The notorious 82nd Avenue in Portland is set for a major facelift that aims to improve pedestrian safety and enhance neighborhood livability, officials said. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has unveiled a new design for the avenue known for its high crash rates and pedestrian hazards. The blueprint details extensive upgrades over a 2.5-mile stretch that will see sidewalk enhancements, safety improvements for pedestrians, and a fresh layer of smooth pavement.
Construction is expected to kick off this summer as a segment of the bureau's comprehensive Building a Better 82nd program. As detailed in a statement obtained by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the design showcases an extensive nine-month effort of public engagement and meticulous safety, and traffic analysis. Revamps include new or improved traffic signals at 10 intersections, and a modern zest with up-to-date street markings.
Funds for these critical fixes come from a combination of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), city, and state transportation funding, culminating in a whopping $185 million earmarked for the avenue's overhaul as legislated in 2021. This financial injection was pivotal in transferring ownership of the road to PBOT in the previous year. "For too long, 82nd Avenue has been known as a high crash corridor," said Portland Transportation Commissioner Mingus Mapps, "With the help of legislative leaders and community partners, PBOT's major maintenance project will make this a safer street, with the smooth, well-maintained pavement Portlanders expect."
Key elements of the upgrade include wider sidewalks to facilitate pedestrian travel and the planting of 250 new trees to foster a lasting green canopy. PBOT Director Millicent Williams underscored the importance of these changes in a statement: "Our staff have been working for months to ensure this major maintenance project will be responsive to community needs. We are bringing wider sidewalks, crossing improvements, street trees, and more to a corridor where people have been disproportionately affected by climate impacts and unsafe pedestrian conditions," as per the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
In a nod to local business access and neighborhood well-being, the plan also features designated left-turn areas from 82nd Avenue onto driveways and side streets to preclude traffic diversion through residential zones. These adjustments have been a result of thorough consultations with businesses and community groups in the surrounding area. The reimagined medians shall be revamped entirely, replaced by soil-laden islands to enable a nurturing habitat, not just for the trees, but for ground cover and shrubs as well. The strategy has been tailored to ensure that pedestrian visibility is not compromised, with trees set back at least 25 feet from crosswalks and additional space set aside for median refuges.
