Jonathan
@jakz92.bsky.social
they would go five to ten times further. If we right-size those projects, we can invest in freight AND transit AND seismic resiliency.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
they would go five to ten times further. If we right-size those projects, we can invest in freight AND transit AND seismic resiliency.
For example: Putting most of our freight capacity expansion dollars into the most-expensive route in the state to expand means we can't build very many new freight lane-miles. If the expansion funds we are sending to constrained-ROW sections of I-5 were instead directed to I-205 and US-30,
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
For example: Putting most of our freight capacity expansion dollars into the most-expensive route in the state to expand means we can't build very many new freight lane-miles. If the expansion funds we are sending to constrained-ROW sections of I-5 were instead directed to I-205 and US-30,
While there are many good reasons for opposing the Rose Quarter and IBR (at least in their current iterations), the opportunity costs are particularly relevant, and it is a good idea to emphasize them.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
While there are many good reasons for opposing the Rose Quarter and IBR (at least in their current iterations), the opportunity costs are particularly relevant, and it is a good idea to emphasize them.
4. Submit public comments! Commissioner Chang, at least, seems to be reading them. And there seems to be a real opening to push state transportation politics in a better direction. The next meeting is December 11. Comments are accepted until 12 pm December 9.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
4. Submit public comments! Commissioner Chang, at least, seems to be reading them. And there seems to be a real opening to push state transportation politics in a better direction. The next meeting is December 11. Comments are accepted until 12 pm December 9.
since there are no other large HB 2017 projects currently in progress (besides the well-underway Abernethy). That's three votes. And that probably explains why the Rose Quarter update was yanked.
3. The IBR discussions are about to get really interesting!
3. The IBR discussions are about to get really interesting!
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
since there are no other large HB 2017 projects currently in progress (besides the well-underway Abernethy). That's three votes. And that probably explains why the Rose Quarter update was yanked.
3. The IBR discussions are about to get really interesting!
3. The IBR discussions are about to get really interesting!
Commissioner Chapman is playing her cards a little closer. But given her no vote today, it seems very likely she's a no on the Rose Quarter too. Finally, Commissioner Chang is almost certainly referring to the Rose Quarter in his comments on taking momentum away from projects,
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Commissioner Chapman is playing her cards a little closer. But given her no vote today, it seems very likely she's a no on the Rose Quarter too. Finally, Commissioner Chang is almost certainly referring to the Rose Quarter in his comments on taking momentum away from projects,
2. What does this mean for the Rose Quarter? It seems very possible there were three "no" votes in the room. Commissioner Baker wanted to send Center Street Bridge back to the legislature over a $100 million increase. I would guess he has the same position on the much-more-expensive Rose Quarter.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
2. What does this mean for the Rose Quarter? It seems very possible there were three "no" votes in the room. Commissioner Baker wanted to send Center Street Bridge back to the legislature over a $100 million increase. I would guess he has the same position on the much-more-expensive Rose Quarter.
limited involvement in state transportation politics. What seems to be happening is the three newcomers are increasingly questioning the business-as-usual status quo. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic develops.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
limited involvement in state transportation politics. What seems to be happening is the three newcomers are increasingly questioning the business-as-usual status quo. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic develops.
The other three members, meanwhile, are newcomers, having served on the Commission for less than 2 1/2 years. Commissioners Baker and Brown have business backgrounds, with no previous involvement in transportation. Commissioner Chang is a Deschutes County Commissioner, who appears to have had
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
The other three members, meanwhile, are newcomers, having served on the Commission for less than 2 1/2 years. Commissioners Baker and Brown have business backgrounds, with no previous involvement in transportation. Commissioner Chang is a Deschutes County Commissioner, who appears to have had
High stakes political drama, folks! A few comments:
1. There seems to be an interesting split in the OTC developing. Chair Brown and Vice Chair Breyer have players in state transportation politics for at least a decade. They appear to represent the business-as-usual side of the OTC.
1. There seems to be an interesting split in the OTC developing. Chair Brown and Vice Chair Breyer have players in state transportation politics for at least a decade. They appear to represent the business-as-usual side of the OTC.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
High stakes political drama, folks! A few comments:
1. There seems to be an interesting split in the OTC developing. Chair Brown and Vice Chair Breyer have players in state transportation politics for at least a decade. They appear to represent the business-as-usual side of the OTC.
1. There seems to be an interesting split in the OTC developing. Chair Brown and Vice Chair Breyer have players in state transportation politics for at least a decade. They appear to represent the business-as-usual side of the OTC.
Asks for a motion to approve the $100 million budget add. Vice Chair Beyer moves to approve, Commissioner Chang seconds. Motion passes 3-2, with Commissioners Baker and Chapman opposed.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Asks for a motion to approve the $100 million budget add. Vice Chair Beyer moves to approve, Commissioner Chang seconds. Motion passes 3-2, with Commissioners Baker and Chapman opposed.
Commission Chair Brown wraps things up by stating that she and Vice Chair Beyer have been part of these discussions since 2017, and she is committed to seeing the HB 2017 projects to completion. Notes this requires finding additional funding.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Commission Chair Brown wraps things up by stating that she and Vice Chair Beyer have been part of these discussions since 2017, and she is committed to seeing the HB 2017 projects to completion. Notes this requires finding additional funding.
He reiterates: "We really need to be thinking about which projects we are going to take the momentum away from. Because we don't have the resources to do everything the legislature has asked us to do."
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
He reiterates: "We really need to be thinking about which projects we are going to take the momentum away from. Because we don't have the resources to do everything the legislature has asked us to do."
...Now I understand the choice is actually 'which projects do we add momentum to, and which ones do we take the momentum away from?'" Adds that he believes that the Center Street Project is one of the projects that it is important to maintain momemtum on, and he supports the $100 million budget add.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
...Now I understand the choice is actually 'which projects do we add momentum to, and which ones do we take the momentum away from?'" Adds that he believes that the Center Street Project is one of the projects that it is important to maintain momemtum on, and he supports the $100 million budget add.
...(with an exasperated, resigned chuckle) "now...at this point, having watched the legislative process over the last year, I am understanding that... We, and ODOT, we have been directed to do a lot of things; we have been given limited resources...
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
...(with an exasperated, resigned chuckle) "now...at this point, having watched the legislative process over the last year, I am understanding that... We, and ODOT, we have been directed to do a lot of things; we have been given limited resources...
...since we can't afford any of them?"
Commission Chair Brown: "If we had that answer, it'd be easy... So, we struggle."
Commissioner Chang nodding in agreement. Notes he's been on the Commission for a year, during which time he's seen the focus shift from maintaining momentum for projects to...
Commission Chair Brown: "If we had that answer, it'd be easy... So, we struggle."
Commissioner Chang nodding in agreement. Notes he's been on the Commission for a year, during which time he's seen the focus shift from maintaining momentum for projects to...
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
...since we can't afford any of them?"
Commission Chair Brown: "If we had that answer, it'd be easy... So, we struggle."
Commissioner Chang nodding in agreement. Notes he's been on the Commission for a year, during which time he's seen the focus shift from maintaining momentum for projects to...
Commission Chair Brown: "If we had that answer, it'd be easy... So, we struggle."
Commissioner Chang nodding in agreement. Notes he's been on the Commission for a year, during which time he's seen the focus shift from maintaining momentum for projects to...
Comissioner Chapman: "I'm not disputing the validity or the urgency of the project--it's not really our purview to do that. It's been legislatively mandated to move this project forward...like all of the projects that have ballooned in budget. The question is really 'where do we draw the line?'...
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Comissioner Chapman: "I'm not disputing the validity or the urgency of the project--it's not really our purview to do that. It's been legislatively mandated to move this project forward...like all of the projects that have ballooned in budget. The question is really 'where do we draw the line?'...
Calls again for the project should be referred back to the legislature.
Comission Vice Chair Beyer argues forcefully for moving forward with the project, highlighting its imporance to seismic recovery. "I don't think there's another project I would put ahead of it--that's kind of where I'm at."
Comission Vice Chair Beyer argues forcefully for moving forward with the project, highlighting its imporance to seismic recovery. "I don't think there's another project I would put ahead of it--that's kind of where I'm at."
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Calls again for the project should be referred back to the legislature.
Comission Vice Chair Beyer argues forcefully for moving forward with the project, highlighting its imporance to seismic recovery. "I don't think there's another project I would put ahead of it--that's kind of where I'm at."
Comission Vice Chair Beyer argues forcefully for moving forward with the project, highlighting its imporance to seismic recovery. "I don't think there's another project I would put ahead of it--that's kind of where I'm at."
"We don't know what the cost of the Abernethy is going to be. We heard a discussion of risks, and my sense is the $815 million is going to increase. We'll find out next month the magnitude of the IBR, and I have a feeling the price tag is going to soar."
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
"We don't know what the cost of the Abernethy is going to be. We heard a discussion of risks, and my sense is the $815 million is going to increase. We'll find out next month the magnitude of the IBR, and I have a feeling the price tag is going to soar."
and states "I think that the legislature has interest in these [HB 2017] projects, and we should push this project back to the legislature for discussion." Notes soaring project costs, projects put on hold, funding to the Rose Quarter of only $75 million.
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
and states "I think that the legislature has interest in these [HB 2017] projects, and we should push this project back to the legislature for discussion." Notes soaring project costs, projects put on hold, funding to the Rose Quarter of only $75 million.
"To use the phrase that one of our public commentators used...I'm trying to get my head around the opportunity cost."
Some discussion of other smaller bridge retrofit projects that might get pushed out.
Commissioner Baker notes the project's large cost increase of $60 million to $470 million
Some discussion of other smaller bridge retrofit projects that might get pushed out.
Commissioner Baker notes the project's large cost increase of $60 million to $470 million
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
"To use the phrase that one of our public commentators used...I'm trying to get my head around the opportunity cost."
Some discussion of other smaller bridge retrofit projects that might get pushed out.
Commissioner Baker notes the project's large cost increase of $60 million to $470 million
Some discussion of other smaller bridge retrofit projects that might get pushed out.
Commissioner Baker notes the project's large cost increase of $60 million to $470 million
Furthermore...current plans call for building three full-length tunnels, not two. One for the NB lanes, one for the SB lanes, and one for the SB exit. The SB exit tunnel is arguably unnecessary since the exit could be relocated north of the tunnel. But it's in the current plan.
November 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Furthermore...current plans call for building three full-length tunnels, not two. One for the NB lanes, one for the SB lanes, and one for the SB exit. The SB exit tunnel is arguably unnecessary since the exit could be relocated north of the tunnel. But it's in the current plan.
www.oregon.gov
November 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
This is I-70 in Denver during cap construction. All lanes fit on one side by making use of the shoulder space.
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is I-70 in Denver during cap construction. All lanes fit on one side by making use of the shoulder space.