ODOT denied new federal funding for Rose Quarter freeway expansion

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — In a blow to a project years in the making, the U.S. Department of Transportation has rejected ODOT’s request for $750 million to spend towards the Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion, Oregon State Rep. Susan McLain announced Thursday.

This has now left ODOT at least $900 million behind on the plan to expand the width of Interstate 5 through the Albina neighborhood, which was expected to cost between $1.5-1.9 billion.

This comes after the project’s plan to put a cap over the expansion secured a $450 million grant back in April, which made up more than half of the project’s available funds at the time. This would have solidified the first part of the effort to restore the Albina neighborhood, the inner-Northeast area of the city that was razed in the 1950s and ’60s during the freeway’s initial construction.

In August, Portland City Council also approved a $800,000 grant awarded to the city by the U.S. Department of Transportation to go toward the project.

A few months later, a key vote from Metro Council laid the groundwork for the first phase of that cap, allowing ODOT to “complete the design and construct the central segment of the cover around Broadway-Weidler to support reconnection for the Albina community,” according to a Metro press release.

While some, like nonprofit Albina Vision Trust , helped spearhead the idea alongside ODOT, the project has faced pushback with multiple lawsuits . These were filed against the USDOT and the Federal Highway Administration in an effort to stop the project, alleging the agencies violated environmental standards.

According to the Move Oregon Forward coalition, Oregon legislators conducting a statewide transportation tour earlier this year received public comments “overwhelmingly” demanding more investment in public transit, road maintenance and street safety improvement, as opposed to projects like the Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion.

“We continue to call on state legislators, Gov. Tina Kotek and the Oregon Department of Transportation to develop a plan for a “right sized” Rose Quarter project that leads with investments that restore the livability of Albina, rather than needlessly doubling the size of the I-5 freeway,” said Chris Smith, co-founder of No More Freeways.

Rose Gerber, an ODOT spokesperson for the Rose Quarter Project, sent KOIN 6 the following statement upon our request for comment:

“Yes, we can confirm that ODOT was not awarded INFRA funding for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project. With some state funding in hand and a $450 million federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant awarded to the project this past spring, ODOT plans to begin partially constructing the highway cover by 2027 with an eye toward completing the project as additional funding is secured.

“The Reconnecting Communities grant ($450 million) funds the design completion and construction of the initial, central portion (but not all) of the highway cover. This includes finalizing design, purchasing right of way and relocating utilities to ready the initial, central portion of the highway cover area for construction, and constructing the first segment of the highway cover near Broadway and Weidler. This initial segment of the highway cover will be compatible with the future full build out of the full highway cover and I-5 safety and operational improvements.

“Next steps include applying for future federal grants and exploring other funding opportunities. ODOT will work with legislative partners to identify additional funding opportunities in 2025. ODOT is committed to delivering this project to the community and promoting diverse business and workforce participation. Moving to construction will activate the hiring of a diverse and skilled workforce and benefits for minority and woman owned companies.”

JT Flowers, a spokesperson for Albina Vision Trust, sent KOIN 6 the following statement when we asked for a comment:

“In March, the federal government committed $450 million to the generational work of rebuilding Albina. This was not only the largest award in the history of the Oregon Department of Transportation, but the largest award granted to any project in America. Today’s news does not alarm us. With the eyes on the nation upon us, we are confident that leaders across Oregon remain steadfastly committed to seeing this project through.”

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