Oregon Active Transportation Summit

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. From years of neglect, the road had deteriorated; pedestrian access became more dangerous; access for transit users on the Region’s busiest bus line suffered; and the corridor’s cultural richness challenged.

This transfer came with promise and with public funding – and with big questions. To tackle these questions – and set the stage for success for the communities on 82nd Avenue – APANO, Oregon Walks, Unite Oregon, and Verde organized a community-led coalition to engage people and partners in reimagining 82nd Avenue, to advocate, and to navigate this transformative opportunity equitably.

At OATS a few years ago, we shared our initial ideas, approach, and vision of this community-led coalition… Now we seek to continue the conversation at OATS to share lessons learned, progress secured, and challenges ahead.In a lively discussion with attendees, Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang will moderate a panel of APANO, Oregon Walks, Unite Oregon, and Verde leaders on key topics – examining assumptions, highlighting the power of community problem-solving approaches, discussing the intersection between transportation and community health, and sharing lessons for others.

Discussion topics include:
1. Public agency partnerships to secure and shape transformative investments, including specialized bus lanes (BATs), sidewalks, and crossings
2. The 82nd Development Strategy: community-focused planning and future directions
3. 82nd Tax Increment Financing (TIF): the potential to support corridor key strategies and priorities
4. Implementation partnerships: Coalition’s collaboration with agencies (e.g., BPS Eastport Plaza)
5. Prioritizing affordable housing, schools, small business support, and workforce development.