TriMet’s plan to build bus-only lanes on about seven miles of Southeast 82nd Avenue is an outstandingly bad idea, (“One of Portland’s busiest streets may get a dramatic overhaul. Not everyone is on board,” Feb. 12).
Adding these Business Access and Transit — BAT — lanes would reduce transit time by three minutes for the average three-mile bus trip. But that doesn’t account for the time it takes to get to the bus stops. It appears that about 45% of current stops would be eliminated. The average rider will spend far more than three minutes walking to and from the 34 new platforms, with congestion creating more danger especially for the elderly, disabled and families.
TriMet claims that 25% of drivers will divert to I-205. This is ridiculous for much of the day and for anyone not driving the full route to Clackamas. The average driver traveling just a few miles will be stuck in a traffic jam or diverted through an adjacent neighborhood, consuming more fuel and creating more pollution…