Residents in Portland's Rockwood community are set to see their streets become a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists as construction kicks off on the new SE 174th Avenue Sidewalk Infill project. A hefty $2.4 million is being pumped into the neighborhood to lay down a new multi-use path, ADA curb ramps, fresh crosswalks, stormwater pipes, and to proudly plant new trees, as confirmed by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).
The improvements are slated to begin this week, particularly aiming to benefit students and families who to need to safely navigate to and from Alder Elementary School, operated by the Reynolds School District. The new 10-foot wide path is expected to particularly help the diverse student body who speak over 20 different home languages, as well as anyone needing to access transit stops and businesses on SE Stark Street. A gap between the path and the street will be filled with a 3-foot wide strip dedicated for street trees, which is sure to beautify the area.
Funding for this sizable project comes primarily thanks to a $2 million grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) via its Safe Routes to School Competitive Infrastructure Grant program. Additional support came from the Reynolds School District, which backed the initiative with a letter of support. The remaining funds were covered by a 20% grant funding match from PBOT's own Fixing Our Streets program, adding another layer of local investment into the project.
The City seems poised to eagerly upgrade these stretches of road between SE Main and Stark streets, with the hopes to dramatically improve both the aesthetics and the safety standards of the neighborhood. As reported by PBOT, this construction is a part of an ongoing effort to create a more inclusive city where everyone, regardless of mobility, can to safely and easily move throughout.
