NW 23rd repaving set for May

Portland's worst stretch of road — according to our reader poll earlier this month — is set to get a fresh coat of pavement in May, according to the Bureau of Transportation.

Northwest 23rd Avenue, between Lovejoy and Vaughn, has been riddled with potholes, cracked pavement, deep wheel ruts and crumbling sidewalks for years.

• The new project, which PBOT called a "short-term fix," will grind down and repave the top layer of asphalt along the corridor and add new curb ramps at the Northwest Marshall and Lovejoy intersections.
• The aim is to stabilize the street until a longer-term overhaul tied to the Montgomery Park Streetcar Extension "can address the street's structural issues and broader streetscape needs."

What we're watching: While it's welcome news to anyone who regularly drives down Northwest 23rd, it comes as the City Council appears poised to approve a new monthly transportation utility fee for residents and business owners.

• If the proposal passes the council Wednesday, single-family homeowners can expect to pay $144 annually — and $732 yearly for commercial buildings — to fund PBOT's $6 billion backlog of maintenance and safety projects.

The bottom line: A smoother ride is coming, but at a cost.