– Watch video below –
As a follow-up to their video and reporting on a new wall erected by the Oregon Department of Transportation on 82nd Avenue in Northeast Portland, fledgling activist group The People’s Department of Transportation has issued a “call to action” and recruitment video (watch it below) to garner attendees for a follow-up event.
According to a statement just released by the People’s DOT, this Friday during the evening rush hour teams of volunteers will help citizens cross 82nd Avenue at crosswalks at and near the transit center adjacent to the new wall. PDOT is encouraging people to show up dressed in costumes. An email recruiting volunteers to help with the action said, “suggested attire is an orange jumpsuit, formal dress, or a chicken suit.”
PDOT says they’re doing this follow-up action because the new wall, which replaced a median island, has made an “unsafe situation” for users of the transit center “worse.” Here’s more from their media advisory:
“An unsafe situation for the 10,000 daily users of the city’s third busiest transit center has been made worse by the replacement of a pedestrian crossing median with an 8 and a half foot tall wall down the middle of the street. The wall, billed as “public safety art” reduces sight lines, makes the street look and feel more like a high-speed freeway, and forces people to cross the street at unsafe crosswalks with limited time for crossing and cars turning at high speed.”
PDOT maintains that the wall was built “over the strong objections” of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association and in opposition to the neighborhood and business associations’ long term plans for the 82nd Avenue corridor.
For more background on this issue, including quotes from ODOT Region 1 Director Jason Tell and Portland Mayor Sam Adams, read my story, A view from other side of the “rogue wall” on 82nd.
Watch the PDOT recruitment video below:
PDOT Communique #2: PDOT Needs You! from Peoples DOT on Vimeo.
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People’s DOT 82nd Avenue Crossing Action
When: Friday, February 26th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Where: 82nd Ave Transit Center
Who: The People’s Department of Transportation; local residents and transit users will be available for interviews; participants encouraged to show up in costume