No More Freeways
@nomorefreewayspdx.com
We’re the grassroots community effort to stop ODOT’s polluting, costly, dumb freeway expansions.
Climate leaders don’t widen freeways ❌🛣️❌
Climate leaders don’t widen freeways ❌🛣️❌
We get the traffic congestion that we plan for.
So why is Oregon spending tens of billions of dollars to add multiple miles of new lanes of freeway through the Rose Quarter and across the Columbia River?
Every mile we build just ends up in more motorists polluting, stuck in gridlock.
So why is Oregon spending tens of billions of dollars to add multiple miles of new lanes of freeway through the Rose Quarter and across the Columbia River?
Every mile we build just ends up in more motorists polluting, stuck in gridlock.
Yet again, traffic engineers are gobsmacked that a road closure didn't create crippling gridlock:
"You’d never know that a massive highway project, ominously dubbed 'carmageddon,' was underway seven miles away...cars [were] speeding across the Interstate Bridge at their usual clip."
"You’d never know that a massive highway project, ominously dubbed 'carmageddon,' was underway seven miles away...cars [were] speeding across the Interstate Bridge at their usual clip."
Vancouver traffic largely unaffected by start of I-5 Rose Quarter project
Washington transportation officials warn commute time could increase in the coming days.
www.opb.org
September 15, 2026 at 6:48 PM
We get the traffic congestion that we plan for.
So why is Oregon spending tens of billions of dollars to add multiple miles of new lanes of freeway through the Rose Quarter and across the Columbia River?
Every mile we build just ends up in more motorists polluting, stuck in gridlock.
So why is Oregon spending tens of billions of dollars to add multiple miles of new lanes of freeway through the Rose Quarter and across the Columbia River?
Every mile we build just ends up in more motorists polluting, stuck in gridlock.
funny how traffic just evaporates when freeways are shut down
Carmaggedon? Here are two snapshots of weekday morming commute travel speeds on Portland freeways, one is from before the Rose Quarter shutdown, one is from after. Can you tell which is which?
September 14, 2026 at 9:25 PM
funny how traffic just evaporates when freeways are shut down
Reposted by No More Freeways
Zoom-Zoom: Live traffic cameras run by KATU set to show "MONDAY GRIDLOCK" actually show traffic moving smoothly on I-5. (11:25AM, 14 Sept). Where's my carmaggedon?
katu.com/news/survive...
katu.com/news/survive...
September 14, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Zoom-Zoom: Live traffic cameras run by KATU set to show "MONDAY GRIDLOCK" actually show traffic moving smoothly on I-5. (11:25AM, 14 Sept). Where's my carmaggedon?
katu.com/news/survive...
katu.com/news/survive...
Reposted by No More Freeways
$14B carbon bomb subsidy to help people evade sales taxes. nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
Can Light Rail Survive Vancouver, Washington’s New Bridge?
The cost to replace the aging I-5 span between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, has grown past $14 billion. But plans for the bridge’s transit line are only shrinking.
nextcity.org
September 11, 2026 at 3:13 PM
$14B carbon bomb subsidy to help people evade sales taxes. nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
Reposted by No More Freeways
The first three Amtrak Cascades Airo trainsets will enter revenue service Sept. 30!
www.kgw.com/article/news...
www.kgw.com/article/news...
September 11, 2026 at 11:33 PM
The first three Amtrak Cascades Airo trainsets will enter revenue service Sept. 30!
www.kgw.com/article/news...
www.kgw.com/article/news...
who wants to be the next director of ODOT?
Oregon Department of Transportation Director
Initial Posting Date: 09/04/2026 Application Deadline: 11/09/2026 Agency: Department of Transportation Salary Range: $15,834 - $24,553 Position Type: Employee Position Title: Oregon Department of Tran...
oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
September 8, 2026 at 4:48 PM
who wants to be the next director of ODOT?
Meanwhile the Oregon Legislature is gearing up write a check for over two billion dollars to double the width of I-5 in the backyard of Harriet Tubman Moddle School, clogging the neighborhood with noise and air pollution.
Pollution levels in London after 10 years of advancing sustainable transport.
September 3, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Meanwhile the Oregon Legislature is gearing up write a check for over two billion dollars to double the width of I-5 in the backyard of Harriet Tubman Moddle School, clogging the neighborhood with noise and air pollution.
Helluva time for the Oregon Legislature to defund public transit and continue to write checks for multibillion dollar freeway expansions! Quite an ~affordability agenda~ going on over here
increasingly difficult to find gas under $5 in OR
heads up- this is still active- wholesale gas prices in PWN (OR/W WA) up another 20c/gal today- watch for retail price impacts soon
August 31, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Helluva time for the Oregon Legislature to defund public transit and continue to write checks for multibillion dollar freeway expansions! Quite an ~affordability agenda~ going on over here
Reposted by No More Freeways
You're invited to our Annual Member Celebration on Saturday, September 26th, 4:00 - 6:00 PM at White Owl Social Club!
Enjoy food and drinks as we celebrate our accomplishments, recognize outstanding volunteers, and connect with fellow members.
RSVP here: portlandneighborswelcome.org/events
Enjoy food and drinks as we celebrate our accomplishments, recognize outstanding volunteers, and connect with fellow members.
RSVP here: portlandneighborswelcome.org/events
August 26, 2026 at 8:59 PM
You're invited to our Annual Member Celebration on Saturday, September 26th, 4:00 - 6:00 PM at White Owl Social Club!
Enjoy food and drinks as we celebrate our accomplishments, recognize outstanding volunteers, and connect with fellow members.
RSVP here: portlandneighborswelcome.org/events
Enjoy food and drinks as we celebrate our accomplishments, recognize outstanding volunteers, and connect with fellow members.
RSVP here: portlandneighborswelcome.org/events
The cuts to bus service will get worse without bold leadership from the Oregon Legislature next session.
Will we restore and expand public transit? Or will we continue to give billions of dollars to ODOT for their costly, polluting freeway expansions?
www.wweek.com/news/2026/08...
Will we restore and expand public transit? Or will we continue to give billions of dollars to ODOT for their costly, polluting freeway expansions?
www.wweek.com/news/2026/08...
‘Historic’ Service Cuts Are Now Arriving for TriMet Riders
The service reductions were first announced in January, as a state transportation funding package crumbled in the face of a Republican-led grassroots revolt.
www.wweek.com
August 22, 2026 at 6:15 PM
The cuts to bus service will get worse without bold leadership from the Oregon Legislature next session.
Will we restore and expand public transit? Or will we continue to give billions of dollars to ODOT for their costly, polluting freeway expansions?
www.wweek.com/news/2026/08...
Will we restore and expand public transit? Or will we continue to give billions of dollars to ODOT for their costly, polluting freeway expansions?
www.wweek.com/news/2026/08...
Trains! Not Lanes or Planes:
Maybe we shouldn’t expand airports. Trains would serve WA better | Opinion
But transportation policy is often deadly health policy, because burning fossil fuel produces microscopic PM 2.5 particles. | Opinion
www.thenewstribune.com
August 21, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Trains! Not Lanes or Planes:
securing funding to maintain/improve/expand amtrak cascades service (instead of just letting odot spend all our money on the rose quarter freeway expansion) is just one of many, many fights we're going to have to have in the oregon legislative session for the transportation package next year
Taking the train to Seattle for the first time and idk why anyone chooses to drive, I have so much space in coach and it’s like I’m in a Studio Ghibli movie
August 20, 2026 at 5:19 PM
securing funding to maintain/improve/expand amtrak cascades service (instead of just letting odot spend all our money on the rose quarter freeway expansion) is just one of many, many fights we're going to have to have in the oregon legislative session for the transportation package next year
Reposted by No More Freeways
A look back at some of what was going on during transportation funding redirection conversations earlier this year:
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
#orpol #orleg
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
#orpol #orleg
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
Information about nearly $56 million in funding that could have been used to balance ODOT's budget in the 2026 session was not shared with lawmakers.
www.statesmanjournal.com
August 13, 2026 at 5:28 PM
A look back at some of what was going on during transportation funding redirection conversations earlier this year:
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
#orpol #orleg
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
#orpol #orleg
Reposted by No More Freeways
The Oregon Legislature tapped a firm to audit ODOT that also gets $$ from contracts with ODOT -- and no one seems to see anything wrong with that.
Great story from @anastasiacmason.bsky.social. #orleg #orpol
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Great story from @anastasiacmason.bsky.social. #orleg #orpol
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Firm won $1M ODOT contract. Now it’s auditing the agency | Exclusive
The Oregon Legislature selected an engineering firm to audit ODOT despite them being tapped to complete $1 million in work for the agency.
www.statesmanjournal.com
August 14, 2026 at 6:19 PM
The Oregon Legislature tapped a firm to audit ODOT that also gets $$ from contracts with ODOT -- and no one seems to see anything wrong with that.
Great story from @anastasiacmason.bsky.social. #orleg #orpol
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Great story from @anastasiacmason.bsky.social. #orleg #orpol
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
please please please please take this survey and tell the legislature/odot that you want to see public transit, street safety and road maintenance prioritized over needless billions towards freeway expansion.
www.cognitoforms.com/ODOT2/ROTVSu...
www.cognitoforms.com/ODOT2/ROTVSu...
Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Survey
www.cognitoforms.com
August 14, 2026 at 10:51 PM
please please please please take this survey and tell the legislature/odot that you want to see public transit, street safety and road maintenance prioritized over needless billions towards freeway expansion.
www.cognitoforms.com/ODOT2/ROTVSu...
www.cognitoforms.com/ODOT2/ROTVSu...
Reposted by No More Freeways
The Safe Routes to School, Community Paths and Rail Infrastructure funding MUST be made whole (with interest) after this find.
Children have been denied safety infrastructure, communities denied critical missing links, and Amtrak Cascades the local match for getting to 6 daily round trips.
Children have been denied safety infrastructure, communities denied critical missing links, and Amtrak Cascades the local match for getting to 6 daily round trips.
"Nearly $56 million in unobligated funds that could have been used to help balance the Oregon Department of Transportation's budget never made it to the negotiation table in the 2026 legislative session, the agency told the Statesman Journal."
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
Information about nearly $56 million in funding that could have been used to balance ODOT's budget in the 2026 session was not shared with lawmakers.
www.statesmanjournal.com
August 14, 2026 at 6:23 AM
The Safe Routes to School, Community Paths and Rail Infrastructure funding MUST be made whole (with interest) after this find.
Children have been denied safety infrastructure, communities denied critical missing links, and Amtrak Cascades the local match for getting to 6 daily round trips.
Children have been denied safety infrastructure, communities denied critical missing links, and Amtrak Cascades the local match for getting to 6 daily round trips.
Reposted by No More Freeways
Shame on the governor for again using this manipulative framing. By categorizing the freeway expansion projects as “maintenance”, this push poll is gonna prioritize more lanes over maintaining the bus service we already have
If you care about transit in Oregon fill out the damn survey
If you care about transit in Oregon fill out the damn survey
August 14, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Shame on the governor for again using this manipulative framing. By categorizing the freeway expansion projects as “maintenance”, this push poll is gonna prioritize more lanes over maintaining the bus service we already have
If you care about transit in Oregon fill out the damn survey
If you care about transit in Oregon fill out the damn survey
Reposted by No More Freeways
PORTLAND URBANIST ALERT!
How should Oregon transportation dollars be spent?
The Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup is reviewing transportation needs, funding challenges, priorities, and tradeoffs to provide recommendations that will inform action in the 2027 legislative session.
How should Oregon transportation dollars be spent?
The Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup is reviewing transportation needs, funding challenges, priorities, and tradeoffs to provide recommendations that will inform action in the 2027 legislative session.
Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Survey
www.cognitoforms.com
August 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
PORTLAND URBANIST ALERT!
How should Oregon transportation dollars be spent?
The Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup is reviewing transportation needs, funding challenges, priorities, and tradeoffs to provide recommendations that will inform action in the 2027 legislative session.
How should Oregon transportation dollars be spent?
The Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup is reviewing transportation needs, funding challenges, priorities, and tradeoffs to provide recommendations that will inform action in the 2027 legislative session.
"How much is too much?"
No More Freeways co-founder @chrissmith.us testified today to the Oregon Transportation Commission about the latest $3 billion cost estimate for ODOT's proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion.
No More Freeways co-founder @chrissmith.us testified today to the Oregon Transportation Commission about the latest $3 billion cost estimate for ODOT's proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion.
August 13, 2026 at 11:41 PM
"How much is too much?"
No More Freeways co-founder @chrissmith.us testified today to the Oregon Transportation Commission about the latest $3 billion cost estimate for ODOT's proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion.
No More Freeways co-founder @chrissmith.us testified today to the Oregon Transportation Commission about the latest $3 billion cost estimate for ODOT's proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion.
"Nearly $56 million in unobligated funds that could have been used to help balance the Oregon Department of Transportation's budget never made it to the negotiation table in the 2026 legislative session, the agency told the Statesman Journal."
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Why nearly $56M from ODOT wasn't used to balance budget | Exclusive
Information about nearly $56 million in funding that could have been used to balance ODOT's budget in the 2026 session was not shared with lawmakers.
www.statesmanjournal.com
August 13, 2026 at 10:37 PM
"Nearly $56 million in unobligated funds that could have been used to help balance the Oregon Department of Transportation's budget never made it to the negotiation table in the 2026 legislative session, the agency told the Statesman Journal."
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by No More Freeways
This is why we can’t have transit
OregonDOT is #1 and #2: Per mile, the two most expensive highway expansion projects in the United States are the $3.5 billion I-5 Rose Quarter widening and the $15 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement. ODOT is utterly broke, and broke. City Observatory cityobservatory.org/bankrupt-a-3...
August 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
This is why we can’t have transit
Reposted by No More Freeways
This is an emergency, we need our state leaders to act like it. We NEED transit, and improving transit service in the Portland metro supports the entire state because of the economic activity and tax revenue it generates. Fund TriMet!
Update from @trimet.org today:
Without additional revenue, TriMet's budget deficit will ultimately force the agency to cut in excess of 33% of its total service by 2030 or 2031.
This is what a 31% service could look like:
Without additional revenue, TriMet's budget deficit will ultimately force the agency to cut in excess of 33% of its total service by 2030 or 2031.
This is what a 31% service could look like:
August 11, 2026 at 11:10 PM
This is an emergency, we need our state leaders to act like it. We NEED transit, and improving transit service in the Portland metro supports the entire state because of the economic activity and tax revenue it generates. Fund TriMet!
Reposted by No More Freeways
Nothing short of a five alarm fire - to which the legislature is responding with “hmmm well let’s give ODOT three billion dollars to widen a freeway into the backyard of Harriet Tubman Middle School”
Update from @trimet.org today:
Without additional revenue, TriMet's budget deficit will ultimately force the agency to cut in excess of 33% of its total service by 2030 or 2031.
This is what a 31% service could look like:
Without additional revenue, TriMet's budget deficit will ultimately force the agency to cut in excess of 33% of its total service by 2030 or 2031.
This is what a 31% service could look like:
August 11, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Nothing short of a five alarm fire - to which the legislature is responding with “hmmm well let’s give ODOT three billion dollars to widen a freeway into the backyard of Harriet Tubman Middle School”
Reposted by No More Freeways
This is brutal. Public transit has never been great here but this would make it horrendous. But let's give all the city and county money to a billionaire sports team owner
Update from @trimet.org today:
Without additional revenue, TriMet's budget deficit will ultimately force the agency to cut in excess of 33% of its total service by 2030 or 2031.
This is what a 31% service could look like:
Without additional revenue, TriMet's budget deficit will ultimately force the agency to cut in excess of 33% of its total service by 2030 or 2031.
This is what a 31% service could look like:
August 12, 2026 at 2:02 AM
This is brutal. Public transit has never been great here but this would make it horrendous. But let's give all the city and county money to a billionaire sports team owner