After years of advocacy, ownership of 82nd Avenue--formerly known as Oregon Highway 213--was transferred from the Oregon Department of Transportation to the City of Portland. With that transfer came $185 million dollars to improve the road. For years, this highway served as the main north-south corridor for vehicles and freight on the east side of Portland. Over the decades, Portland grew to the east and subsumed the highway while low density residential and commercial activity grew along the corridor.
After all this growth, 82nd Avenue is now the geographical center of Portland. It is also the most culturally diverse area of Portland and is home to bus line 72, the highest ridership route of the entire Trimet system. After years of neglect, however, the road deteriorated, pedestrian access became more and more dangerous, and injuries and deaths along the corridor grew in numbers. With the jurisdictional transfer complete, Portland has been investing to make 82nd Avenue a safe, thriving, transit-rich and corridor with significantly more housing opportunities.
Funded by the American Relief Act, Oregon Walks, in partnership with APANO, Verde, and Unite Oregon, built a community-led coalition that has been reimagining 82nd Avenue. The coalition, side by side with government partners, wrote the 82nd Avenue Development Strategy with six focus area:
- Workforce Development
- Climate Resilience
- Childcare Access
- Business Stabilization
- Equitable Housing Strategy
- Community Development
Working in partnership with APANO, Unite Oregon, and Verde, and a number of key partners up and down the corridor, we are advocating for further investments for folks along 82nd Avenue. In addition to roadway investments, Trimet is leading an approximately $330 million dollar transit investment and Prosper Portland is leading a $400-500 million dollar Tax Increment Financing investment.
If you are interested in knowing more and/or joining the efforts, contact Zachary Lauritzen, the 82nd Ave Coalition and Project Manager.