Downtown Portland Clean & Safe

Emergency Messages as of 1:00 PM, Wed. Jan 21

No information currently posted.

logo

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Downtown Portland Clean & Safe.

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

Downtown Portland Saw Consistent Growth In Foot Traffic Throughout 2025, New Data Shows - 01/21/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
January 21, 2026 

 

Contact:  

Monice Wong, Manager of Media Relations  
mwong@portlandalliance.com 

 

 

 

Downtown Portland Saw Consistent Growth in Foot Traffic Throughout 2025, New Data Shows 

Pedestrian Traffic Trends Up Toward Pre-Pandemic Levels, Particularly Saturdays, Though Downtown Office Worker Activity Still Lags 

 

Portland, OR — January 21, 2026 — Downtown Portland foot traffic surpassed 2024 levels during eleven of twelve months in 2025. Gains were driven primarily by increased visitor and resident activity, weekend engagement, and strong turnout during festivals, cultural gatherings, and holiday periods. Overall, the data shows a sustained upward trend. However, lagging office worker activity remains a major barrier to the full recovery of downtown pedestrian traffic to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. 

 

According to the latest Downtown Foot Traffic Report from Downtown Portland Clean & Safe: 

  • More than 32 million pedestrians visited downtown in 2025, up from 30 million pedestrians in 2024 — a 5.5% increase. 

  • Saturdays in downtown have rebounded to nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels, with multiple Saturdays exceeding 2019 activity. 

  • 2025 saw the busiest summer for pedestrian traffic since before the pandemic.   

  • 11 out of 12 months in 2025 recorded higher foot traffic than the same months in 2024, up from 9 months of year-over-year growth in 2024. 

  • 18 out of the past 20 months saw year-over-year foot traffic growth. 

 

Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber, commented, “This data underscores that public-private partnerships to improve downtown cleanliness and safety are producing significant results. We commend Governor Kotek, Mayor Wilson, Travel Portland, and all those who have invested in the livability and vibrancy of the downtown core.” Hoan added, “To fully recover downtown visitor activity and vibrancy, we must also recover worker activity — growing businesses and building housing through public-private partnership is the next step toward a better future for our city. 

 

Governor Tina Kotek commented, “This data tells us what anyone who has visited downtown lately already knows: Portland has a renewed vibrance and vitality.” The Governor added, “I want to thank neighbors, business owners and community leaders who have stepped up to help make that true. This is good news. Let’s keep going.” 

 

“Visitors and residents are taking notice of downtown’s building vibrancy — choosing downtown to shop, dine, and gather,” Mayor Keith Wilson said. “This sustained momentum shows that when we prioritize recovery and public-private partnership, for example through cleaning and safety initiatives and cultural activations, we see positive results. There remains work to be done, but the pulse of downtown beats stronger every month.” 

 

Megan Conway, President and CEO of Travel Portland, added, “The vibrancy of Portland’s downtown is essential to Travel Portland’s mission of driving overnight travel. Seeing strong measurable signs that people from across the region and beyond are drawn to the cultural events and experiences in our downtown confirms that Portland has plenty to offer guests. Continued increases in downtown foot traffic remains central to building a healthy landscape for the small and large hospitality businesses that make Portland an authentic destination.” 

  

Challenges Remain 

 

Worker Foot Traffic Remains Stagnant 

Despite gains in visitor and residential traffic, office worker activity did not show the same momentum. Weekday volumes, especially worker-driven trips, remain the primary drag on full recovery. 

 

While improving each year since 2021, worker traffic remains the slowest-recovering segment. Hybrid and remote work patterns continue to suppress weekday volumes relative to 2019. 

 

Looking Ahead 

 

Strong weekend activity and a packed calendar of cultural events have sparked sustained year-over-year growth in downtown foot traffic, with Saturdays showing a particularly dramatic increase from 2024. In 2025, Downtown Portland recorded higher foot traffic than in 2024 for eleven of twelve months, up from nine months of growth in 2024, demonstrating that the rebound is not limited to isolated events or seasonal spikes. This is important for business planning and public investment: the trend is consistently upward, not flat or declining. 

 

However, worker foot traffic has stagnated — a major barrier to recovering pre-pandemic overall foot traffic levels. Long-term, we must address the fundamental barriers to downtown worker foot traffic by supporting private-sector growth and business development in the core. 

 

 

The full 2025 Foot Traffic Report is available at 2025 Foot Traffic in Downtown and Old Town Portland  

Downtown Portland Saw Consistent Growth In Foot Traffic Throughout 2025, New Data Shows - 01/21/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
January 21, 2026 

 

Contact:  

Monice Wong, Manager of Media Relations  
mwong@portlandalliance.com 

 

 

 

Downtown Portland Saw Consistent Growth in Foot Traffic Throughout 2025, New Data Shows 

Pedestrian Traffic Trends Up Toward Pre-Pandemic Levels, Particularly Saturdays, Though Downtown Office Worker Activity Still Lags 

 

Portland, OR — January 21, 2026 — Downtown Portland foot traffic surpassed 2024 levels during eleven of twelve months in 2025. Gains were driven primarily by increased visitor and resident activity, weekend engagement, and strong turnout during festivals, cultural gatherings, and holiday periods. Overall, the data shows a sustained upward trend. However, lagging office worker activity remains a major barrier to the full recovery of downtown pedestrian traffic to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. 

 

According to the latest Downtown Foot Traffic Report from Downtown Portland Clean & Safe: 

  • More than 32 million pedestrians visited downtown in 2025, up from 30 million pedestrians in 2024 — a 5.5% increase. 

  • Saturdays in downtown have rebounded to nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels, with multiple Saturdays exceeding 2019 activity. 

  • 2025 saw the busiest summer for pedestrian traffic since before the pandemic.   

  • 11 out of 12 months in 2025 recorded higher foot traffic than the same months in 2024, up from 9 months of year-over-year growth in 2024. 

  • 18 out of the past 20 months saw year-over-year foot traffic growth. 

 

Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber, commented, “This data underscores that public-private partnerships to improve downtown cleanliness and safety are producing significant results. We commend Governor Kotek, Mayor Wilson, Travel Portland, and all those who have invested in the livability and vibrancy of the downtown core.” Hoan added, “To fully recover downtown visitor activity and vibrancy, we must also recover worker activity — growing businesses and building housing through public-private partnership is the next step toward a better future for our city. 

 

Governor Tina Kotek commented, “This data tells us what anyone who has visited downtown lately already knows: Portland has a renewed vibrance and vitality.” The Governor added, “I want to thank neighbors, business owners and community leaders who have stepped up to help make that true. This is good news. Let’s keep going.” 

 

“Visitors and residents are taking notice of downtown’s building vibrancy — choosing downtown to shop, dine, and gather,” Mayor Keith Wilson said. “This sustained momentum shows that when we prioritize recovery and public-private partnership, for example through cleaning and safety initiatives and cultural activations, we see positive results. There remains work to be done, but the pulse of downtown beats stronger every month.” 

 

Megan Conway, President and CEO of Travel Portland, added, “The vibrancy of Portland’s downtown is essential to Travel Portland’s mission of driving overnight travel. Seeing strong measurable signs that people from across the region and beyond are drawn to the cultural events and experiences in our downtown confirms that Portland has plenty to offer guests. Continued increases in downtown foot traffic remains central to building a healthy landscape for the small and large hospitality businesses that make Portland an authentic destination.” 

  

Challenges Remain 

 

Worker Foot Traffic Remains Stagnant 

Despite gains in visitor and residential traffic, office worker activity did not show the same momentum. Weekday volumes, especially worker-driven trips, remain the primary drag on full recovery. 

 

While improving each year since 2021, worker traffic remains the slowest-recovering segment. Hybrid and remote work patterns continue to suppress weekday volumes relative to 2019. 

 

Looking Ahead 

 

Strong weekend activity and a packed calendar of cultural events have sparked sustained year-over-year growth in downtown foot traffic, with Saturdays showing a particularly dramatic increase from 2024. In 2025, Downtown Portland recorded higher foot traffic than in 2024 for eleven of twelve months, up from nine months of growth in 2024, demonstrating that the rebound is not limited to isolated events or seasonal spikes. This is important for business planning and public investment: the trend is consistently upward, not flat or declining. 

 

However, worker foot traffic has stagnated — a major barrier to recovering pre-pandemic overall foot traffic levels. Long-term, we must address the fundamental barriers to downtown worker foot traffic by supporting private-sector growth and business development in the core. 

 

 

The full 2025 Foot Traffic Report is available at 2025 Foot Traffic in Downtown and Old Town Portland