Many neighbors along NW Naito Parkway say the pedestrian footbridge at Union Station, meant to connect the waterfront to downtown, has become largely unusable for people who cannot use stairs due to frequent elevator outages. Residents relying on step-free access report that the closures make errands, transit, grocery trips, and medical appointments difficult and sometimes risky.
According to KGW, the elevator on the east side of the footbridge has been out of service for nearly two years. The west-side lift went down in January after what officials described as vandalism. Prosper Portland told KGW it is working to repair the west-side elevator, and that a 2015 easement puts maintenance for the elevators on Union Station B, LLC.
Neighbors told KGW they feel “forgotten and ignored,” a harsh verdict for a bridge in the shadow of downtown. Some described scenes where people in wheelchairs had to be physically carried down the stairs to reach the street level.
The KGW report also notes there are more than 1,000 apartments and condominiums along this stretch of NW Naito near the bridge. Residents warned that proposed TriMet budget cuts, including a possible elimination of Route 16, could leave the area feeling even more isolated. For now, many say they are cobbling together rides from friends, paying for taxis or taking long detours just to reach basic services.
Who Is Responsible?
Public filings and investor records connect the Union Station parcels at 901 NW Naito Parkway to entities controlled by DBG Properties. That means the privately held Union Station B, LLC appears to have operational responsibility for the bridgehead at that address. Property and permit listings for the Union Station buildings can be found on PortlandMaps, and investor filings compiled by Elementix show loans and ownership records linked to Union Station B, LLC.
Officials and Next Steps
Prosper Portland and property managers have told reporters they are working on repairs, but they have not released a firm public timeline for when both elevators will be back in service. At the same time, the city is moving ahead with longer-term crossing and safety work along NW Naito, including the Flanders Connector project, which planners say is intended to improve pedestrian and bike access in the area. Details are outlined on the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s project page at the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Why Neighbors Worry
Advocates say when elevators at overpasses fail, the fallout for people with mobility needs is immediate and severe. Instead of a straightforward crossing, they are stuck with longer trips, higher costs and a real hit to their independence. Until the lifts are working again, residents say the neighborhood will be leaning on improvised and often costly workarounds, a stopgap that many describe as unsustainable.
What’s Next
Residents are calling for a clear, public repair timeline, temporary ADA accommodations and better coordination between the private owner and city partners. So far, officials and property managers have not released a schedule that answers those demands, leaving neighbors to wait while the bridge that looms over them remains effectively out of reach.
