Over a year ago, residents noticed street markings on the four sidewalk corners of SE 90th Avenue and Morrison Street that indicated pending reconstruction. Road crews completed that work this weekend, fully reopening the pedestrian path. This intersection is a frequent connector for people traveling to Berrydale Park and students commuting to the adjacent school. Although it already had curb ramps at three of the four corners, they were no longer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and required updating.
The full-year gap between planning curb ramp design and construction is not uncommon. However, the city has court-mandated requirements to invest in this type of accessible infrastructure. In September 2018, the city entered a Curb Ramp Consent Decree to settle a class action lawsuit. The agreement committed Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) resources to the installation or remediation of 1,500 ADA compliment curb ramps on average per year. This curb ramp work schedule will continue through 2030, and the 2022 PBOT ADA Program Annual Report shows the city is on track to meeting goals with surplus corners banked for lower construction years.
This intersection now meets ADA standards and features updated stormwater inlet grates. Residents of all mobility needs will have an easy path to their destination, provided the property owner-maintained sidewalk infrastructure connects to the city-managed corners. Pedestrian infrastructure east of 82nd Avenue has many gaps. Under the current city code, those gaps will only fill in during property redevelopment, potentially taking decades. However, thanks to the Curb Ramp Consent Decree, most sidewalk corners in Portland will meet ADA standards within the next ten years.
Update: This article was updated with a new link to Consent Decree information.
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