@OregonDOT "The science used to support freeway expansions is inaccurate and outdated and should be reevaluated. Portland has seen a record high of vehicular violence in the last year."
“Freeway expansion continually sells a false narrative on who and how it will benefit. There is limited evidence on how expanding freeways benefits traffic and is contradictory to statewide climate goals in reducing fossil fuels and carbon emissions”
"Expanding the rose quarter freeway will be a waste of billions of dollars that could rather be put towards expanding public transit services or bike infrastructure, not dumping money into climate killing cars. Do better ODOT."
"Spending vast amounts of money to widen freeways is literally madness, especially when you look at the data which shows that you can't "solve" congestion by adding more capacity."
We are up to 65 comments and counting! Write yours today:
"I'm very concerned about the impact of ODOT's Rose Quarter proposals on bicycle commuting, in particular the addition of a new off-ramp to N Williams that will make it even riskier to bike there than it is today."
"We need an ODOT that is a partner in finding ways to help Oregon move away from our climate-heavy transportation society, but ODOT has made it clear they will continue to pursue 20th Century solutions unless forced not to"
"As an educator who has worked at Harriet Tubman middle school, I have seen first hand, and experienced myself, that they are being poisoned every day by the emissions from the freeway."
Over 100 comments submitted! Send in yours today and demand an EIS:
"Please conduct an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion. We need a solution that will protect our environment, and care for the people of Portland."
"Until we have zero traffic deaths and life-altering motorist-caused collisions on ODOT-controlled roads, ODOT should not be spending a single dime on freeway expansion."
might be time to make a list of all of the requested investments that *didn't* get funding from the GO Bonds from the state legislature because we gave $250m for the Interstate Bridge Replacement.
first up, a $45m health and recreation center at OSU-Cascades near Bend
transportation advocates had requested $50m for fixing up SW Hall Boulevard in Tigard, $100m for ODOT's Great Streets program and were angling for $30m for SE Powell too.
in christmas tree bill there's only $1m for Great Streets, $3m for Hall.
doesn't appear to be any money for Bridge of the Gods, either. Another bridge over the Columbia River sorely in need of seismic retrofit. Helluva lot cheaper, too
IBR freeway lobbyists snuck in language asking for A FULL BILLION DOLLARS (not the $250m originally floated) in general obligation bonds for a BILL GETTING VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
We'll have an action alert up ASAP, all hands on deck! #orleg#orpol
the bill is HB 5005, the omnibus General Obligation Bond bill. We're going to be asking you to email legislators to remove Sections 5-7 which allocate $250m of bonding in 2025, 2027 and 2029.
that's not highway money - that's general money that should be going to schools/housing
This is ODOT's backroom deal.
Despite overwhelming opposition from the public towards giving the agency a blank check for this big freeway, and significant support for right-sizing this bridge, freeway lobbyists snuck this language into HB 5005: #orleg
lol, @OregonDOT/@UrbMobilityOfc out here celebrating "national safety month" by showing a photo of the gigantic fucking freeway expansion they are building in clackamas that is robbing the state of money to fix ODOT's actually lethal dangerous streets. complete propaganda #orleg
@OregonDOT@UrbMobilityOfc seriously, do they have no shame? traffic fatalities are skyrocketing across the state, in large part because @OregonDOT spends all their money on freeways and doesn't fix TV Highway, Se Powell, McLoughlin.
guess hiding that is the point of hiring glitzy PR consultants! #orleg
@OregonDOT@UrbMobilityOfc maybe instead of patting themselves on the back for rebranding massive freeway projects as "safety investments" @OregonDOT should prioritize investments in our orphan highways? #orleg
ok, buckle up, folks. We're about to get started w/ the Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion joint meeting of the Executive Steering Committee, Historic Albina Advisory Board, and the Community Advisory Oversight Committee.
starts at 4, we'll be livetweeting
to our knowledge, it's the first time the ESC (largely elected officials) the HAAB (Albina community members) and the COAC (contractors) have all met on same meeting
ODOT's been rumored to be intending to use this meeting to push back on community groups calling for better caps
We share the opinions of our pals at City Observatory:
NMF asked ODOT repeatedly over last few months about the freeway width. ODOT lied, and repeatedly said if we wanted to know more, we'd need to do a FOIA.
Unbeknownst to them, we already did a FOIA, and knew they were lying:
@OregonDOT First document is from 2017; 2nd is from 2019. It took *months* of FOIA efforts to get our hands on these very basic documents showing what @oregondot intends to build in the Albina neighborhood.
It shouldn't take months of legal posturing to find out what ODOT intends to build