July 20, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a total of $20 million in grants benefitting projects across 32 states, including $630,000 in funding for Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) to complete the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. The announcement comes after Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) joined Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Sens. Ron Wyen (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in urging FTA to fulfill TriMet’s grant request. The project aims to provide faster and more reliable service along the 82nd Avenue corridor connecting Clackamas Town Center to northeast Portland.
“Many Oregonians rely on consistent and reliable public transportation along this corridor, with car ownership being lower than the regional average. Families living here rely on the bus system to travel to work, school, and other destinations at a low cost. I’m glad the FTA has awarded this grant upon our request. It’s a critical investment that will cut down trip times and improve reliability – making it easier for Oregonians to get where they need to be,” Chavez-DeRemer said.
“This is just the beginning,” said Blumenauer, “We have 7 miles of opportunity and challenge on 82nd Avenue—the case for investment is ripe. The community is uniting behind a shared vision for a better future, and they are starting to see that it is possible.”
“Portlanders living and working on the east side know 82nd Avenue is a busy corridor requiring dependable transit options for people who can’t afford a car or would rather not drive, while also building a better quality of life in our city,” Wyden said, “I’m glad this federal investment is en route to this key transportation artery so TriMet can continue providing every opportunity for Portlanders to get around easily and safely.”
“Exciting improvements are moving forward for the 82nd Avenue Corridor!” said Sen Merkley. “This funding will support continued efforts to improve accessibility and safety for walkers, cyclists, and drivers alike and better serve the diverse communities who call the area home.”
TriMet’s Line 72 serves the 82nd Avenue corridor and is the highest ridership bus line in TriMet’s system. However, transit delay on this congested corridor impacts reliability and usership in local communities. The 82nd Avenue Transit Project aims to provide faster and more reliable service to make public transit a more appealing travel alternative.
The $630,000 grant was awarded through the FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Program (AOPP), which funds planning, engineering, and technical studies or financial plans to improve transit in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. The 82nd Avenue corridor has high concentrations of low-income communities, containing seven census tracts identified as areas of persistent poverty by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
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