Tag: TriMet

Infrastructure, Transportation

New MAX Tracks Crossing at the Bend

Recently, crews opened access to a new pedestrian MAX tracks crossing near NE 97th Avenue and East Burnside Street. This infrastructure update relocated the crossing to the middle of a turn in the light rail path, providing pedestrians with better visibility of approaching trains while making them more visible to TriMet staff operating the transit vehicles. Prior to this update, people on the north edge of the street would cross the tracks at street level next to a bike lane. The sidewalk shift to the north also allows cyclists more room to cross the tracks at an increased angle, as thin tires prefer perpendicular track contact.

View of a new pedestrian crossing for MAX light rail tracks located near NE 97th Avenue and East Burnside Street. The image shows a green bike lane and traffic signals, along with the new track alignment allowing better visibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
Cyclists crossing angled for closer to perpendicular track contact

The new pedestrian path increases the crossing distance, diverting westbound pedestrians onto the Interstate 205 Multi-Use Path for a short distance before reaching the new crossing. Due to a grad change on the west side of the tracks, pedestrians will need to use a short switchback ramp to rejoin the East Burnside Street north sidewalk just before the freeway overpass. People will also need to navigate partial gates near the tracks, designed to alert the crosser to look both ways before entering the train zone.

View of a new pedestrian crossing for MAX light rail tracks, featuring concrete pathways, warning signs, and safety fencing. The area is designed for better visibility and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
Pedestrian MAX track crossing with switchback ramp at far side

Work supporting the new crossing began in February 2024, when contractors replaced the track adjacent panels in this area. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) continued the efforts to improve infrastructure in this part of Portland, including the new crossing, as part of the NE 97th Avenue Phase II and Couch/Davis Street Local Improvement District (LID). That project utilizes city and property owner funds to add sidewalks and create new road segments, thereby restoring the city’s street grid in an area previously developed with long, uninterrupted blocks and limited pedestrian infrastructure. Project planners say this work will improve streets and sidewalks for existing residents while facilitating future housing growth in the Gateway area.

This segment of Portland’s roadway contains many conflict points. The MAX tracks transition from running parallel to I-205 into a position at the center of East Burnside Street heading east. Bike lanes on Burnside also narrow and complicate the streetscape. Some north-south streets do not cross the tracks, creating right-turn-only infrastructure that can obscure pedestrian crossing points that do not align with vehicle movement. Signal crews working at the nearby NE 97th Avenue and East Burnside Street intersection updated lights and crossing infrastructure, making it safer for all street users. With most of the new enhancements now available, people should find this a safer intersection to use, regardless of direction and mode of travel.

Article and photos

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.

Construction, New Business, Property Sale, Top 2025, View of Montavilla

Another Gateway Mall Property for Sale

The owners of the six-tenant strip Mall along SE 96th Avenue are seeking a buyer for their Mall 205 adjacent property. Called Prime 205, the single-story bar-shaped structure at 1026 SE 96th Avenue recently secured Carrington College as a new anchor business occupying 64 percent of the building with a ten-year lease. Past owners of the 1971-era strip mall renovated it in 2008. The building currently houses T-Mobile, GolfTec, Fixoid, and L&M Hair Company, with one vacant storefront.

Exterior view of a single-story retail building housing T-Mobile and other storefronts, featuring large glass windows and a brick facade.

The Prime 205 property is located in the Mall 205 superblock, adjacent to the Target store. Mall 205 sold to new owners in 2022, and other retail complexes in the area have endeavored to realign with changing shopping behaviors. The Prime 205 listing follows news that the owners of Gateway Shopping Center intend to sell that large property several blocks north of this location. An unbuilt adjacent lot to the south of the property at SE 96th Avenue and Access Drive is also for sale separately.

Aerial view of a commercial area at SE 96th Ave and Access Dr, featuring multiple large buildings, parking lots, and surrounding roads.
Overhead image of Prime205 from Portland Maps with MV News illustrations

The retail building is located steps away from a TriMet MAX Green line station and offers 94 parking spaces. This area is in flux as new chain restaurants open in the vicinity, but shopping activity remains inconsistent. The unbuilt parcel could represent a development opportunity for urban housing with light ground-floor commercial uses. This parcel is part of a rezoning effort to build density in the Gateway District. Housing in this area would place residents within walking distance of grocery stores, retail establishments, medical services, and public transportation. Properties like Prime 205 can remain on the market for several years, and a buyer will likely want to retain lease tenants, so people will not see any significant change at this site in the coming years. However, owners listing this property could be an indication that they perceive renewed interest from buyers in the Gateway area, and any sale brings an opportunity for future site improvements.

Update: Changed link to SE 96th Ave & Access Dr info after host site took down original page.

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

Westbound I-84 16 Hour Sunday Closure

On the start of Sunday, June 8th, drivers will need to detour around a Westbound Interstate 84 closure between Interstate 205 and Interstate 5. The closure will last 16 hours, from midnight to 4 p.m., allowing crews safe access from the Banfield Expressway to perform maintenance and graffiti removal. Eastbound I-84 users are not impacted by this work that coincides with MAX line closures related to NE 82nd Ave station work.

Crews working with TriMet will de-energize the I-84 adjacent light rail system so workers can safely construct a metal-scaffolding-style staircase west of NE 82nd Avenue leading to a new temporary MAX platform. With the tracks clear of commuter vehicles and the 750 Volt catenary wire made safe, crews with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), TriMet, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) have an opportunity to conduct maintenance around and over the tracks. Closing the adjacent westbound freeway lanes allows for maintenance-vehicle access and an expanded work site as crews clean, paint, and repair critical transportation infrastructure.

View of a highway overpass with a construction area for a new MAX platform underneath. Graffiti is visible on the concrete wall, and construction materials are stacked nearby. Traffic signs for East 84 and 82nd Ave can be seen above.
Space where crews will construct temporary stairs

PBOT is responsible for eight overpasses spanning I-84, and their support structures stand close to railroad and light rail tracks. Work of any length of time in this area is made difficult by trains and motorists passing, so closures are necessary for many repairs. Similarly, ODOT will use this opportunity to address maintenance hampered by the active transportation corridor, including work on lighting systems and sign repairs. ODOT crews will straighten lane barriers and replace glare shielding placed on top of separators to lessen the impact of oncoming headlights on drivers.

ODOT last closed I-84 on July 14th, 2024. This work will remove a significant amount of graffiti and accumulated roadside trash. Westbound drivers should plan for detours, and MAX riders should look for shuttle-bus information during the closures. Residents in adjacent neighborhoods can expect some level of increased traffic on their streets as drivers find alternative routes.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Infrastructure, Transportation

June MAX Disruption Leads to 82nd Ave Station Upgrade

From Sunday, June 8th, through Monday, June 9th, TriMet will close the Interstate 84 adjacent MAX tracks to ensure crews’ safety while they install short-term-use stairs connecting NE 82nd Avenue with a temporary light rail platform recently constructed west of the current station. Starting on June 10th, when the MAX Blue, Green, and Red line trains resume regular service, riders will begin using the new platform, which will provide crews with unobstructed access to start renovating the nearly 40-year-old NE 82nd Ave MAX station.

Map showing MAX disruption details for June 8-9, highlighting temporary bus shuttle routes and regular MAX line services.
Graphic of MAX system during closure courtesy TriMet

During the weekend rail line closure, shuttle buses will run in place of trains approximately every five minutes for most of the day, transporting people between the Oregon Convention Center MAX Station and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center. TriMet encourages transit users of these routes to plan for an extra 30 minutes of travel time for trips through the disrupted area.

View of the NE 82nd Ave MAX station area featuring a temporary covered platform, newly painted murals, and adjacent roadway with vehicles.

During the closure, crews will install the temporary stairs, which requires TriMet to power down a portion of the MAX system around the NE 82nd Ave station so crews can operate safely above the tracks near the catenary wire. The scaffolding-style stairs will connect to the west side bus stop on NE 82nd Avenue above the tracks. An existing elevator accessed from the east side of the street will remain in use. Riders will access it via a walkway that will connect to the temporary MAX platform. People should note that the elevator now requires proof of a paid fare to activate.

NE 60th Avenue MAX station platform with signage and track visible
NE 60th Ave station lift building similar to the one demolished at NE 82nd Ave

Previous to this closure, contractors removed the lift building at the end of the platform. The transit provider constructed the lift system in the 1980s to assist people with mobility devices into MAX trains before they had rolling stock with near-level boarding. The original Type 1 MAX trains had steps leading to the seating area. The special lifting equipment housed in the brick-clad buildings became obsolete when TriMet introduced low-floor trains in the 1990s. As a result, they are removing unused lift infrastructure from stations during renovations or when practical.

Construction site near MAX train tracks featuring a CASE excavator, traffic cones, and neighboring roadway.
Demolished lift building at NE 82nd Ave

With riders clear of the existing MAX platform worksite, crews can continue with the demolition work needed for TriMet’s months-long NE 82nd Ave MAX Improvements Project, which will refresh one of the most heavily used light rail stations on the MAX system. Crews will completely resurface the station’s concrete and rebuild the stairs with the same number of landings and treads. “One difference is that crews will replace the concrete railing walls with steel guardrails, creating more openness for improved visibility,” explained TriMet representative Tyler Graf. Crews will add a slightly smaller, second covered shelter east of the original unit with a similar design. Workers will refurbish the existing shelter and re-roof it to match the new structure. Contractors will install new guardrails to improve safety on the platform located between commercial rail lines and a freeway.

  • Stairs to be rebuilt
  • Temporary MAX platform
  • Space where crews will construct temporary stairs
  • Temporary elevator access walkway

Contractors will preserve the mural next to the elevator and add a pedestal for a future art piece that TriMet will install between the two shelters. Project planners anticipate completing improvements at this station by the end of 2025.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Update: Slideshow of the completed temporary stairs

Transportation

TriMet Elevators Require Fare to Access Three MAX Platforms

After a year of testing access controls on TriMet elevators at the Hollywood Transit Center, the transit operator recently expanded the program to two more stations along the Interstate 84 light rail path. People wanting to access the Hollywood Transit Center, NE 60th Ave, and NE 82nd Ave MAX stations’ elevator will need to present a valid fare to a digital reader before the doors open. This no-cost measure could reduce equipment misuse and keep the mobility assistive infrastructure in operation for those who can not easily manage stairs.

Exterior view of the NE 60th Avenue MAX station, showcasing the station entrance with signage and fare control information. Colorful artwork is visible on the walls and a clear blue sky is present.
Street level TriMet elevator at NE 60th Ave station with new access controls

In August 2023, TriMet announced that it would begin testing restricted elevator use at the Hollywood Transit Center for riders with active fares. The transit operator found that the program discouraged misuse and reduced elevator outages. This May, after a year in operation at the Hollywood Transit Center, the program expanded eastward to two MAX stations with below-street-level platforms. TriMet plans to deploy this system to all 17 of its MAX station elevators. The system does not charge an additional amount for elevator use, but it requires people to tap a contactless credit/debit card or Hop card or scan the barcode of a valid paper ticket for access both when going to the platform and when leaving. The system also works with smartphones that have a mobile wallet enabled.

Close-up of a digital card reader used for accessing elevators at TriMet stations, featuring a contactless payment icon and a QR code.
Access controls on TriMet elevators with QR barcode scanner and contactless tap pad

Elevators controlled with a card reader have signs indicating that people need to tap the card reader or scan a paper ticket to open the elevator doors. Users will know they have a successful scan by the message “Elevator Access” on the scanner’s screen. The elevator card reader is not a Hop reader, so riders heading to the train will still need to pay a fare by tapping the green Hop Fastpass reader before boarding. This program is a crucial component of the organization’s efforts to enhance elevator safety and reliability. In a KATU report, TriMet Chief Safety Officer Andrew Wilson indicated the transit operator is also considering the use of fare gates similar to the ones used in some subway systems. Fare Gates and elevator access control could improve safety for people waiting on train platforms and reduce the number of people riding without payment.

Signage and elevator access control panel at a TriMet station, featuring instructions for using a card reader to access the elevator.
Lower access controls on TriMet elevator NE 60th Ave station

MAX riders needing to use the elevator should anticipate encountering these access control devices along the I-84 adjacent stations and expect to see a continued rollout over the coming years.

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.

Top 2025, Transportation

Prototype Next Gen Bus Shelter

On May 15th, the Portland Design Commission provided its approval for TriMet’s placement of prototype Next Generation Bus Shelters on city streets. The presenters outlined the three classes of new bus stop weather protection that will use many interchangeable parts for more efficient maintenance. Oregon company GK Machine Inc. is manufacturing the test shelters, and project planners anticipate crews will begin installation at the end of June. After an evaluation period and some public engagement that could allow for modest design updates, TriMet planners intend to start replacing its approximately 1000 shelters with these new units as needed.

Rendering of the Pavilion XS bus shelter design featuring two support poles and a low-pitched roof, with people waiting at the shelter, including a person in a wheelchair.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing Pavilion XS rendering and size

The current shelter design received approval in the early 1990s, and decades of repair and upkeep experience have influenced these prototype designs. They also incorporate refinements based on the Bus Rapid Transit stations constructed for the FX 2 line on SE Division Street. Two of the three shelter size classifications use two or three vertical support poles at the back of the structure, with the roof cantilevered over its footprint. The smallest Pavilion XS design uses four posts with two in the back corner and the remaining vertical supports placed in the middle of the sidewall dimension. The roof uses a low-pitched asymmetrical hipped roof design that will direct most rainwater runoff to the front corners of the shelter.

Architectural drawings of the new Pavilion XS bus shelter design, showcasing side elevations and measurements.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing Pavilion & XS on sidewalk placement

The three shelter types will all support sidewalls made from transparent two-foot-wide panels, but TriMet can also place the units without any walls, essentially floating a horizontal covering over the waiting riders with minimal vertical supports. The new design will structurally support glass panels if needed. However, due to increased glass breakage and growing material costs, TriMet is considering using decoratively etched polycarbonate panels protected with Vandal Guard coating for prolonged protection from graffiti.

Rendering of the Pavilion XL bus shelter design featuring a low-pitched roof, transparent sidewalls, seating area, and signage, set on a city sidewalk with greenery in the background.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing Pavilion XL rendering and size

The Pavilion XS unit will likely become Portland’s most common varation as crews can mount them directly to a sidewalk that is at least 5.5″ thick, similar to existing shelters. Aditionally, is smaller footprint will fit more places in the streetscape with a roof that covers 5′-6″ by 10′-2″. The 8′ by 10′-10″ Pavilion and the 8′ by 14′-10″ Pavilion XL require more significant footing for their support posts. Unlike existing shelters with the underside of roof panels exposed, these new shelters will have ceilings, creating a sealed compartment protecting two battery units that can charge via roof-mounted solar panels. That power system will support integrated LED lighting, e-ink schedule reader boards, and pushbutton audio notifications of pending arrivals. Shelter seating is an updated design of current street furniture that will similarly mount to the sidewalk, independent of the shelter structure.

Illustration of the High-Capacity Family bus shelters, featuring dimensions 18'-10" and 26'-10", showcasing front and side views with multiple support poles.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing High-Capacity rendering and size

Although the Design Commission can exempt new shelters and associated amenities from future Land Use review, each shelter will require a permit authorized by the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Based on the sidewalk or platform space, the structures can face towards or away from traffic. TriMet plans to introduce larger shelters for high-ridership locations, but presenters did not include them in the May 15th request for approval. The High-Capacity Family of weather protection units will share many replacement parts with the Pavilion styles for a more cost-effective maintenance program. Riders could begin to see these prototype units installed this summer, and TriMet will continue to evaluate the Next Generation Bus Shelters’ performance over time before moving to full production.

by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC) but had no involvement with Next Generation Bus Shelter design.

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.

Transportation

Two-week MAX Blue Line Closure East of Gateway

TriMet will close a segment of the MAX Blue Line light rail system east of the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center from April 27th to May 10th for track maintenance while replacing and upgrading equipment along its East Burnside Street route. The East Burnside MAX Improvements Project will require riders to use shuttle buses along the affected segment during the scheduled work. MAX service reopens between the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and E 172nd Ave stations on May 4th, while riders east of that station will continue to use shuttle buses between the E 172nd Ave and Cleveland Ave MAX stations through May 10th.

Blue line April 27-May 10 disruption graphic courtesy Trimet

Crews will work on some of the oldest tracks in TriMet’s light rail system, replacing road crossing panels and wood railroad ties with concrete versions on the easternmost segment. Crossing panels support vehicle tires as they perpendicularly cross the train tracks, keeping the road surface at the same level as the top edge of the rail. This design minimizes the bumps for drivers crossing the track, but panel wear and settling over decades requires reconstruction at the Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue crossing. Similarly, railroad ties wear over time with diminishing support of the tracks. The new concrete ties offer a longer lifespan and better stability, improving the ride for MAX users.

MAX pantograph connecting to the overhead 750 Volt DC power dual-wire catenary delivery system

Overhead work included in this project begins to address a problem experienced by the MAX system when temperatures exceed component limits. A dual-wire catenary system delivers 750 Volt of DC power to the MAX trains that use an upward-extending pantograph device to make contact with the over-track energized wire. The catenary wire must remain taut for dependable power delivery to moving MAX trains below. During hot days exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the copper wire stretches through thermal expansion and could sag. To address this, TriMet uses hanging weights at the end of the cables draped over pulleys to remove the horizontal slack by pulling the excess cable down. However, on the hottest days, the one-ton of stacked weights can travel to its lowest point and fail to keep the catenary wire taut, prompting MAX operators to pause the lines or slow travel speeds. Crews will replace the old weighted system with Tensorex mechanical tensioners that will not have the same limitations as hanging metal plates and keep Portland’s light rail moving even in extreme heat waves.

Catenary wire weighted-tensioner showing stacked weights hanging next to support pole

Installing automatic mechanical tensioners in this segment is just one phase of building a resilient light rail service for a changing climate. TriMet plans to replace about 8,000 feet of overhead wires elsewhere in the system and may expand Tensorex use. During this closure, crews will also clean and refresh inactive stations. Riders should expect shuttle buses running in place of trains approximately every 10 minutes for most of the day. However, people should plan on their travel through the disrupted area taking up to 30 minutes. Crews working in the roadway will need to reduce traffic at Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue and East Burnside Street and completely close the crossing during two overnight stints from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. When completed, MAX Blue Line riders should have a more reliable journey through this segment, and drivers crossing the track will likely notice a smoother ride.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Infrastructure, Transportation

FX Transit on 82nd Apr 23 Open House

This month, TriMet will host an open house focused on bus priority concepts for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. The April 23rd in-person event follows a previous TriMet gathering on January 22nd that centered on general project goals and bus stop consolidation. As part of the open house, organizers have also posted an online survey seeking input on outer lane usage along 82nd Avenue for bus travel and right-turning motorists. Beyond those questions regarding where project designers should implement Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes, the survey looks at high-level cost tradeoffs associated with those additions to speed up transit times for riders. TriMet also asks respondents about intersection widening at high traffic junctions, which could significantly expand project costs with land acquisition expenses but provide higher capacity for motorists and the planned FX Bus Rapid Transit system.

Since TriMet began work to extend its FX (Frequent Express) transit option along 82nd Avenue, Portlanders have wanted to know more about the potential conversion of outer travel lanes on 82nd Avenue into bus lanes. This reconfiguration would leave one travel lane in each direction with a center turn lane in some areas. Motorists would still have access to the outer bus lanes to turn right into parking lots or onto cross streets. People exiting a business’s parking lot could also turn right onto the BAT lane so they could merge with traffic at a matched speed. TriMet has two proposed deployments for BAT lanes on Portland’s seven-mile segment of 82nd Avenue. One option is to create those dedicated lanes in both directions at the northern and southern sections. They generally extend between NE Lombard and NE Tillamook Streets at the north end and SE Foster Road to SE Clatsop Street in the south. Another proposal would build BAT lanes on both sides of the street from NE Lombard to SE Clatsop Streets.

Traffic flow specialists working with TriMet have looked at the proposals and estimated how each option would improve bus travel times and slow car travel time. In both scenarios, the numbers for each metric only change by up to five minutes. However, that assumes a percentage of 82nd Avenue traffic diverts to other parallel routes like Interstate 205. Adding BAT lanes is not the only tool TriMet plans to implement for fast service on this transit line. TriMet leaders expect the 82nd Avenue Transit Project to speed up bus trips on the former 72 bus line by up to 20% through features already seen on the FX 2 line along SE Division Street. These include consolidating existing stops, bus platforms with near-level boarding at all three doors of longer busses, and eliminating delays caused by cyclists loading bikes onto the front of the bus due to internal bike space within the new vehicle. Transit-signal priority, allowing buses and signals to communicate for better intersection efficiency, offers another highly impactful design, reducing delays during congested travel times.

The survey contains specific details for anyone interested in this part of the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. TriMet staff will present more information at the April 23rd in-person Open House hosted by Portland Community College’s Southeast campus. The event will occur in the Great Hall of the Mount Tabor Building at 2305 SE 82nd Avenue from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The online survey will remain open through 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 27th.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

Map graphics courtesy TriMet

Transportation

2025 Transit Driver Appreciation Day March 18

TriMet will observe this year’s Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 18th, 2025. For over a decade, the municipal transportation corporation has used this day to invite its users to thank those who keep the system moving. If riding on public transportation this Tuesday, event organizers encourage people to say “thank you,” wave, or smile at the operator. Riders can sign a banner at one of five transit center locations or post their message of thanks on an online board.

Image courtesy triMet

TriMet staff welcomes people to join employees at the Portland Transit Mall in southwest Portland. Well-wishers can gather on Alder to Yamhill Street along SW 6th Avenue and Main to Jefferson Street on SW 5th Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Support for public transit and its employees is valuable for all Portlanders, even if they do not rely on it for their own transportation needs. TriMet’s role is critical in building housing density and lowering Oregon’s carbon output. Modern Portland multi-family developments often lack onsite parking or offer minimal vehicle storage space. This development model helps maximize the housing units on a property and encourages people to forgo a private vehicle. Instead, city planners who rezone for more density anticipate that residents will use other commuting methods, including public transit. This model should reduce the environmental impact of transportation in Oregon, but it depends on fast and effective alternatives that use less polluting propulsion. TriMet is the largest transportation provider in the region for those without personal vehicles, providing over 55 million rides in the 2024 fiscal year.

Sign a banner at one of these transit centers:

In that respect, transit drivers are not only responsible for safely moving people throughout the community but also play an impactful role in reducing climate change and mitigating the housing crisis. TriMet drivers always welcome daily appreciation, but March 18th is an appropriate time to communicate your feelings explicitly.

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the TriMet 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Group

Construction, Infrastructure

Sidewalk Infill on SE 82nd North of Division

Crews with Raimore Construction are creating a new paved sidewalk on the east side of SE 82nd Avenue north of SE Division Street. The work will replace mostly asphalt pedestrian walkways with standard city concrete sidewalks that better connect pedestrians to a pre-existing rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) enhanced mid-block crossing. When completed, pedestrians will gain over 300 feet of accessible walkway with defined driveway access points.

This work is part of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Building a Better 82nd initiative and its 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project. Since the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation to PBOT on June 1st, 2022, planners have worked to implement safety improvements and address deferred maintenance along the seven-mile stretch of roadway. This short section of sidewalk infill addresses one of many areas on the former State Highway where legacy infrastructure leaves people outside of cars more vulnerable to injury. The previous asphalt walkway created a fuzzy line between where the sidewalk starts and the parking lot ends. It also allowed driveway curb cuts to extend into the pedestrian zone wider than needed so drivers could turn into the business parking area in unpredictable spots. The sloped surface of the asphalt could become challenging for people who use assistive mobility devices and limited access.

 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project Draft Design graphic courtesy PBOT

The sidewalk conditions directly to the north and south of this infill project are of varying conditions and widths but at least adhered to general sidewalk standards. The intersection of SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street is a frequently used transit corridor, and many people need to use the sidewalks in this area to connect or transfer from the TriMet 72 and FX 2 lines. This location is also directly across the street from Portland Community College’s Southeast campus, which has the potential to generate substantial foot traffic when students attend in-person classes.

Sidewalk work is underway in front of Taboo Video at 2330 SE 82nd Avenue. Work will continue south along the east side of SE 82nd Avenue. Drivers should anticipate curbside lane closures during the project and follow flagger directions to allow business access during construction. Pedestrians should use SE 82nd Avenue’s west sidewalk or follow the sidewalk detour around the worksite. Crews working for PBOT will install additional in-street extended median islands in the center turn lane at a future date.

Update March 25th, 2025: Crews continue adding new sidewalk working south towards the recently rebuild segment in front of Pacific Plaza.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb