By John Carr, Southeast Uplift Land Use & Transportation Delegate
State Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer and Senator Michael Dembrow are among the sponsors of legislation (HB 2846 – Safe Community Highways for All Oregonians) that would speed the jurisdictional transfer of “orphan highways” throughout Oregon to local control. Of relevance to South Tabor, this would allow the City of Portland to make safety and design improvements to SE 82nd Ave. that are more appropriate to a major city street than to a state highway. This article explains the situation in more detail.
The 82nd Avenue Improvement Coalition has invited STNA to sign on to a letter in support. We will take this up at our April board meeting.
The coalition is also hosting an action day in Salem on April 22 where they will discuss with legislators how to move the bill along. If you’d like to attend the action day, please contact coalition lead Brian Wong at 82ndavenue@gmail.com.
For information about SE Powell Blvd., another boundary street of South Tabor which is also in the process of being transferred from State to City control, see the Portland Tribune’s coverage from 2017. Portland residents appeal for more funding to improve ‘one of state’s deadliest roads’ (June 6, 2017) City to get control of Powell, eventually (August 17, 2017)
Photo credit: Elly Blue, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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