91视频

The Oregon Transportation Commission on Thursday supported adoption of the highway cover design concept for the Interstate 5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project, while giving voice to concerns about costs, delays and who should pay.

Commissioners voted unanimously to back the 鈥渉ybrid 3鈥� option that Gov. Kate Brown threw her support behind at an Aug. 3 meeting. The hybrid 3 design calls for highway covers that could support two- to three-story buildings and reconnect Flint Street across I-5.

The covers are seen by local government and Black community officials as crucial links to reconnect the street grid and provide restorative justice to the Albina neighborhood, which was bisected by the interstate’s construction in the 1960s.

Who will pay for it is another matter. Costs have soared 鈥� the Oregon Department of Transportation now estimates hybrid 3 will cost $1.18 billion to $1.25 billion, up from a baseline of $715 million to $795 million. Construction of highway covers strong enough to support five- to six-story buildings would add $200 million to the cost, said Megan Channell, project director for ODOT.

Transportation commissioners questioned whether the project is worth the cost.

鈥淚 just wonder if we were to ask the question of the Legislature or the state or the citizens: Do you want to spend $1.5 billion on a Rose Quarter project? Is that the best use of our public funds right now? And I don’t know if the answer would be yes,鈥� Commissioner Sharon Smith said.

鈥淎t some level,鈥� she added, 鈥淚 just question the viability.鈥�

The covers will cost more than $6,000 per square foot to build, Commissioner Alando Simpson said.

Commissioners said it is incumbent upon local governments to help pay for the project, because it would benefit local streets as well as the interstate.

鈥淭he decision to put I-5 there was a decision made not solely by ODOT, but by the entire community 鈥� the city of Portland, the neighborhoods around, the whole community,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淪o when we look at a finance plan to embark on restorative justice, it seems to me that ODOT should not be the only entity at the table helping right that wrong.鈥�

The commission’s resolution calls on the city of Portland, Multnomah County, Metro and TriMet to help fund the project.

Local contributions to interstate projects are not unusual, said Travis Brouwer, ODOT’s assistant director for revenue, finance and compliance. He pointed to the I-5 Woodburn interchange and the I-5 South Medford interchange, where local governments helped pay for street connectivity improvements.

鈥淟ocal communities stepped up and made contributions,鈥� he said.

I-5 construction also could receive federal funding, including authorized money from the infrastructure bill passed by the Senate, Commission Chairman Robert Van Brocklin said.

He reminded commissioners that the I-5 Rose Quarter expansion is a 鈥渟tate-mandated project鈥� included in House Bill 2017.

鈥淲e were directed to do a congestion-relief project,鈥� he said.

During the public comment period, labor and industry officials said the project should begin as soon as possible, while environmental groups said the plan ignores climate change.

鈥淭his project is too important for the community to be delayed longer than this proposed 10-12-month delay, and at a time that is economically choking our community out,鈥� said Nate McCoy, executive director of the National Association of Minority Contractors 鈥� Oregon. 鈥淲e think we need to act sooner rather than later, and the time is now.鈥�

Sunrise Movement activists asked transportation commissioners to reconsider expanding the freeway.

鈥淪top rubber-stamping ODOT’s proposals to invest billions of dollars into harmful freeway expansions and instead start seriously investing in climate-resilient, efficient and accessible bicycle-(pedestrian) infrastructure statewide,鈥� said Cassie Wilson, a Boring resident.

The next steps, Channell said, are to advance design from the current 5 percent level, develop a detailed cost estimate and finance plan, forge any necessary intergovernmental agreements and update diversity subcontracting plans.