Program Overview
82nd Avenue is in disrepair and needs urgent maintenance and safety repairs. With the jurisdictional transfer, PBOT has the ability to make investments to address these needs and support the communities that currently live and work along 82nd Avenue.
PBOT is investing $80 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in Critical Fixes for 82nd Avenue. This includes:
- more lighting
- new and upgraded crossings
- safety improvements to reduce speeding vehicles and improve visibility
- repaving
- curb ramp upgrades
- traffic signal replacements
These investments must be built by the end of 2026 or PBOT will lose this federal funding.
After making the most critical repairs, PBOT will invest $105 million in Future Investments to support the growth and development of 82nd Avenue. Through 2023, PBOT will conduct broad and inclusive community engagement and work directly with community-based organizations and agency partners to determine what the bureau should focus on for improving 82nd Avenue long-term.
Context
FROM STATE HIGHWAY TO CIVIC CORRIDOR
From its beginnings as a rural State Highway to today, 82nd Avenue has been a critical corridor on Portland’s east side supporting small and locally owned businesses, educational facilities, places of worship, cultural centers, the highest ridership bus line in the region, and some of the most ethnically and racially diverse neighborhoods in the State of Oregon. With most of 82nd Avenue now under Portland's ownership, PBOT can invest in the communities around 82nd Avenue, making it a more people centered place in Portland.
Per the 2035 Comprehensive Plan, 82nd Avenue from NE Sandy to SE Clatsop is classified as a "Civic Corridor," a street with high-quality transit service, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, mid-rise development, and landscaping. Key areas identified for housing and job growth along 82nd Avenue known as “Centers” include the Roseway Neighborhood Center, Montavilla Neighborhood Center, Jade District Neighborhood Center, and Lents Town Center. These Centers are also designated “pedestrian districts” where high levels of pedestrians use the corridor now or are expected to in the future. One additional pedestrian district that is not identified as a Center is around the 82nd Avenue MAX Station.
LAND USE
From NE Lombard St to the southern city limit, 82nd Ave connects many neighborhoods and districts, each with their own unique mix of land uses, building types, and character.
- The northernmost end of the corridor is primarily lower-density residential with a collection of smaller-scale commercial areas and a collection major sites including McDaniel High School and Columbia Knolls.
- South of the 82nd Ave MAX Station in the Montavilla neighborhood, the character of the corridor includes a mix of automobile oriented uses including drive-throughs and used car dealerships intermixed with schools, parks, and the Montavilla Community Center.
- In the Jade District—centered on 82nd Ave and Division—the built environment includes major educational and commercial anchors including Portland Community College, Fubonn Shopping Center, and Eastport Plaza interspersed with small-scale independent businesses.
- On the southern end of the corridor, the corridor transitions from higher-intensity commercial development near SE Foster, to smaller scale commercial, light industrial, and lower intensity residential uses.
Key Demographics
| Demographic | Within one-quarter mile of 82nd Avenue | Within one-half mile of 82nd Avenue |
|---|---|---|
| Number of residents | 26,500 | 54,000 |
| Percent of BIPOC residents | 45% | 42% |
| Percent of residents in poverty | 13% | 13% |
| Percent of residents living with a disability | 13% | 13% |
| Number of households | 10,500 | 22,000 |
| Number of jobs | 10,000 | 13,000 |
Note: Numbers and percentages are approximate.
Plans, Policies, Funding
There has already been a significant amount of planning work completed for 82nd Avenue that has helped PBOT understand community priorities for the street. Additionally, there are several existing policies that will guide the Building a Better 82nd Avenue project. The most recent and relevant plans and initiatives are listed in the table below.
| Year | Plan or Initiative |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Portland City Council holds a town hall meeting in partnership with the Jade District, APANO, 82nd Ave Improvement Coalition, and the University of Oregon Architecture School, where community members and University of Oregon students share their vision for 82nd Avenue and discuss jurisdictional transfer. |
| 2018 | ODOT’s 82nd Avenue of Roses Implementation Plan creates a list of projects to improve safety, mobility, and access for people using 82nd Avenue that could be feasibly funded and constructed within at 5-10 year timeframe. |
| The 2035 Transportation System Plan sets ambitious targets to increase and prioritize walking, biking, and transit trips throughout the City of Portland. | |
| The Enhanced Transit Corridors (ETC) Plan identifies 82nd Avenue as a candidate for improving transit capacity, reliability, and speed along TriMet's Line 72 bus. | |
| The 82nd Avenue Improvement Coalition hosts a community forum, which included a panel discussion with civic leaders and representatives from ODOT and PBOT. | |
| Bureau of Planning and Sustainability completed the 82nd Avenue Study focused on understanding the challenges of and exploring opportunities for new development along the corridor while potential transportation improvements are considered. | |
| 2019 | Portland’s Citywide Pedestrian Plan, PedPDX, identifies and prioritizes investments needed to make walking safer and more comfortable across the city, including several crossing gaps along 82nd Avenue. |
| PBOT 82nd Avenue Plan identifies recommendations to improve safety along 82nd Avenue and support the transformation of the street into a Civic Corridor. Recommendations included in this plan are being implemented as part of PBOT’s Critical Fixes for 82nd Avenue. | |
| PBOT’s Connected Centers Street Plan examines regulatory and implementation measures to improve street connectivity and create more attractive and integrated neighborhoods and community spaces for the Jade District and Rosewood Neighborhood Centers. | |
| 2020 | The Oregon State Legislature approves funding for the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Avenue from the State to the City of Portland, which includes $80 million from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act. |
| The Rose Lane Project uses tools from the Enhanced Transit Corridors Plan to improve speed and reliability of transit in congested areas. Thirteen bus lines and two Portland Streetcar lines make up the proposed Rose Lane vision, including TriMet Line 72 along 82nd Avenue. | |
| Metro’s Get Moving 2020 Regional Funding Measure failed to pass but succeeded in creating coalitions and community advocacy to improve 82nd Avenue. | |
| 2022 | Jurisdictional Transfer of 82nd Avenue from ODOT to PBOT is finalized. |
Click below to move to the next section of the online open house:
82nd Online Open House, Page 2 - Community Voices of 82nd Avenue