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How Portland's 82nd Ave. Should Change

Posted on July 17, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025

Rachel Monahan

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talks to the media, May 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A Visit from Mayor Pete 🚌

You might have heard: Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Department of Transportation secretary (possibly still better known as “Mayor Pete,” the Democratic presidential hopeful), hopped on an electric bus and toured Portland’s 82nd Avenue earlier this month. He visited the city street in part because the federal government is investing $80 million to upgrade it. (There’s also $105 million in local and state funding.)

The 82nd Avenue Upgrade

🚦

The city is working on upgrades, thanks to the funding, because 82nd Avenue has long been considered unsafe. There have been 150 serious injuries or deaths nearby, the Oregonian reports (More than a year ago, the city took responsibility for 82nd Ave. from the state.)

Short-term plans include wider sidewalks and better lighting. Long-term plans include a better bus route.

Learn More or Voice Your Opinion 📣

The city is in the process of soliciting input from the community too. “Initial surveys show a high demand for more trees, wider sidewalks, and bike infrastructure,” the Portland Mercury reports. Here’s how you can get engaged.

Learn more:

Offer your view:

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