In dozens of discussions here on CommissionserSam.com, there have been many criticisms that PDOT wasn't doing something for east Portland, was ignoring 82nd ave. in favor of other projects, etc...

Yet here is a direct proposal do "do something" for 82nd ave, with a direct appeal for comments, and it's been sitting here for 7 days and has thus far only received one comment.

My personal suggestions:

Add a few signalized pedestrian crossings where there are currently long (say > 500 ft or so) stretches without such crossing opportunities.

For example, between Powell and Division there is only one other crossing, and between Powell and Holgate there is only one other crossing.

Also, take a good look about the SE 82nd Ave MAX station... this is a popular transfer point with a lot of pedestrian activity. To transfer to/from a southbound bus, passengers must cross 82nd by walking out-of-direction to the crosswalk at Jonesmore.

Although this doesn't seem very far, the walk combined with the signal wait time apparently entices a large percentage of pedestrians to risk crossing through traffic. Adding a signalized crosswalk here with a direct link between MAX and the bus platform, perhaps synchronized with the signal at Jonesmore so as to have a minimal impact on auto traffic, could improve safety in this area tremendously.

Also, although there is plenty of shelter on the MAX platforms and the northbound bus platforms, there is very little shelter on the southbound platform. I suspect that on rainy days a number of people wait on the wrong platform until they see a bus coming, then dart to the other side of 82nd. Adding a large shelter (perhaps one which matches the architecture of the northbound and MAX shelters) to the southbound side would help riders a lot.

- Bob R.