Public invited to review early traffic results at I-205 Toll Project webinars on Feb. 15 or Feb. 16
February 14, 2022
For more information, contact Tia Williams, ODOT's Urban Mobility Office Communications Director, 971-378-4295
Portland, Ore. – A new study shows traffic congestion on I-205 near Oregon City could be reduced from 14 hours to two hours daily once the seven miles of I-205 construction improvements are complete and variable rate tolls to manage congestion are used.
The analysis found that drivers could see a 50% decrease in afternoon travel time and a 25% decrease in the morning. In addition, travel times would become more reliable, and the number of crashes would shrink, improving efficiency and safety.
According to the technical modeling based on regionally adopted traffic data, not tolling and not building the I-205 Improvements Project by 2045 would result in 14 daily hours of congestion on I-205 and an increase in crashes in this region.
“Reduced congestion means reduced emissions, which provides climate benefits and is good news for I-205 travelers and freight haulers,” said Mandy Putney, I-205 Improvements Project director. “We are now focused on mitigating impacts on local roads and intersections where congestion could be worse. We invite members of the community to learn more and discuss how to address these issues at our upcoming webinars.”
ODOT will share and discuss preliminary findings at two upcoming public webinars on Tuesday, February 15, or Wednesday, February 16. Both webinars will cover the same content. Project staff will answer questions following a presentation.
The sessions will focus on:
- How ODOT is studying traffic effects on I-205 and local roads
- Early results on hours of congestion, travel time, and neighborhood health and safety
- Strategies that could be used to address negative impacts
The I-205 Toll Project would use variable-rate tolls on the Abernethy and Tualatin River Bridges to complete the I-205 Improvements Project and manage congestion. When entirely constructed, the I-205 Improvements Project will address the bottleneck caused by the last remaining two-lane section of I-205.
The project will reduce crashes and daily congestion by adding a third lane in each direction with shoulders that could accommodate buses in the future if transit agencies determine they are needed. ODOT is currently studying the effects of tolling for the region by compiling an in-depth Environmental Assessment. This report will be available for public review and comment in June.
As part of the environmental review, ODOT has heard many questions and concerns from Clackamas County residents about the potential for increased traffic on local streets if vehicles try to avoid tolls on I-205. The upcoming webinar sessions will answer some of the questions and gain input on strategies to address local impacts.
Webinar questions may be submitted up to one day in advance by emailing at oregontolling@odot.state.or.us with “webinar question” in the subject line. Questions also will be taken in the chat during the webinar sessions.
This video answers how tolls will affect traffic.
The webinars will take place on Zoom. You can join online or by phone. No RSVP is needed.
You do not need a Zoom account to access the meeting. You may be prompted to enter your name or email address -- the information you enter may be visible to those attending the meeting.
This meeting will also be livestreamed on ODOT's YouTube Channel.
Webinar #1 – Tuesday, February 15 at Noon
Click this link to join the meeting on Zoom.
Telephone dial in by phone 877-853-5257 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 868 8230 0486
Webinar #2 – Wednesday, February 16 at 5:30 PM
Click this link to join the meeting on Zoom.
Telephone dial in by phone 877-853-5257 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 829 7438 2309
Meetings are open to everyone
Accommodations will be provided to people with disabilities. To request an accommodation such as materials in alternate formats, please call Hannah Williams at 503-894-4173. Or, call statewide relay at 7-1-1 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
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More information about tolling
ODOT has two toll projects underway in the Portland metro area – the I-205 Toll Project and the Regional Mobility Pricing Project – to manage traffic on I-205 and I-5 in a way that is equitable and addresses climate change while providing needed funding for critical infrastructure and safety improvements. While separate projects, they inform each other. Toll prices will be higher at peak traffic times, a concept known as “congestion pricing.” With both projects:
- Drivers only pay for what they use.
- Tolls help traffic move more smoothly.
- Tolls provide a more reliable trip.
- Toll prices will not be a surprise.
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