Otak On-Call Contractor with City of Portland Bureau of Transportation

July, 2020

The Survey Group at Otak, Inc. has been working as one of the consultants under the 2017 On-Call Survey Contract with the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). In this role, Otak provides land and hydrographic surveying, laser scanning, mapping, and construction staking services. As projects come up, they are assigned to the next consultant on the roll call; unless specific technology or skills are required, and a specific consultant is the only one with the capabilities. 

Most recently, the Otak team has provided mapping along SW 4th Avenue from Lincoln to Burnside in downtown Portland, for a grind and inlay pavement project to rehab the pavement and for planned pedestrian improvements. The City will also be putting in a left-running protected bikeway, signalized pedestrian crossings, and upgraded ADA corner ramps. Otak provided mapping of the existing conditions, including roadway, utilities, building fronts, sidewalk, trees, etc. and resolved the rights of way.

This past spring, Otak also completed a topographic survey of a plot in St. Johns for an alternative shelter and performed a boundary survey to clearly identify property limits and any encroachments by neighboring properties. This is a piece of land where the city and Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services is working with Do Good Multnomah to establish a transitional shelter for twenty small homes. Sue Tsoi, Otak Project Surveyor, finds this type of work to be rewarding, stating that “it may be a small project, but it is important community work and it feels good to be a part of it.”

Additionally, Otak subcontracts to partners like D&H Flagging for traffic control, and APS Locating Inc. for private utility location. 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has an aspirational goal to use 20% minority, women, and emerging small businesses. Otak works toward this goal when opportunities arise on projects.