Tag: Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project

Infrastructure, Transportation

New 82nd Ave Signal Allows Left onto SE Washington

Crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) activated the new left-turn signal at SE 82nd Avenue and Washington Street on November 12th, allowing left turns at this high-traffic intersection for the first time in decades. This change is part of work underway on SE 82nd Avenue around the SE Stark Washington couplet, where PBOT added center lane medians with space for street trees and raised concrete turn lane separators.

View of SE 82nd Avenue featuring road construction with orange traffic barrels, a newly activated left-turn signal, and vehicles on the road.
New SE 82nd Ave left turn lane for southbound drivers wanting to head east on SE Washington St

The newly activated traffic light permits southbound drivers on 82nd Avenue to turn eastbound at a signal-controlled intersection where they previously needed to use an unsignalized intersection further south and navigate back to SE Washington Street. Alternatively, those motorists could head westbound on the one-way SE Stark and loop a block over to the one-way SE Washington Street, which travels eastbound. This change reduced the queue depth for northbound 82nd Avenue drivers turning west to accommodate the opposing traffic’s left turn. This compromise could create a more intuitive driving experience with well-defined left turns, road elements, and minimize the prior confusion some motorists experienced when using the one-way street couplet from 82nd Avenue.

Traffic signal at the intersection of SE 82nd Avenue and Washington Street, showing a new left-turn signal for southbound drivers.

Road crews recently completed raised center lane medians on SE 82nd Avenue north of SE Stark Street and south of SE Washington Street. These new medians provide protection for the new turn lane configuration between them and block the potential wrong-way left turns on the one-way streets. Tree wells, located in the center medians, enable the planting of up to ten new trees or other vegetation along the roadway, thereby increasing the urban tree canopy and reducing summer temperatures in the area. Cement masons finished the median concrete surface between the tree wells with red coloring and a brick pattern, which delivers a cost-effective and decorative aesthetic.

Close-up view of newly installed raised center lane medians on SE 82nd Avenue, featuring a textured red concrete surface and yellow painted edges, alongside road traffic.
New SE 82nd Ave raised center median north of Stark St with brick pattern treatment

Drivers can already use the new 82nd Avenue left turn signal to drive eastbound on SE Washington Street. PBOT will implement other signal improvements at the intersection, including bike and bus lights, as well as updates to some through traffic signals for safer right turns from eastbound Washington Street, which is part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project. Look for continued work in the area, and street users should anticipate minor traffic pattern updates at impacted intersections.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure, Transportation

Lane Striping and Sidewalk Infill Work Continues on SE Washington

Crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will continue construction along SE Washington Street from 80th to 92nd Avenues this week with expected lane closures. Starting October 15th, contractors will apply street paint in a new configuration on SE Washington Street from SE 82nd to SE 92nd Avenues, keeping one eastbound lane open through the process. The post-repaving restripe work, scheduled to last until Friday, October 17th, will include a new bike lane and a combined bus/right turn lane. Cement masons and road crews will also continue work creating missing sidewalk sections on the south side of SE Washington Street from 80th to 82nd Avenues with new, extended accessible curb ramps for east/west traveling pedestrians.

Freshly poured concrete sidewalk with extended curb ramps for accessibility, surrounded by construction fencing and traffic cones.
New extended curb ramp and sidewalk on the southwest corner of SE Washingtons Street and SE 81st Ave

PBOT advises drivers to navigate carefully through the work site and watch for new traffic patterns as the street configuration updates create a safer space for people walking, biking, and using transit. Earlier work on this project reduced travel lanes on SE Washington Street from SE 76th to SE 82nd Avenues from two lanes to one on this one-way street, adding a new protected bike lane and reconfiguring some street parking. Similar reconfiguration work on the bidirectional SE Thorburn Street created space for a painted bike lane on the northwest traveling side of the road and a raised concrete traffic separator-protected bike lane on the southeast traveling side, with space for an on-pavement pedestrian track where missing sidewalks have previously challenged pedestrian access.

Map illustrating Montavilla improvements including types of enhancements such as ADA curb ramps, bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and upgraded traffic signals.
Graphic courtesy PBOT

Further portions of this work —part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project— will add updated signage, red paint for parts of the bus lane, and green markings for parts of the bike lane in the coming weeks. Crews will return to the project site to install concrete traffic separators on all sections of the newly created protected bike lanes, helping to position drives in proper alignment for street parking used as part of the parking protected bike lanes positioned against the curb. The concrete traffic separators will also provide cyclists with some safety assurances while riding exposed along the fast-paced SE Washington Street.

View of a newly paved street with bicycle and pedestrian signage, surrounded by trees and residences.
SE Washington St at SE 86th Ave post repairing Aug 21

PBOT’s street design will widen in the new configuration to allow two or three lanes at 82nd and 92nd Avenues, and other major intersections. PBOT expects to complete traffic signal improvements in early 2026, which should include updates at SE 82nd Avenue and Washington Street to allow left turns eastbound.

Recently poured concrete sidewalk with accessible curb ramps and construction vehicles in the background along SE Washington Street.
New curb-tight sidewalk on the south side of SE Washingtons Street looking west from SE 81st Ave

The striping work on SE Washington Street is weather-dependent, and the schedule could change with some rain anticipated this week. All street users of this portion of SE Washington Street should expect some delays during project work hours. PBOT asks people to travel cautiously, observe all closures and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible. Crews will maintain access to residences and businesses during the project. Riders of the 15 bus line should check TriMet’s website for stop closures or other delays when traveling eastbound.

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Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure

SE 85th Closures for Sidewalk Installation

Road Crews working on SE 85th Avenue for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will close lanes of travel for motorists in different locations north of SE Powell Boulevard as they install new sidewalks where inconsistent pedestrian infrastructure hampered walking and rolling on the Neighborhood Greenway. Cement masons will also reconstruct many sidewalk corners in the area along the project’s path to include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)compliant curb ramps.

Construction site on SE 85th Avenue showing gravel area and equipment for new sidewalk installation, with traffic cones and construction barriers in place.
Crews prepare to construct new cement sidewalks between the exiting curb and resident’s front yards

This phase of work is part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, which will have crews create sidewalks from SE Division Street to SE Powell Boulevard along SE 85th Avenue, with roadway repaving between SE Clinton and Brooklyn Streets. This project also added new sidewalks on SE Clinton Street from SE 84th to 87th Avenues, with crews converting the existing gravel road to a modern street surface from SE 84th Place to 87th Avenue. West of 82nd Avenue, SE Tibbetts Street will receive sidewalk infill where some blocks lack consistent pedestrian pavement down to SE 78th Avenue. Most sidewalks in the project area will receive updated ADA curb ramps. Road crews will also repave SE Tibbetts Street from SE 78th to 80th Avenues.

Newly constructed sidewalk with traffic cones on SE 85th Avenue, surrounded by greenery and a residential area.
Reconstructed sidewalk corner with ADA compliment curb ramp on SE 85th Ave and SE Kelly St

Area residents may find some curbside parking on SE 85th Avenue prohibited during the project, and crews could close one or all lanes of travel as heavy equipment moves through the project site. Drivers should use caution and heed all signs noting detours or restrictions. Pedestrians may need to share the road with motorists and cyclists as workers construct the new sidewalks. The project will progress north from SE Powell Boulevard towards SE Division Street over the coming weeks.

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Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure

SE Thorburn Stark and Washington Lane Striping

On August 25th, crews with Specialized Pavement Marking (SPM) removed lane markings on SE Thorburn, Stark, and Washington Streets as part of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) reconfiguration of the roads for safer bike and pedestrian use. When road stripers repaint the streets, drivers on SE Thorburn and Washington Streets lose a lane of travel in each direction, and cyclists will gain bike lanes with protection in most places from SE Gilham Avenue to SE 92nd Avenue. PBOT will retain much of the existing street parking on both sides of SE Washington Street for a critical two-block segment. The road striping plan will replace removed curbside parking on SE Washington with bike-lane-adjacent parking from SE 76th to 80th Avenues to create a protected buffer for the five-foot-wide curbside cyclist route. Driving lane reductions on SE Thorburn Street and parts of SE Gilham Avenue will create space for a painted bike lane on the northwest traveling side of the road and a raised concrete traffic separator-protected bike lane on the southeast traveling side, with space for an on-pavement pedestrian track where missing sidewalks have previously challenged pedestrian access.

View of a residential street with bike lane signage and parked cars along the side, indicating road adjustments for safer cycling and parking.
SE Washington Street with MV News created illustrations showing approximate lane configuration (not to scale)

This work is part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project. The SPM crews will add over 20 marked parking spaces on SE Washington Street, replacing the southernmost travel lane. The recrated parking capacity offers slightly fewer stalls than the removed spaces. Still, it is a significant benefit for area businesses and residents living in housing on that street who do not have on-site parking options. Its design also offers cyclists a physical buffer between fast-moving downhill traffic. The project will likewise reconfigure SE Stark Street west of SE 76th Avenue. The existing bike lane will extend west, replacing curbside parking with some adjacent spaces created between the travel lane and the bike path. A new traffic signal planned for a later phase in this project will aid cyclists turning south at SE 76th and Stark, and the southernmost lane of SE Stark Street will transition into a left-turn-only lane at the signal.

View of a street intersection featuring a tree, parked car, and road markings indicating upcoming changes. There are traffic cones and a no parking sign visible.

SE Washington Street Bike lanes east of SE 80th Avenue will use a mix of concrete traffic separator-protected bike lane cycling infrastructure and shared bus-bike lanes up to SE 92nd Avenue. Striping plans show TriMet bus drivers will have a consistent bus lane from SE 80th Avenue past SE 90th Avenue, with motorists having right-turn-only access to that bus lane at intersections. PBOT recently enhanced the crossings of SE Washington and Stark Streets at SE 84th Avenue for north-south traveling pedestrians. On SE Washington Street, new corners offer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, curb extensions on the north side have shortened the crossing distance, and new pavement markings underway will add high-visibility crosswalks.

Digital sign displaying 'EXPECT LONG DELAYS' with traffic cones and a street sign for 76th Avenue in the background.

Drivers can anticipate disruptions to travel on SE Thorburn, Stark, and Washington Streets during the project work times of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this week. People should anticipate seeing changes to traffic patterns and look for new signage indicating where parking is permitted. Motorists and pedestrians need to observe worker instructions and follow temporary routes when necessary as crews work in the street.

Construction, Infrastructure

SE Washington Repaving From SE 82nd to 92nd

On August 14th, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin repairing and repaving SE Washington Street from SE 82nd Avenue to SE 92nd Avenue. The week-and-a-half-long project will disrupt traffic as heavy equipment grinds down old asphalt and spreads a new layer of aggregate bound with bitumen. However, crews will maintain one lane of eastward travel on the one-way street for motorists and transit access. Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians during construction. Signal installation specialists are currently working on SE 82nd Avenue and SE Washington Street, installing a left-turn light for southbound motorists turning east.

Map illustrating Montavilla improvements including types of enhancements such as ADA curb ramps, bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and upgraded traffic signals.
Graphic courtesy PBOT

PBOT expects active work hours to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during business days, and crews may need to work during the weekend. Contractors plan to complete one travel lane before moving to the adjacent side of the street so people can always travel through the area, but some local access may become blocked as crews work. Flaggers and barricades will allow TriMet buses to move through travel lanes under construction. However, riders should check for any temporary stop closures or delays impacting the 15 bus line.

View of SE Washington Street featuring traffic signs, crosswalks, and surrounding greenery, near SE 92nd Avenue.
SE Washington St looking west at SE 82nd Ave

This work supports the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project underway to improve pedestrian and multimodal travel. Work on this project has already replaced gravel streets on segments of SE Clinton Street with new sidewalks and pavement. Road crews are continuing improvements to sidewalks along SE 85th Avenue from SE Division Street to SE Powell Boulevard, creating a calm and continuous pedestrian pathway parallel to SE 82nd Avenue. After PBOT repaves SE Washington Street during this phase of work, crews will permanently remove curbside parking on the south side of the street east of SE 80th Avenue and begin installing protected bike lanes against the curb up to SE 92nd Avenue, with a bus and right-turn-only lane next to it. Striping plans show TriMet bus drivers will have a consistent bus lane from SE 80th Avenue past SE 90th Avenue, with motorists having right-turn-only access to that bus lane at intersections. The SE 86th Avenue intersection will use a shared bus, bicycle, and right-turn lane due to the narrow street created by extended curbs installed in 2023.

View of SE Washington Street featuring a hydrant and trees along the roadside, with a partially repaved street and visible construction signs.
Recently enhanced crossings of SE Washington St at SE 84th Ave

PBOT recently enhanced the crossings of SE Washington Street at SE 84th Avenue for north-south traveling pedestrians. New corners offer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps and curb extensions on the north side, shortening the crossing distance. After repaving, high-visibility crosswalks on the east and west edges of the intersection will indicate to drivers they need to yield for pedestrians at this enhanced crossing.

Two workers in safety gear are using a bucket truck to install traffic signals at the intersection of SE Washington Street and SE 82nd Avenue, with street signs visible.
Signal crews with Interlaken installing a left-turn light for southbound motorists turning east

Signs placed along SE Washington Street prohibit curbside parking on both sides of the street from SE 82nd Avenue to just east of SE 92nd Avenue. Drivers should anticipate some delays when traveling through the worksite, and people should follow crew instructions to remain safe on the street. Drivers may want to use an alternate route for the next seven business days. NE Glisan Street is a viable alternative for those trying to drive to the Gateway district or connect to Interstate-205.

Update August 18th, 2025: PBOT road crews began grinding of the top layer of old asphalt in the southernmost lane of SE Washington Street from SE 82nd to 92nd Avenues.

A street construction scene featuring heavy machinery on SE Washington Street, with workers in safety vests overseeing the repaving process.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Infrastructure

Paved SE Clinton Street Open to All Users

Recently, crews and cement masons completed construction on new sidewalks and street paving along SE Clinton Street, converting the existing gravel road to a modern street surface from SE 84th Place to 87th Avenue. This project adds wide sidewalks on SE Clinton Street from SE 84th to 87th Avenues, completing a pedestrian connection from the commercial resources on SE 82nd Avenue to the residential streets east. The updated street design features a planting strip with space for small street trees or other greenery.

View of a newly paved street intersection with sidewalks on SE Clinton Street, featuring residential houses and greenery in the background.
SE Clinton St looking east from SE 85th Ave

In late March, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began preparing sections of the Jade District for the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, which will improve access along SE 85th Avenue and SE Clinton Street for all road users in the area and give people traveling outside a car the calmer parallel path to 82nd Avenue that residents have requested for years. This work includes improving connector routes like SE Clinton Street from the safer parallel infrastructure to the commercial district. In November 2019, the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability released the Building Healthy Connected Communities Along Division Transit report, which the City Council adopted in December 2019. Most sidewalks in the project area will receive updated Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, allowing all pedestrians to navigate the area, mostly separated from car traffic.

A newly paved street with wide sidewalks and landscaping on SE Clinton Street, featuring a smooth road surface and wooden fencing along the properties.
SE Clinton St looking west from SE 87th Ave

This project will also add new sidewalks to the Jade District west of 82nd Avenue on SE Tibbetts Street. That work will provide sidewalk infill where some blocks lack consistent pedestrian pavement down to SE 78th Avenue. Road crews will also repave SE Tibbetts Street from SE 78th to 80th Avenues. Almost a decade ago, the City identified the importance of better pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in Montavilla and the Jade District.

View of newly paved SE Clinton Street, featuring fresh asphalt, marked crosswalks, and a clear blue sky.
SE Clinton St looking east from west of SE 84th Pl

This multimodal improvement project demonstrates the impact of community participation in city infrastructure planning efforts and highlights the time it takes to develop actionable plans with adequate funding. Together, the collection of enhancements costs $9,094,000 but should not impact the City’s general fund. Money for these improvements comes from $3,200,000 in Federal funds, with an additional $4,900,000 from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. PBOT will source the remaining $994,000 from System Development Charges paid by developers. This work should significantly improve access within two critical commercial centers and add to general safety for those traveling outside of a car. Look for construction in Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project zones to continue through 2025.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Community, Construction, Infrastructure

New SE Clinton and 85th Sidewalks Deliver on a Decade of Visioning

In late April, cement masons began construction on new Sidewalks and street paving along SE Clinton Street, fulfilling longstanding community requests expressed during a public engagement process that began in 2016. This project will add new sidewalks on SE Clinton Street from SE 84th to 87th Avenues, with roadcrews converting the existing gravel road to a modern street surface from SE 84th Place to 87th Avenue. Crews will also create sidewalks from SE Division Street to SE Powell Boulevard along SE 85th Avenue, with roadway repaving between SE Clinton and Brooklyn Streets.

In late March, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began preparing sections of the Jade District for the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, which will improve access along SE 85th Avenue and SE Clinton Street for all road users in the area and give people traveling outside a car the calmer parallel path to 82nd Avenue that residents have requested for years. In November 2019, the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability released the Building Healthy Connected Communities Along Division Transit report that the City Council adopted in December 2019. Most sidewalks in the project area will receive updated Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, letting all pedestrian users navigate the area mostly separated from car traffic.

Map of the Jade District focusing on access issues, highlighting streets with lack of sidewalks and unpaved areas, along with key connections needed to Division Street.
Page 26 from the Building Healthy Connected Communities Along Division Transit document 2019

This project will also add new sidewalks to the Jade District west of 82nd Avenue on SE Tibbetts Street. That work will provide sidewalk infill where some blocks lack consistent pedestrian pavement down to SE 78th Avenue. Road crews will also repave SE Tibbetts Street from SE 78th to 80th Avenues. North of the Jade District, PBOT plans to create bike lanes on SE Thorburn Street and remove a travel lane in each direction. That work will also create a bike lane on SE Washington Street while retaining much of the existing street parking on both sides of SE Washington Street for a critical two-block segment. The road striping plan will replace removed curbside parking on SE Washington with bike-lane-adjacent parking from SE 76th to 80th Avenues to create a protected buffer for the five-foot-wide curbside cyclist route. Driving lane reductions on SE Thorburn Street and parts of SE Gilham Avenue will create space for a painted bike lane on the northwest traveling side of the road and a raised concrete traffic separator-protected bike lane on the southeast traveling side with space for an on-pavement pedestrian track where missing sidewalks have previously challenged pedestrian access.

  • New sidewalk and corner curb ramps on the southwest corner of SE 85th Ave and SE Clinton St
  • New sidewalk northwest corner of SE 84th Pl and SE Clinton St
  • New sidewalk and corner curb ramps on the southeast corner of SE 84th Pl and SE Clinton St

Almost a decade ago, the City identified the importance of better pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in Montavilla and the Jade District. This multimodal improvement project demonstrates the impact of community participation in city infrastructure planning efforts and highlights the time it takes to develop actionable plans with adequate funding. Together, the collection of enhancements costs $9,094,000 but should not impact general fund shortfalls in Portland’s budget for the next fiscal year, which starts in July. Money for these improvements comes from $3,200,000 in Federal funds, with an additional $4,900,000 from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. PBOT will source the remaining $994,000 from System Development Charges paid by developers. This work should significantly improve access within two critical commercial centers and add to general safety for those traveling outside a car. Look for construction in Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project zones to continue through 2025.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure, Transportation

Sidewalks and Bike Lanes Coming to SE Thorburn and Washington Streets

In the spring of 2025, crews working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin work on the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, adding bike lanes and rebuilding crossings for safer road use by pedestrians and cyclists. The collection of upgrades tackles SE Thorburn Street’s connection with the SE Stark-Washington couplet and underdeveloped infrastructure between SE Division Street and SE Powell Boulevard near SE 82nd Avenue. Complimentary projects will add sidewalks to one block of SE Thorburn and two blocks of SE Washington Street, providing pedestrians with more options to safely navigate the area.

Draft of SE Thorburn Street: 73rd Avenue to 74th Avenue Sidewalk Project designs changed at SE 74th, courtesy PBOT

The SE Thorburn Street: 73rd Avenue to 74th Avenue Sidewalk Project will add approximately 355 feet of seven-foot-wide sidewalk to an area that only offered pedestrians a graveled and overgrown path. The new sidewalk will connect to an existing paved walkway on the west side of NE 74th Avenue and wrap around an undeveloped triangular lot onto SE Thornburn Street. Crews will need to reduce the new wider walkway to five-foot-wide in some sections to preserve street trees. However, the walkway will provide a significant connector for sidewalk users who face missing paved segments without many options to detour around the gaps. Due to the topography of SE Thorburn Street and its development before modern sidewalk requirements, it only has continuous space for pedestrians on the north side of the road between SE Gilham Avenue and SE Stark Street. Additionally, the sloped orientation of side streets connecting to SE Thorburn Street created challenging infrastructure for people with mobility devices, including sidewalk-stairs or steep and narrow paths.

Sidewalk stairs from SE Thorburn St to SE 69th Ave

Part of the SE Thorburn Street project will help improve the side street connections with three new curb ramps at the intersection of SE 74th Avenue and one new curb extension at the NE corner of SE 74th Avenue and SE Thorburn Street, improving pedestrian visibility. Crews working for PBOT will also build two new driveways to the homes fronted on the improved sidewalk section to support residents’ access while keeping pedestrians safe. Crews intend to begin work in the summer of 2025.

SE Thorburn St at SE 74th Ave with painted markings showing new corner and ramp placement

In winter 2025, PBOT crews will work on the second phase of the SE Washington St Sidewalk Infill Project- SE 80th Ave to SE 82nd Ave, adding missing sidewalks that will improve conditions for transit riders needing to access the TriMet number 15 bus stop. Crews will deconstruct the temporary bus platform on SE Washington Street, which transit operators added in 2020 to provide space for passengers to board the bus. The south side of the street is missing continuous paved sidewalks on two blocks leading to 82nd Avenue, and a lumberyard fence limits sidewalk width. These pedestrian improvements will join the planned bike lanes on SE Washington Street, mirroring the cyclist infrastructure on SE Stark Street, completing the multimodal efficiency of the paired one-way streets. PBOT must remove street parking from six blocks on one side of the road to accommodate the bike lanes without reducing car lanes. The bike lane will replace south side street parking on SE Washington Street from SE 76th to 80th Avenues and from SE 84th to SE 92nd Avenues.

Graphic courtesy PBOT

Many cyclists have historically avoided the SE Thorburn Street/SE Gilham Avenue connector from East Burnside Street to the SE Stark-Washington couplet. Sections of the roadway support two travel lanes in each direction, and its tree-lined curves create visibility challenges. However, with the planned bike lane addition to the street, this section could become a practical path for East Portland bike commuters looking to link with the east-west Neighborhood Greenway on NE Davis Street.

Funds from a mix of Federal, State, and local money will pay for the three infrastructure projects. City funding sources include System Development Charges collected from developers and the voter-approved Fixing Our Streets program supported by a $0.10 per gallon fuel tax. Work will begin at different times in 2025, with the occasional disruption to traffic near construction sites.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Update: On February 28th, PBOT updated the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project‘s website page to reflect the current designs that reduce the extent of previously indicated south-side street parking removal for bike lane creation. The project will add over 20 marked parking spaces on SE Washington Street from SE 76th to 80th Avenues, replacing the southernmost travel lane. The recreated parking capacity offers slightly fewer spaces than the parking spaces removed. Still, it is a significant benefit for area businesses and residents living in housing on that street that do not have onsite parking options.

Construction, Infrastructure

SE 82nd Lane Closure for Clinton Crossing

Recently, crews working at SE 82nd Avenue and SE Clinton Street closed the outer southbound lane, repurposing the center turn lane to maintain capacity. This work is related to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) bundle of 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes. Crews will install a pedestrian half signal, a continuous protected concrete median refuge island, updated curb ramps, and new marked crosswalks. Work will also require limited road reconstruction down to its base layer near the intersection. When completed, road infrastructure at the intersection will prohibit left turns.

This project is less than 500 feet from the fully signalized intersection at SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street but 700 feet from the next signalized intersection at SE Woodward Street. Since Portland City Council adopted the PedPDX update to Portland’s Pedestrian Master Plan in 2019, PBOT began installing marked crossings roughly 800 feet apart on major streets. Engineers place marked crosswalks closer together at around every 530 feet for designated Pedestrian Districts like the Jade District, adding median refuge islands, Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB), and signals as needed. “Clinton Street was identified early on in our planning process as a desirable location to fill this gap, being the closest intersection to the mid-point between the two existing crossings, and the closest to meeting the 530-foot guideline, and being a four-way intersection that serves a larger area of the neighborhood on both sides of 82nd Avenue,” explained PBOT representative Hannah Schafer.

Graphic from 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes 60% Draft Concept Design, January 2024. Courtesy PBOT

City planners also chose this location for improvements based on future projects planned along SE Clinton Street. This crossing will eventually lead to an affordable housing development planned for the former Canton Grill site at the northeast corner, and the street will receive upgrades as part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project. “An upcoming funded project will be paving some gravel blocks of Clinton Street just east of 82nd Avenue and adding sidewalks that will connect to this new signalized crossing,” remarked Schafer. She noted that this crossing was the site of a 2015 traffic fatality, along with several other non-deadly crashes involving pedestrians struck by motorists, elevating the need for safety upgrades at this intersection.

The Half Signals selected for this project stop vehicle traffic on 82nd Avenue. This equipment works similarly to RRFB signalized crossings. People request the light by pressing a button when ready to cross. However, instead of activating flashing amber lights, drivers see a stoplight, clearly halting traffic so pedestrians can cross. In addition to signals and a continuous protected concrete median refuge island that prohibits left turns, contractors working for PBOT will construct enhanced stormwater inlets and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant corner ramps at SE 82nd Avenue and SE Clinton Street. 

Since April 23rd, construction at the site closed the southbound number 72 TriMet Bus stop (ID 7948). The stop will reopen in early May. Drivers should anticipate continued construction at this intersection in the next few months, blocking various traffic lanes on 82nd Avenue and closing SE Clinton Street access from 82nd Avenue as work requires. 

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Infrastructure, View of Montavilla

Expanded Corners Come to 76th

The first Expanded corner of the Busy Streets program came to the corner of SE 76th Ave and SE Washington Street. Composed of paint and white plastic delineators, it extends the corner space out beyond the curb.

Strictly speaking, this corner is on the other side of the street from Montavilla. SE 76th Ave is the west edge of Montavilla between SE Division and E Burnside. It would technically be in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood.

SE Stark Street will also receive corner enhancements at 76th and 80th. Montavilla’s portion of SE Washington Street will get their expanded corners at 80th and 92nd Ave.

The yellow paint chosen is less bright than other street markings seen throughout Portland. Although new, it looks faded. However, it is only a temporary measure to allow distancing at the curb. Ideally, it will become a full extended curb if made permanent as part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project.

UPDATE – The crossing of 76th Ave and SE Stark Street in now complete.