As of September this year, Portland city officials have decided to revisit a 2015 plan that proposed the revitalization of Franklin Street Arterial. This initiative aims to incorporate dedicated bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, and a roundabout at the intersection of Franklin and Commercial streets.
City officials also envision utilizing parcels along the land for the development of affordable housing. Jeremiah Bartlett, the traffic engineer for Portland, emphasized during the September city council meeting that, “We know, just based on existing zoning, much less any proposed zoning changes, that could translate to hundreds of units easily.” The city plans to seek federal funds next year to assist with the redesign, and if successful, construction is anticipated to start around 2026.
Constructed in the 1960s, the Franklin Street Arterial project from that era had significant consequences, separating neighborhoods from the rest of the city and displacing immigrant communities. Approximately 130 buildings were demolished on Franklin and some of its intersecting streets as part of the original project.
