Tiffany Koyama Lane
Council - District 3
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Q1 A city to learn from
What city has an approach to transportation that Portland should learn from? What specific policies, funding, design, etc., could be adopted to work here?
It’s difficult to overstate how transformative Paris’ transportation policies have been over the past decade. Paris has redefined “livability” in its city, not by the convenience of a car commute, but rather by public health, street vibrancy, and advancing its pollution reduction and climate action goals.
Instead of widening car infrastructure without any hope of being able to pay for its ongoing maintenance, Paris has planted street trees and developed local pocket parks. Instead of being satisfied with peek-a-boo bike lanes, Paris has invested in protected cycling infrastructure. Political leaders have withstood the backlash from business groups and local drivers, and it has paid off. As reported by NPR after Paris’ spring 2025 elections, “...66% of Parisians voted to convert 500 more streets into pedestrian zones, marking one of the biggest shifts in how the city moves.”
Many other cities have success stories to share, but few cities have, within the last decade, demonstrated the level of commitment and political courage that has resulted in such a significant transformation.
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Q2 Got it right, got it wrong
What is one specific Portland transportation project (built, abandoned, under construction, or proposed) that you think Portland got right, and one that Portland got wrong?
Right: For decades, 82nd Avenue has been one of the most dangerous corridors within Portland’s borders, and this was primarily because the legacy highway was on the wrong agency’s list of assets. Given that 82nd Avenue is the host of the most-used bus line in the State of Oregon, it makes sense to shift from a car-centric corridor to a transit-first corridor. There is a lot of work yet to be done to make this corridor everything that it can be; but every median, every street tree that is placed along 82nd Ave is a step in the right direction.
Wrong: Free parking.
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Q3 Progress on biking, walking & safety
Is Portland making progress on getting more people biking and walking, and on making streets safer? What do you think is behind that trajectory?
One of my signature pieces of legislation from my short first term was recommitting the city to ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets, after years of rising, senseless deaths. This process, which I was able to organize as a unanimous vote, secured significant administrative and fiscal resources for street design improvements and safety measures. I also was able to direct the implementation of some nimble, low-cost safety measures like curb daylighting and ending right turns on red at our most dangerous intersections. I can say that at the city level there is progress, but it’s not enough and the work is not done. Just this week I spoke to the mother of a middle school student who was struck and injured on her bike by a driver making a turn at a low-visibility intersection. We have continued to see traffic fatalities, including in my district. I am confident that the trajectory is changing, but this is not an issue when you can say it’s “good enough,” when people are still being hurt and killed on our streets.
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Q4 How they get around
How do you actually get around Portland day-to-day? Commuting, errands, evening plans, etc. What is the last trip you took by bike or transit, and what's stopping you from doing more of your trips that way?
I ride the 14 bus to and from work multiple times a week. I ride my bike to get around the neighborhood with my kids, and I am lucky to live in a neighborhood where I can easily walk to the grocery store, library, and other essential places. My boys ride their bikes to and from school, and I want more kids to be able to do that. And honestly, I want to feel more secure about how safe they are while they are making that short trip.