(Photo © J. Maus)
Tonight at ODOT headquarters in Northwest Portland, City and state transportation officials will host a public meeting to discuss how to best improve the transportation system around the I-5/Broadway/Weidler interchange near the Rose Quarter.
The event is part of the N/NE Quadrant Project, a “unique collaboration” between ODOT and PBOT to, “ensure a vibrant Central City at the heart of the metropolitan region.”
Currently, this area is anything but vibrant. It is marked by wide and fast roads which — partly due to Eastside Streetcar Loop project construction — are often gridlocked. The presence of I-5, several on/off-ramps and arterial streets also contribute to a very dangerous and uncomfortable environment for road users — especially if you are not protected inside a steel vehicle.
ODOT tried to solve the problems
of I-5 near the Rose Quarter.
Tonight’s workshop (a.k.a. a “charrette”) kicks off a three-day event designed to introduce the transportation problems in the area and glean feedback from the community about how to solve them.
When thinking about this project, it’s important to know that ODOT and PBOT have been studying I-5 in this location since the ’80s. Back in December I shared plans they drew up back in 2007 (but had never been seen by the public) that showed their intentions for solving the issues in this area by simply doing what they’ve always done — widening the freeway and interchanges to move more cars and trucks.
I made my skepticism about how ODOT and PBOT are approaching this project very clear in an editorial on December 15th. How we define the problems on big (potential) projects like this can often play a major role in what solutions we are able to work with. Here’s an excerpt from that editorial:
When I expressed to [PBOT staffer] Iwata my concerns about the dangers inherent in making this report a “starting point” he said, “Your concerns are reflected by several members of our advisory group… Several people are a little suspicious… They see what’s going on with the CRC (Columbia River Crossing)…”
Critics of the CRC are waging a fierce battle in large part because of the way the problem was initially defined. The definition of the problem and the narrative that planners set in the beginning have limited what solutions can be considered; and, some say, favor the solutions the DOTs have wanted to pursue all along.
Iwata told me project staff are approaching this project with a community-based, “bottom-up” style as opposed to the “top-down” style we’ve seen from ODOT and the CRC project. But even with that being said, the “traffic nightmare” rhetoric has already begun and we all know how some traffic engineers like to solve that problem.
Consider the official summary of the agenda: “Discuss charrette purpose and process and begin brainstorming freeway improvement ideas.” Does that sound like they are taking an objective, mode-neutral approach to this process?
This area is a key hub in our transportation system. It includes several very dangerous and broken intersections that have caused numerous bike crashes over the years. It simply must be improved. I just hope PBOT and ODOT realize that we can’t build our way out of congestion.
The first of three workshops sessions will be held tonight from 5:00 to 8:30 pm at ODOT headquarters (123 NW Flanders). Learn more about the project here.