Rose Quarter Underground: Looking at conditions from the bottom up

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ODOT crews will be in the Rose Quarter area on July 6 and 7 to conduct nighttime work

The work will provide information about the existing pavement condition of local streets to inform the design of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project.

What you will see and hear

Crews will examine the pavement by drilling holes ranging from 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep to 8 inches wide and 10 feet deep. The holes will be backfilled within 24 hours and covered when not in use. You may hear some noise while crews work nearby, but activities will be no louder than typical traffic noises.

Here’s what you can expect from the pavement exploration work:

  • Work dates: July 6 and 7
  • Nighttime work: Mon-Wed, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Temporary closures and detours for people walking, biking, rolling, and driving
  • Partial lane closures
    • N Broadway between NE 2nd Ave and N Wheeler Ave
    • N Vancouver Ave between N Broadway and N Weidler

Visit the ODOT’s Weekly Construction Update and visit TripCheckimage linked to trip check website for details on specific closures and detours – updates will be posted regularly until pavement exploration is complete.

If you have any questions, please call 503-470-3127 or email info@i5RoseQuarter.org.

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I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project committees will meet online June 18, June 22, and June 23

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For more information, contact:  April deLeon-Galloway, 971-233-6514, april.m.deleon@odot.state.or.us

June 16, 2020

The public is invited to attend the I-5 Rose Quarter Project’s Community Opportunity Advisory Committee, Executive Steering Committee and Community Advisory Committee meetings.

On Thursday, June 18 the project’s Community Opportunity Advisory Committee will meet online, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The committee will discuss the charter and the upcoming Meet the Proposers community event.

On Monday, June 22 the project’s Executive Steering Committee will meet online, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting will focus on the community context for the project’s values, and members will hear findings from a round of discussion groups held in 2019 and 2020. The committee will discuss and approve their charter and finalize project values.

On Tuesday, June 23, the project’s Community Advisory Committee will meet online from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The team will host a listening session for committee members to discuss restorative justice and reflect on project values.

Visit i5rosequarter.org/get-involved/events for information on how to join these meetings.

Anyone can observe the meetings and share comments via email, phone or online:

  • Email comments on specific agenda items to info@I5RoseQuarter.org with the committee name in the subject line.
  • Submit comments via phone at the project’s hotline: 503-470-3127.
  • Facilitators will also provide an opportunity for online participants to provide comments during the meetings.

Comments received by 11:00 a.m. the business day before the meeting and will be shared with committee members in advance. All written and voice recorded comments received will be added to the meeting record.

These are virtual meetings in response to Governor Brown’s directive on social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of exposure to our communities. Meetings will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

All project committee meetings are open to the public. If you wish to attend a virtual meeting but cannot attend by phone or computer, or you require language accommodations, please contact the project team at 503-470-3127 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

Read the full news release

I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Team Receives Environmental Peer Review Report

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Peer Review Panel Finds Environmental Assessment Appropriately Addresses Issues of Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Noise and Provides Additional Recommendations for Design and Construction Phases

June 2, 2020

For more information, contact Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452 Don.Hamilton@odot.state.or.us

PORTLAND — A peer review of the Environmental Assessment of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement project is now public. In January 2020, the Oregon Transportation Commission directed ODOT to conduct an environmental peer review associated with the project’s Environmental Assessment after hearing stakeholder concern over the potential impacts from the project related to air quality, noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Peer Review Report supported ODOT’s findings for air, greenhouse gas, and noise impacts for the project. It also provided recommendations to incorporate into the project’s future design and construction phases, such as the requirement of low-emission construction equipment including electric vehicles.

The Environmental Peer Review Panel also reached out to Partner Agencies involved with the Rose Quarter Project.

“It appears that some trust has been lost between the public and ODOT, and perhaps between the other Partner Agencies and ODOT,” the report said. “The Panel found ODOT to be very cooperative, intelligent, and prompt with their responses. ODOT expressed interest in the Panel’s suggestions on improving relations with the community and Partner Agencies.”

The report also suggested that this is an opportunity for ODOT, partner agencies, and local community partners to repair relations and produce a project in which everyone can take pride. One panel member called it a “WE” opportunity.

“While we are confident of the technical work that went into the Environmental Assessment, we were open to it being reviewed by subject matter experts and look forward to addressing their recommendations as we move forward,” said Project Director Megan Channell.

There is room for improvement. The reviewers pointed out that the way the information was written in the Environmental Assessment could have been better presented for a non-technical audience.

The review process occurred between April and May 2020. Staff from the City of Portland, Metro and Portland Public Schools participated in the process and were able to ask the panelist questions.

To read the Report which includes panelist bios, please visit: https://www.i5rosequarter.org/news-library/

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Read the full news release