TriMet is inching closer to a major traffic shakeup on 82nd Avenue, with a proposal to install curbside Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes along much of the corridor. The idea is to reserve the outer lanes for buses and right turns, pushing most through-traffic into the inner lanes. Agency staff have put two versions on the table for advisers this week: a shorter “Some BAT” plan and a seven-mile “More BAT” option that would cover most of 82nd. The final call now sits with TriMet leadership as the Policy & Budget Committee prepares a recommendation.
What TriMet's Study Shows
According to TriMet, modeling suggests the “More BAT” scenario could cut roughly 3 to 4 minutes off a seven-mile bus trip while adding about 3 to 4 minutes for drivers and diverting roughly 20 to 25 percent of peak-hour traffic to other routes. The shorter “Some BAT” alternative would deliver more modest transit gains, with about 1 to 2 minutes saved for buses, less driver diversion and a lower overall price tag. Those estimates come from comparing a seven-mile sample trip under each lane layout to track travel time, reliability and impacts on people walking along the corridor.
ODOT Flags Traffic And Design Risks
State highway engineers have warned TriMet that several intersections could be problem spots if curbside BAT lanes are installed, raising red flags about whether the design meets highway standards and might trigger mitigation work or formal design exceptions. That could mean extra months and extra money, BikePortland reports. ODOT highlighted areas near Powell, Lombard and other major crossings where traffic queues could spill back onto state facilities, a complication for anyone hoping for continuous curbside bus lanes along 82nd.
Business Owners Press For More Study
On the ground, many business owners are not sold on a long stretch of BAT lanes. Local storefronts and a coalition organized by the Portland Metro Chamber have urged TriMet to scale back the total BAT mileage and hire an outside firm to conduct an independent economic review before any driving lanes are narrowed, BikePortland reports. Michael Liu, owner of the Fubonn Shopping Center and chair of the chamber’s board, told the outlet he was “worried about the potential loss” of customers who currently arrive by car. Some law firms representing corridor businesses have already warned TriMet they may pursue legal action if the agency moves ahead with significant lane changes without additional study.
What's Ahead For Riders And The Project
The Policy & Budget Committee is scheduled to weigh the BAT-lane options this Friday, and TriMet leadership could announce the final scope after the committee delivers its recommendation, as reported by KGW. Project staff say they have spent recent months refining the BAT concepts with committee members in an effort to balance faster and more reliable bus service with business access, funding limits and schedule risks before locking in a design.
Legal And Funding Risks
TriMet's planning materials note that the more extensive BAT option would be materially more expensive than the smaller alternative, and that higher costs combined with required design exceptions could increase the risk of missing federal grant timelines. That trade-off, a few minutes saved for bus riders set against added costs, potential lawsuits and traffic diversion to parallel streets, is the central dilemma TriMet officials say they are weighing as they finalize the future of 82nd Avenue.
