With today’s vote, ODOT and their rubber-stamping Oregon Transportation Commission continue to demonstrate they will beg, borrow and steal every possible dollar from Oregon’s other priorities to fund the proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion.
Communities across the state are suffering from decades of deterioration in Oregon’s existing transportation system, leading to crumbling roads, vulnerable bridges, limited transit options and skyrocketing traffic fatalities.
Instead of focusing on these basic needs, ODOT continues to answer to freight and highway lobbyists demanding a blank check to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to double the width of I-5 and shove more asphalt, air pollution and traffic into the Albina neighborhood – and burden future generations with climate misery and decades of debt in the process.
That the Commission additionally voted to approve another $72 million increase for the Abernethy Bridge – a project whose cost has soared 228% in seven years – is further evidence state officials are unable or unwilling to hold ODOT accountable for reckless priorities and overspending.
No More Freeways and our multiple lawsuits continue to stand in their way. Who will stand with us?”
Stop freeway madness
Save our air and environment