Hi neighbors, I’m Graeme Rudd. I recently volunteered to support BWNA as its Transportation Committee chair, and I’d like to introduce myself and share what I’ve been working on.
A Little About Me
I spent about 14 years in federal service, mostly in the military. I served as a Green Beret, including time with a technology lab and as an intelligence analyst working with geographic information systems (GIS). This background shapes my approach: I like to start with a clear picture of what’s happening on the ground.
Why I’m Doing This
We often hear there’s no money for the transportation improvements our neighborhood needs. But there may be funding allocations or programs out there to help meet those needs. So, my first goal is simple: to understand our neighborhood’s transportation picture and find out what resources might be available.
What I’ve Been Working On
I’ve had two helpful conversations with representatives from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), who pointed me to data that clarified our neighborhood’s transportation realities and where to dig deeper. I’ve started putting that data onto an interactive map showing:
- B-W neighborhood greenways (streets that prioritize people walking, bicycling, and rolling).
- Roads on the city’s High Crash Network (HCN), which includes NE Fremont Street. Visit this PBOT page for more info about Portland’s HCN: tinyurl.com/4c2p787y.
- Safe Routes to School (safe, accessible routes for students).
- Intersections that crash data shows are most dangerous.
My hope is to build this into something neighbors can explore so we share an understanding of our current baseline and where improvements are needed. View the map on our website at BWNApdx.org/transportation-map.
Where This Could Lead
With a clearer picture, I’d like to see whether our needs line up with existing programs, such as Safe Routes to School, that could help fund improvements. At a minimum, this work should help us show PBOT and our elected representatives where our neighborhood needs the most help.
How You Can Be Part of It
Data only tells part of the story. I’m working with other committee members on ways to gather community input so we can advocate for what the neighborhood needs most, backed by data and your insights.
I’ll share more as the map comes together. Meanwhile, if you have thoughts about transportation in the neighborhood, I’d love to hear them. Email me at pdx.stmptwn@gmail.com.
Graeme Rudd spent about 14 years in the military with multiple deployments overseas. During his service he was assigned to a military lab that assessed new and emerging technology, which is how he entered the Cybersecurity and Deep Tech space. He later attended Lewis & Clark Law School and earned his JD (Juris Doctor) degree, then co-founded two businesses focused on new and emerging technologies. After over a decade as a geographic nomad, he looks forward to raising his family in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood.