Who all is ready to listen to the testimony for the Oregon Transportation Commission's STIP hearing? Sounds like we've got dozens of community advocates from across the state lined up to demand ODOT invest in climate, safety and equity (+not more roads) https://www.youtube.com/user/OregonDOT/live

The meeting is live! We'll be intermittently livetweeting. The only item on the agenda is the vote on STIP funding, and they will begin public testimony shortly. #StopTheSTIP

first up? @sarahforpdx! "you've read the analysis from ODOT's climate office. You know the non-highway option will do the most for climate, equity and safety....Oregon has a global reputation for climate leadership... The problem is political, but it's also ODOT." #STOPtheSTIP

ooooh! Great to see Commissioner @JVP_MultCoD3 show up tonight. "We want to ask you to go further." Speaks to the urgent need to address traffic violence, and the racial/social justice implications of dangerous streets. #STOPtheSTIP

@rjsheperd with @bikeloudpdx is throwing down. Blasts the OTC for its lack of accountability or transparency on how these scenarios were publicly vetted, and abysmal public engagement opportunities around the proposed solutions #STOPtheSTIP

Alan Journet, climate advocate from Jacksonville in Southern Oregon speaks to rural and coastal Oregonians who want climate action. "It doesn't seen the 2024-2027 STIP doesn't go far enough for the Governor's EO on climate." #STOPtheSTIP

(We're statewide baby!!!)

Amy, a student from UO, the Climate Coordinator for NAACP Eugene Springfield, talks about the influence of the automobile on the American landscape - how it impacts air pollution, carbon emissions. "Both me and my siblings suffered from asthma due to these inequities."

on behalf of us, @ambrown testified: "Someday, the OTC will rise to the challenge and listen to the voices of Oregonians radicalized from the wildfires, rising oceans, strengthening storms. Is that day today?" #STOPtheSTIP

Representative from @BendBikes also speaking in support of the S2 scenario. "Institutions reveal who they are by their funding priorities." Also asks for S2 scenario #STOPtheSTIP

Paxton from @SunrisePDX, "I will be 36 in 2030 when my climate fate is sealed...." shares his experience hiking along Highway 47 in Vernonia. "Success will only come when all Oregonians have the chance to change their transportation habits to ones less reliant on fossil fuels"

Hau Hagedorn, chair of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, testifying. "This [historic] concern for environment is a core concern for Oregonians....However, because of chronic underinvestment, only 44% of the statewide sidewalks and bikeway network is complete."

"I ask you: what kind of legacy will you leave for your children and grandchildren? I'm disappointed the non-highway option is no longer being concerned.... we are hopeful you'll make the right and just decision in order to produce an equitable and safe transportation system."

"The words “safety” and “equity” are words that I hear being used by the OTC. Often it feels like these words are hollow, designed to paint us a picture of what we want to see." Kristen Sartor speaks in support of the S2 option.

Elizabeth from Beavercreek, in Clackamas County: "The climate impacts of heat and drought are hurting my farm. My family had to evacuate for weeks... in 2018, our mature Douglas Fir trees began to die due to the conditions.. the Governor directs you to prioritize climate action."

. @sljpdx from @OLCV's @mcat_olcv: "we need ways to evaluate our programs to cut our emissions in half by 2035. It's too easy to give up if we imagine only chaos and climate destruction...let's rather imagine new ways to get to work...that do not emit greenhouse gases."

Brandon Narramore testifies about the need to honor the victims of traffic violence, and their families, by investing in S2.

Danielle w/ @sunrisepdx. "I've become overwhelming disenchanted with the equity practices that plague @oregondot. in much of ODOT's work, equity is only promoted when it's convenient and profitable.... we need bold action on equity, safety and climate. You have that opportunity."

Aaron Saltzman, with ecumenical ministries of oregon, testifies for the S2 scenario, "incremental efforts to improve are insufficient"

So far not a single bit of testimony satisfied with the OTC's options, with particular focus on agency's shortcomings on climate, traffic safety

. @DuBarryPie. "my husband and i just marked the 10th anniversary of the death of our son.... each year we watch with horror as more $ is spent prioritizing cars that will lead to more deaths + the climate crisis. Every day I think of simple changes that might have saved my son."

Rob Zako of @BetterEugSpfdTr testifying in support of the S2 option. "to maintain the trust of taxpayers, ODOT can and most do better." points out the success other state DOTs have had on prioritizing climate.

Akash Singh, speaking on behalf of an environmental justice organization. "In a year of global crisis compounded, now is a time for sustainable leadership... Oregon has a reputation of being an environmental leader. OTC can demonstrate that leadership" by voting for S2."

Julie Chapman with @LWVofOregon, speaks to the need for ODOT's budget to meet the charge posed by the Governor's Executive Order. "We don't see how the carbon reduction necessary is reflected in the scenarios. Data matter. Concrete goals matter." #STOPtheSTIP

Paul Thompson, on behalf of Central Lane MPO, testifying in support of full funding for the non-highway fund. "Scenario 2 provides by far the most funding for expanding multimodal mobility and addressing climate."

Gwen, calling in. "we must face the music and make big and bold decisions. We must stop prioritizing the single occupancy vehicle."

30 bits of testimony so far, almost unanimous for Scenario 2. (a few for Scenario 3B)

Kai: "I live near 82nd Avenue. It's another example of our failure to priority people over movement of cars... any STIP scenario that ignores imperatives to address [climate/traffic safety] is a further insult to taxpayers. It's clear original non-highway scenario is the best"

Dan McFarlane with AORTA. "Adding more pavement violates Governor Brown's Executive Order. OTC must lead our state to provide a comprehensive system of inner and inter-city transit."

. @findingbmo_ of @1000oregon highlights failures of the OTC to meet Goal 1 of public engagement with unclear public comment periods. "it was a pretty frustrating experience!"

Also points out it's frustrating to demand over and over that agencies acknowledge the climate crisis.

That's it for public comment. Oral testimony was overwhelmingly in support of S2, the non-highway option. Taking a five minute break before the vote. Not exactly optimistic of how the OTC will respond, but credit where it's due to HUNDREDS of folks who wrote in.

Okay, OTC meeting has resumed. Very curious to see how ODOT staff / OTC members spin their decision in the face of overwhelming public testimony they received tonight/last month

Commissioner Smith also prompting ODOT staffer to explain how they somehow didn't violate the 45 day comment period requirement, and how us silly advocates trying to hold them accountable Just Don't Understand How The Rules Work

RJ's done the work: https://twitter.com/rjsheperd/status/1339036523170209793

Travis Brouwer "we can always improve" our public engagement, but currently claims that there was "the spirit of significant public engagement."

Hot tip @TravisBrouwer: it's not actually good public engagement if you don't do what the public tells you to do!

"The majority of the emissions come from how we invest in the transportation system. Decisions like this support how we move on our climate goals." - ODOT staffer

Seems like ODOT's intention is to try and tell us to be grateful for what we're getting, that this is a 'historic' investment.

We asked for: $321m (14% of STIP) for nonhighway.

ODOT is giving us: $270m, will still giving $770m for highways #STOPtheSTIP

ODOT now talking about how expensive maintenance is, trying to frame that spending more on bike/ped/transit would cost us more in the long run to keep up State of Good Repair.

Hey @OregonDOT here's an idea: stop widening freeways, you'll have plenty for potholes *and* sidewalks

"This is not the final decision, there's more work ahead, we don't even know what projects we're talking about in these categories."

Who had "it's super early, don't worry about it!" on their ODOT-ways-to-ignore-public-comment-bingo-card? #STOPtheSTIP

"My thinking hasn't changed a whole lot since the last meeting" says Commissioner Smith, after hundreds of comments from across the state in unanimous agreement that the OTC isn't doing enough on climate or traffic safety. says she's "open to some tinkering" with 3B #STOPtheSTIP

lol, right now, you can tune in to the meeting and watch five OTC commissioners just sort just "gut check" and decide the margins of literally tens of millions of dollars on highways vs safety funding mainly based on ~vibes~ #STOPtheSTIP

"eh, let's mush this and that one, $320m is too much but $275m is too little, something in between sounds about that."

@OregonGovBrown come fix this please!

"We are mandated to build the Rose Quarter by the legislature."

Chair Van Brocklin you are also mandated to follow through on Governor Brown's Executive Order on Climate! You kinda gotta choose one! #STOPtheSTIP

Van Brocklin's statements passing the buck to the legislator and the Governor is demonstably untrue, and an abdication of leadership to avoid demanding investment in climate, safer streets.

He's right there's not enough money for all.

You have to show leadership!

We wish Van Brocklin was as concerned with our carbon budget as he appears to be with his freeway building budget.

"We just don't have the resources," Chair Van Brocklin says, saying he supports 2B, because he simply has no choice but to move forward with all these massive freeway expansions that will absolutely fry the planet.

"how can we do less harm?" he somehow asks unironically

"I'm reluctant to support a scenario plan that takes fix-it out of the STIP."

To be clear, Chair Van Brocklin, even that 3B option includes $770 million for road projects. Apparently that's not enough, wants to see it closer to $805m in 2B option.

Commissioner Henderson speaking now, talking about his experiences in Virginia where tolling brought in plenty of revenue.

We agree w/ Comm. Henderson tolling is a great place to raise revenue for transportation! But it's awful to invest that $ back into roads instead of transit

OTC members keep lamenting how broke they are and that they can't maintain our deteriorating roads because they can't afford to build all these freeways.

Comm Brown points out EO on climate gives OTC chance to start conversation, but still sticking to (bad) 2B.

Welp! Vote happening now. Seems likely to move to 2B, in direct opposition to the hundreds of Oregonians who emailed and called in to demand that the Oregon Transportation Commission direct revenue for traffic safety, equity, and climate. Comm Simpson likely to vote no

There's a full $80 million less in Scenario 2B for "non-highway" funding than Scenario 2, that all the advocates wanted. And all of that money is instead going to roads and highways.

That's roughly equal to the size of Portland's 2016 gas tax.

Chair Simpson proposing moving an extra $5 million from Fix it to Non Highway, which appears to be amenable, and is a laudable effort we guess, but it's still $75 million less than advocates were demanding.

annoying small talk over potential allocation of $5m here or there, as if it matters compared to the $800 million going towards highway funding and non-highway funding getting only $255m ($75 million less than advocates wanting)

Vote 5-0 to amended 2B passes by OTC. That's it.

Bob Van Brocklin concludes by saying "we hear you folks, we gotta find more money," which is astoundingly ~not~ what the hundreds of testimony received demanded.

Kudos to our pals at @bikeloudpdx @SunrisePDX @oeconline @verde_nw
@SafeRoutesPNW + dozens of others who testified and followed this over the last month

at the end of the day, OTC once again expresses contempt for overwhelming public demand for action on climate + traffic safety

If you appreciated our live tweeting and wanna help us gear up to fight ODOT in 2021, well, consider the link below our tip jar.

https://portlandtransport.com/freeway-fund