 A rendering of a highway cover over I-5 in the Rose Quarter. This graphic is for illustration purposes only; the highway cover development process will be led
by the city of Portland, in partnership with ODOT, and with community involvement.
A joint panel of partners and community supporters of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project came together in a show of unity around their collective vision for the Albina area and commitment to the project at the November Oregon Transportation Commission meeting.
 Rose Gerber, ODOT Communications Lead, talks with attendees at the I-5 Boone Bridge Replacement Project Open House.
The I-5 Boone Bridge Replacement project held an open house in November. We invited attendees to talk about the issues they see in the project area and share their thoughts on how to address them. This feedback contributes to a community-supported project and helps move the project through federal and state planning processes. Learn more about the event and the project.
 Visual overview of the I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project construction area.
We made remarkable progress this year as crews worked toward the 2025 completion of ODOT’s largest highway construction project in 45 years. Click here to learn more.
 Watch our video to learn about how we engaged the community in Summer 2023.
As 2023 comes to a close, we want to thank the thousands of community members and regional partners who shared feedback with us over the past year. Community input has been a priority for the Oregon Toll Program in the past six years, and we've made changes to the toll program in response. Read more about our recent community engagement outcomes.
Commission Advances Ambitious Low-Income Toll Program
On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved several elements to advance the low-income toll program and a draft set of administrative rules for public feedback in 2024.
There are more than 300 toll programs in the United States, and Oregon will be the first in the nation to have a low-income toll program on day one of operations. This program will serve low-income travelers who cannot change their travel schedules or who travel frequently on the interstates. Tribal, transit, and emergency response vehicles will be exempt from tolls.
Next year, draft toll rules will be published for public review and comment following legal review. In addition to discounts and exemptions, the draft rules cover the toll rate-setting process, toll payment compliance, and maintaining customer privacy and enrollment. Final adoption is expected in mid-2024.
ODOT will study additional discount options for the low-income toll program when more information on toll rates is available. Learn more.
 The new frontage road, helping drivers travel between Allen Boulevard, Denney Road and OR 217 south more safely.
We reached a big milestone in the OR 217 Auxiliary Lanes Project on Nov. 30 by opening the new frontage road adjacent to the highway, between the Allen Boulevard and Denney Road interchanges.
This section of OR 217 southbound has tight interchange spacing which results in a high crash rate and congestion. The frontage road, in conjunction with the new auxiliary lanes, reduces the amount of merging on the highway which in turn reduces crashes, reduces congestion and increases safety and reliability in the area. We expect a 20-30% crash reduction on OR 217 when the project is complete. We are halfway through this $158 million project with construction completion expected in 2025.
Learn more about the project and read construction updates at www.hwy217.org.
Looking for a great job with a competitive salary and good benefits? Want to help your community every day? Apply now at ODOTJobs.com. Nothing quite fit? Check back often!
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