SW 5th Avenue and SW 6th Avenue
The Portland Transit Mall is one of the most important transportation projects in downtown Portland. It runs along SW 5th Avenue (mostly southbound) and SW 6th Avenue (mostly northbound). The Transit Mall makes it easier for people to travel through downtown using buses and light rail instead of driving cars.
The Transit Mall first opened in 1977. At the time, Portland leaders were concerned that downtown streets were becoming too crowded with cars. They wanted downtown to be a better place for people to shop, work, and walk around. The Transit Mall was developed as part of Portland’s plans to make downtown more people friendly and to support public transit. Instead of putting buses on many different streets, Portland created a special corridor where transit was organized and easier to use.
One of the unique features of the Transit Mall is that it was designed not only for transportation, but also for walking. The original mall included wider sidewalks, brick paving, trees, benches, and shelters. In 2007–2009, Portland rebuilt and updated the Transit Mall. When it reopened in 2009, it was redesigned to handle not only buses but also MAX Light Rail trains. The rebuild included new platforms, updated streets, and improvements for safety and access. One of the visual clues that you’re on the Transit Mall is the distinctive red brick paving used along the bus and light-rail corridor.Some shelters in the Transit Mall include electronic information signs to assist riders in knowing when the buses and light rail trains are arriving and departing.
A special and memorable part of the Portland Transit Mall is its public art. When the mall opened in 1977, Portland installed a group of outdoor sculptures to make the corridor more interesting for people walking downtown. During the 2009 rebuild, most of the original sculptures were refurbished and returned to the mall, and newer pieces were add People enjoy this art because it is not inside a museum. You can see it up close while walking down the street. Some sculptures are shiny and reflective. Some include moving water in fountain designs. Others are giant abstract shapes that can look like machines, puzzles, or parts of spaceships—depending on your imagination.
Here are several Transit Mall art pieces that are especially interesting to kids, along with where they can be found:
• Untitled (1977) by Bruce West (stainless steel, reflective): SW 6th Avenue between SW Washington Street and SW Stark Street.
• Untitled (1977) fountain by Lee Kelly: SW 6th Avenue and SW Pine Street.
• Interlocking Forms (1977) by Donald Wilson: SW 5th Avenue and SW Washington Street.
• Talos No. 2 by James Lee Hansen: SW 6th Avenue and SW Stark Street.
In addition to the art directly on the Transit Mall, there is also fun public art on nearby side streets. One of the best kid-friendly examples is Animals in Pools (1986) by Georgia Gerber. These are bronze animal sculptures placed around small water pools, and they include Northwest animals such as bears, beavers, otters, seals, deer, and wood ducks. These sculptures are located along SW Yamhill and SW Morrison, between SW 5th Avenue and SW 6th Avenue (near Pioneer Courthouse).
Because of its transportation design, walkable streets, and public art, the Portland Transit Mall is more than just a place where people catch a bus or the MAX Light Rail. It demonstrates how Portland decided to invest in a downtown that works for the community—students, workers, shoppers, and visitors. The development of the Transit Mall elevated Portland to national status for planning a city where public transit and walking play a big role in daily life.
____________________________________________
Student Scavenger Hunt: Find the Art!
1) How many different sculptures can you spot on or near the Transit Mall?
2) Can you find a sculpture that is shiny enough to reflect the street or your face?
3) Can you find any art that includes water or a fountain? What sounds do you hear?
4) On SW Yamhill or SW Morrison, how many animal sculptures can you find? Which animal is your favorite?
5) Pick one sculpture and describe what it looks like. Does it remind you of an animal, machine, or something else?
Vocabulary: transit, sculpture, public art
_________________________________________________
State Standards:
Social Studies 3.11. Describe how individuals, groups, events, and developments have shaped the communities and regions. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.12. Compare and contrast the history of the local community to other communities in the region. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.17. Use a variety of historical sources (artifacts, pictures, documents) to identify factual evidence. Historical Thinking