City of Portland has kept its promise to improve 82nd Avenue with strong financial support. On December 4, the City Council announced that $55.5 million from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund will be used to enhance transportation and safety on 82nd Avenue. This amount exceeds the original $35 million local funding commitment made when the city took over the avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation last year, according to the City of Portland.
Portland is set to invest funds in improving bus rapid transit, sidewalks, and pedestrian crossings along 82nd Avenue, with less than two weeks before the plan is adopted. Outgoing Mayor Ted Wheeler said, "I am pleased to fulfill a commitment that I made to the people who work, live, play and worship along 82nd Avenue before I leave office," emphasizing the project’s focus on climate goals and community well-being. The money comes from the $300 million Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Collaborating for Climate Action package, aimed at cutting carbon emissions and boosting local businesses in energy, construction, and renewables. TriMet and the 82nd Avenue Community Coalition worked together to secure funding for these improvements along the seven-mile stretch between Southeast Clatsop Street and Northeast Cully, as reported by the City of Portland.
Since 2023, 82nd Avenue in Portland has seen major improvements, including 245 new streetlights, 54 new poles, 52 ADA-compliant corner ramps, and smoother traffic with updated signals at 29 intersections. New safety cameras are also making the area safer for both drivers and pedestrians. Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal called it "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform 82nd Avenue." More upgrades are coming, including bike and pedestrian crossings and a two-mile pavement project set to finish by 2026. Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams said, "I am so proud of the work that Portland Bureau of Transportation staff have done to advance projects on 82nd Avenue in record time," as stated by the City of Portland.
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