“For more information: Shelley M. Snow, Communications, 503-881-5362

SALEM – The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday., July 28 using web/phone. Agenda items include an update on the new Oregon Community Paths program, a discussion about the 2021-24 Sidewalk Improvement Program Strategic Investments and more. The full agenda, meeting materials and links for participating in the meeting are online.

The committee accepts public comment and has designated time on the agenda to hear comments via the phone line or web meeting chat feature. General guidelines: email a written summary of your comments to obpac@odot.state.or.us prior to the meeting when possible and limit comments to two minutes.”

Commission sets July 15 virtual meeting

SALEM — The Oregon Transportation Commission will meet on Thursday, July 15 at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held virtually to ensure public access while maintaining social distance in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Items on the agenda include:

• An update from the Urban Mobility Office. Amend 2021-2024 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to increase funding and add a construction phase to the I-205 Improvements project.
• An informational update on the inventory of real property owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation and currently in excess of operating needs, as required by HB 2017 Section 9.
• A status update on the pedestrian safety improvement initiative that was approved at the commission’s May meeting.
• An informational update on a new process to reset the STIP in a yearly action for majority of STIP amendments.
• Key trends in transportation and “drivers of change” and connection to the overall Oregon Transportation Plan Update decision-making process and next steps. Set a committee charge with general guidance and direction for the OTP Policy Coordinating Committee.
• Review and discussion of the Strategic Action Plan second quarter report; review the updated SAP dashboard.

The agenda and meeting materials are available on the OTC website.

Imagine if Portland could ask for a carfree lane on 82nd Ave. Then imagine if ODOT actually listened.

Unlike our Oregon Department of Transportation whose seems to be carrying out a policy to rid their highways of everything but people in cars, the Washington Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it’s getting on the open streets train.

Imagine that. A state DOT voluntarily banning automobile users from lanes and even complete roadways all in the name of safety and health.
[Read more…]

“That was the wrong decision and we are in the process of removing two stretches of that guardrail now.”
— Rian Windsheimer, ODOT Region 1 director

New guardrails on Historic Columbia River Highway along Sandy River.
(Photos by BikePortland Forum user amadeusb4)

[Read more…]

Former biking space on Historic Highway.
(Photo: Forum user amadeusb4)

We’re still trying to learn more about why the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) installed three sections of guardrails in the paved shoulder of the Historic Columbia River Highway south of Interstate 84 last week. These guardrails narrow valuable space used by many bicycle riders and their dangerous placement increases odds of stressful passes and collisions.

The fact that ODOT did this without any public notice and on one of the most important and valuable cycling routes in the state is unconscionable and just the latest example of the agency’s negligent stewardship of our transportation system. We’ve reached out to ODOT leadership for further comment and clarification but haven’t heard back.

Since our story posted on Monday, we’ve read dozens of comments expressing grave concerns and outrage. Now homeowners who live along the road where the guardrails were installed are defending the project, saying the guardrails are necessary to thwart illegal campers and to make the road safer for drivers.[Read more…]

Prep for a future Columbia River crossing project will be among the office’s priorities.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is bulking up to handle a future where the Portland region is an epicenter of highway megaprojects.

In an email (below) sent yesterday afternoon to all employees, ODOT Deputy Director Paul Mather announced the formation of the new Office of Urban Mobility & Mega Projects to be based in Portland. A search process for a manager of this office is just getting underway.

The move comes in response to House Bill 2017, the $5.3 billion transportation package passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2017. That bill laid out funding for several projects in the Portland region (ODOT Region 1) and it defined “mega transportation projects” as those that, “cost at least $360 million to complete, that attract a high level of public attention or political interest because of substantial direct and indirect impacts on the community or environment or that require a high level of attention to manage the project successfully.” (The bill also established the Joint Interim Task Force On Mega Transportation Projects.)

Among the projects ODOT will focus on in this new office are expansions to I-5 and I-205, and an effort to re-kindle the Columbia River Crossing. [Read more…]

What would you like to see in the leader of ODOT?
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Oregon Department of Transportation is in desperate need of new leadership. Thankfully, the Oregon Transportation Commission is moving full steam ahead in their search for a new director.

The OTC’s search committee — led by Vice Chair Bob Van Brocklin, a lawyer with Stoel Rives LLP — has published a draft version of the job description and will accept public comment on it until this Thursday, May 9th. Below are a few salient excerpts from the description:

The OTC seeks a new chief executive that will manage ODOT through significant change…
[Read more…]