a super majority in the house and senate? If I was in charge, I would fire up to 3000 ODOT employees, as per their own spokesman, they have only built 8 miles of new road in almost 50 years.
LOL
Stomp your feet and blame someone else is the Democrat way.
Try taking responsibility and fixing something for once. Democrats control this state, blaming Republicans for this problem is a cop out.
I’m sure once somebody is injured and sues and wins an award for an undisclosed amount of money, it will get fixed quickly.
Yeah, I’m a regular rider through there and I noticed the same thing and I think it’s super unsafe as a motor as a bicycle is to be riding through there because the cars do not yield for the bike riders
It is a pain to bike through. If you have wider tires, after slowing down, one can go through the gravel, but it is rough. Else you have to time traffic.
The work signs on 99 are also dangerous. Why can’t they be placed both in the bike lane and the sidewalk? Bikes can get by without going into the car lane and pedestrians have plenty of room. I’ve moved multiple ones over the years and had a conversation with a deputy about it who basically said bikes were on their own.
It’s always interesting to see the LOSERS comment against The REAL President Donald Trump on issues that have absolutely noting to do with him.
Get over it! Nancy Pelosi/George Soros lost.
I can’t wait for the day that the Queen Street crossing issue is finally resolved. It’s been a pain since the late 90s as I can recollect. No blame or shame, just get the job done!
So Hasso, you obviously see the problem, know the solution in the interim, and recognize why it isn’t happening. Why not call ODOT rail?? They would recognize your name.
“The City of Albany had Queen Avenue on both sides of the crossing repaved last year, and the contractors did a beautiful job. But the new surface stops at the crossing. Paving the crossing is a railroad job.”
It’s been a few years since I’ve been forced to take that route, but I don’t recall that problem before.
Can some entity do a “repair job” and create a hazard where there wasn’t one before? And, get away with it. Your City at work.
So, this story needs some real fact checking Editor. The total cost for the project is 2.2M, it’s a bigger part of Queen St. and not just at the RR X-ing. It may be a mile each way from the RR X-ing. ODOT has had it’s hands tied before this project even started by the RR. The “Right of Way” extends from centerline of the tracks back down Queen St. so many feet each side of the tracks. I don’t have a RR map in front of me right at the moment but you can bet that the RR would be very upset if ODOT came in a started doing work on the tracks. Let’s say I show up and started ripping up your driveway someday how would you feel. Well the RR could close the crossing down for years if they feel ODOT did something unsafe to the tracks or the area around the tracks. I mean the kind of closure that stops traffic from crossing the rails at Queen until further notice. Yes they have that right and would most likely use it. The reporter and editor of this story should be fired for writing this kind of nonsense. ODOT plays second fiddle to the RR and it takes time (Years) to get the RR on board and happy with the proposed construction. Has this so called reporter even contacted the RR? Bet not! Contacted ODOT? Not, then why write this kind of story I know it’s easy to cut ODOT down. The truth is I worked as a designer for ODOT for many years and they did good work when I worked for them. How about some straight facts reporter? How about the TRUTH!
“,,,The reporter and editor of this story should be fired for writing this kind of nonsense…”
Maybe fire the publisher too? Do you have any clue how out of touch you are?
Please fill me (us) in with your vast knowledge on the subject at hand. I really am intrigued with your statement. So have at it!
Because you are reading someone’s personal blog. How dense are you? Are you going to fire the internet too?
Not personal enough Bill! See you soon!
Your personal threat is noted and seen by any Police Officer that happens to read this.
Any attempt “to see me” will not turn out well for you.