No More Freeways
@nomorefreewayspdx.com
We’re the grassroots community effort to stop ODOT’s polluting, costly, dumb freeway expansions.
Climate leaders don’t widen freeways ❌🛣️❌
Climate leaders don’t widen freeways ❌🛣️❌
"The new "abundance" agenda can deliver a wealth of equitable transportation options — but only if its proponents recognize how our glut of highways has contributed to the "scarcity" they say they hope to tackle, advocates are saying."
- @usa.streetsblog.org
usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/20/w...
- @usa.streetsblog.org
usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/20/w...
What the 'Abundance' Agenda Could Mean For Equitable Transportation — Streetsblog USA
Could Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's buzzword usher in an era of bountiful transportation options, or just more highways?
usa.streetsblog.org
January 20, 2026 at 5:20 PM
"The new "abundance" agenda can deliver a wealth of equitable transportation options — but only if its proponents recognize how our glut of highways has contributed to the "scarcity" they say they hope to tackle, advocates are saying."
- @usa.streetsblog.org
usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/20/w...
- @usa.streetsblog.org
usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/20/w...
Reposted by No More Freeways
ODOT plays games to maximize what they can spend on highways. For example they are using those flexible federal funds to borrow against for their almost $1B curb ramp legal settlement. They could have used restricted gas tax for that, but instead committed the flexible funds 🤦♀️
January 19, 2026 at 4:59 AM
ODOT plays games to maximize what they can spend on highways. For example they are using those flexible federal funds to borrow against for their almost $1B curb ramp legal settlement. They could have used restricted gas tax for that, but instead committed the flexible funds 🤦♀️
Reposted by No More Freeways
It’s unfortunately tricky to get straight answers from ODOT about this. But this legislative session is going to provide a real unique opportunity to really call to question if we can afford these damn megaprojects. Stay tuned
January 19, 2026 at 4:05 AM
It’s unfortunately tricky to get straight answers from ODOT about this. But this legislative session is going to provide a real unique opportunity to really call to question if we can afford these damn megaprojects. Stay tuned
👀
has anyone done a deep dive yet on what it would look like for oregon to flex more federal transportation funds from highways to transit + safety projects? @nomorefreewayspdx.com perhaps?
January 19, 2026 at 3:25 AM
👀
Still no news from the Coast Guard, worth keeping an eye on, curious that they may be timing this announcement for a friday afternoon before a three day weekend news dump...
Coast Guard demanding IBR forgo their existing design and build a lift bridge would change the trajectory of the project
Coast Guard demanding IBR forgo their existing design and build a lift bridge would change the trajectory of the project
Coast Guard decision coming tomorrow on our Interstate Bridge Replacement Project.
There is a tremendous amount of support for our proposal from the maritime industry, and broader community, as you can see from comments here: www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiza...
We eagerly await their decision.
There is a tremendous amount of support for our proposal from the maritime industry, and broader community, as you can see from comments here: www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiza...
We eagerly await their decision.
January 16, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Still no news from the Coast Guard, worth keeping an eye on, curious that they may be timing this announcement for a friday afternoon before a three day weekend news dump...
Coast Guard demanding IBR forgo their existing design and build a lift bridge would change the trajectory of the project
Coast Guard demanding IBR forgo their existing design and build a lift bridge would change the trajectory of the project
Reposted by No More Freeways
reminder that
- the v/c ratio that odot is using is a relic that invariably requires much more space for cars than they’ll use 23.5hrs/day at expense of all else
- metro has already stopped using v/c for this reason
- odot is updating their own policy on this right now, this could be moot by next yr
- the v/c ratio that odot is using is a relic that invariably requires much more space for cars than they’ll use 23.5hrs/day at expense of all else
- metro has already stopped using v/c for this reason
- odot is updating their own policy on this right now, this could be moot by next yr
January 16, 2026 at 2:34 AM
reminder that
- the v/c ratio that odot is using is a relic that invariably requires much more space for cars than they’ll use 23.5hrs/day at expense of all else
- metro has already stopped using v/c for this reason
- odot is updating their own policy on this right now, this could be moot by next yr
- the v/c ratio that odot is using is a relic that invariably requires much more space for cars than they’ll use 23.5hrs/day at expense of all else
- metro has already stopped using v/c for this reason
- odot is updating their own policy on this right now, this could be moot by next yr
Republican Senator (and Vice-Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee) Bruce Starr, in an interview with @wweek.com:
#orleg
www.wweek.com/news/state/2...
#orleg
www.wweek.com/news/state/2...
January 16, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Republican Senator (and Vice-Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee) Bruce Starr, in an interview with @wweek.com:
#orleg
www.wweek.com/news/state/2...
#orleg
www.wweek.com/news/state/2...
Sounds like the first official response from WSDOT after news broke that the IBR team was hiding cost escalations from the public and that the project now costs $15,000,000,000 is “so what” and “let’s just build it anyway” #walege
Earlier today WSDOT Secretary Julie Meredith was asked about the leaked cost estimates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement and her response was...not incredibly encouraging.
"By getting started that's the way to help manage the costs."
"By getting started that's the way to help manage the costs."
January 15, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Sounds like the first official response from WSDOT after news broke that the IBR team was hiding cost escalations from the public and that the project now costs $15,000,000,000 is “so what” and “let’s just build it anyway” #walege
“While construction costs are estimated to increase by 68%, the costs for consultants and staff are estimated to increase by 406%. You might call it the “consultant industrial complex.” #orpol #orleg pwlobby.com/up-up-and-aw...
Up, Up and Away - Pac/West Lobby Group
Government Affairs. Economic Development. Campaign Consulting. Public Relations & Communications. Association Management.
pwlobby.com
January 12, 2026 at 10:24 PM
“While construction costs are estimated to increase by 68%, the costs for consultants and staff are estimated to increase by 406%. You might call it the “consultant industrial complex.” #orpol #orleg pwlobby.com/up-up-and-aw...
Reposted by No More Freeways
I've seen this story get a fair amount of traction in Oregon, but not in Washington, where we've committed over $1 billion in funding already and would likely be expected to take on a bigger share of any cost overruns.
New cost estimates have revealed that the funding gap on Washington and Oregon's joint megaproject to widen I-5 between the two states has grown to anywhere from $5 billion to $13 billion. The project as we know it is likely doomed.
www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/12/t...
www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/12/t...
The Pacific Northwest’s Biggest Highway Project Could be Cooked » The Urbanist
# New cost estimates on the long-planned Interstate Bridge Replacement over the Columbia River reveal a funding gap that could range from $5 billion to a staggering $13 billion, an amount that neither...
www.theurbanist.org
January 12, 2026 at 4:21 PM
I've seen this story get a fair amount of traction in Oregon, but not in Washington, where we've committed over $1 billion in funding already and would likely be expected to take on a bigger share of any cost overruns.
Reposted by No More Freeways
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America’s Greatest Highway Boondoggles - usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/08/e... via @usa.streetsblog.org and @cityobservatory.bsky.social
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America's Greatest Highway Boondoggles — Streetsblog USA
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and highway expansion between Oregon and Washington was already a boondoggle. Then the costs ballooned to $17.7 billion.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America’s Greatest Highway Boondoggles - usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/08/e... via @usa.streetsblog.org and @cityobservatory.bsky.social
Reposted by No More Freeways
lol this project is dead. Again. What a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars planning this thing. Same mistakes as the CRC. Just gobsmacking hubris and incompetent leadership.
Willamette Week reports the price estimate for the Interstate Bridge Replacement has more than doubled to $13.6 billion. www.wweek.com/news/state/2...
Interstate Bridge Staff Hid Information About Ballooning Cost of Giant Highway Project
The estimated price tag more than doubled from $6 billion to $13.6 billion, but staff told a bistate panel Dec. 15 it didn’t have new numbers.
www.wweek.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:53 AM
lol this project is dead. Again. What a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars planning this thing. Same mistakes as the CRC. Just gobsmacking hubris and incompetent leadership.
Reposted by No More Freeways
Here's the video on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7v0...
January 8, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Here's the video on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7v0...
Reposted by No More Freeways
Highway expansion megaprojects are untenable. They will never fix congestion, the I-5 rose quarter project was proclaiming it could save drivers a couple minutes in exchange for a billion dollars, and the bridge replacement is now $13.6
Billion
#orleg #highwayexpansion #urbanism #carcentric
Billion
#orleg #highwayexpansion #urbanism #carcentric
NEWS ALERT
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The estimated price tag more than doubled from $6 billion to $13.6 billion, but staff told a bistate panel Dec. 15 it didn’t have new numbers.
January 8, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Highway expansion megaprojects are untenable. They will never fix congestion, the I-5 rose quarter project was proclaiming it could save drivers a couple minutes in exchange for a billion dollars, and the bridge replacement is now $13.6
Billion
#orleg #highwayexpansion #urbanism #carcentric
Billion
#orleg #highwayexpansion #urbanism #carcentric
Reposted by No More Freeways
insane that we're cutting bus lines so they can continue to balloon the price of this project
NEWS ALERT
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The estimated price tag more than doubled from $6 billion to $13.6 billion, but staff told a bistate panel Dec. 15 it didn’t have new numbers.
January 8, 2026 at 6:54 AM
insane that we're cutting bus lines so they can continue to balloon the price of this project
Reposted by No More Freeways
13.6 billion dollars!! lmaooooooo
NEWS ALERT
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The estimated price tag more than doubled from $6 billion to $13.6 billion, but staff told a bistate panel Dec. 15 it didn’t have new numbers.
January 8, 2026 at 2:59 AM
13.6 billion dollars!! lmaooooooo
Would cost a lot less than thirteen billion fucking dollars, but then how would all the consultants get their highway slush fund money
Just replace the bridge, the direct approaches, and give us light rail. None of the extra bullshit. We don’t need to completely rebuild interchanges and add lanes for miles on either side.
January 8, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Would cost a lot less than thirteen billion fucking dollars, but then how would all the consultants get their highway slush fund money
Reposted by No More Freeways
just unfathomable grift from the highway lobby and the freeway industrial complex. hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to consultants for four years to propose a simply untenable overbuilt freeway expansion, while the state lays off all the snowplowe workers and cuts transit service.
January 8, 2026 at 1:47 AM
just unfathomable grift from the highway lobby and the freeway industrial complex. hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to consultants for four years to propose a simply untenable overbuilt freeway expansion, while the state lays off all the snowplowe workers and cuts transit service.
Reposted by No More Freeways
The amount of quotes I had back in 2023 that still feel applicable is equal parts comical and debilitating
“We’re worried that if this goes forward, it will eat up transportation dollars for other projects,” Morgan said. “We’re asking for choice and backups.”
www.opb.org/article/2023...
“We’re worried that if this goes forward, it will eat up transportation dollars for other projects,” Morgan said. “We’re asking for choice and backups.”
www.opb.org/article/2023...
January 8, 2026 at 2:36 AM
The amount of quotes I had back in 2023 that still feel applicable is equal parts comical and debilitating
“We’re worried that if this goes forward, it will eat up transportation dollars for other projects,” Morgan said. “We’re asking for choice and backups.”
www.opb.org/article/2023...
“We’re worried that if this goes forward, it will eat up transportation dollars for other projects,” Morgan said. “We’re asking for choice and backups.”
www.opb.org/article/2023...
Reposted by No More Freeways
The IBR will cost as much as $17.7 billion, more than double the previous max. cost of $7.5 billion, according to documents unearthed by City Observatory. cityobservatory.org/17-7-billion...
January 8, 2026 at 1:31 AM
The IBR will cost as much as $17.7 billion, more than double the previous max. cost of $7.5 billion, according to documents unearthed by City Observatory. cityobservatory.org/17-7-billion...
NEWS ALERT
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The estimated price tag more than doubled from $6 billion to $13.6 billion, but staff told a bistate panel Dec. 15 it didn’t have new numbers.
Interstate Bridge Staff Hid Information About Ballooning Cost of Giant Highway Project
Nigel Jaquiss
www.wweek.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:31 AM
NEWS ALERT
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
The Interstate Bridge Replacement team has known the cost of the project has doubled since August, but didn't tell legislators at September/December committee meetings
The IBR now is projected to cost more than the entire pricetag of HB 2025, last year's statewide transportation package
as if there hasn't been enough news today, stay tuned, a big story dropping shortly about that pesky little interstate bridge replacement....
January 7, 2026 at 10:00 PM
as if there hasn't been enough news today, stay tuned, a big story dropping shortly about that pesky little interstate bridge replacement....
Notable that Oregon Transportation Commissioner Phil Chang is suggesting the legislators need to decide whether or not they want to keep pushing forward on the portland area megaprojects instead of backfilling ODOT maintenance needs in a hometown paper op-ed bendbulletin.com/2026/01/07/g... #orpol
January 7, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Notable that Oregon Transportation Commissioner Phil Chang is suggesting the legislators need to decide whether or not they want to keep pushing forward on the portland area megaprojects instead of backfilling ODOT maintenance needs in a hometown paper op-ed bendbulletin.com/2026/01/07/g... #orpol