Tell ODOT to Think about Climate on Costly OR-22/OR-51 Proposals

ODOT's got a new online Open House and survey for their proposal for the interchange on Highway 22 at Highway 51, the road to Independence.

The multi-use path still looks like a second thought
(comments in red added)

If you accept the basic terms of the project, the design looks like the multiuse path remains very secondary, to be fitted in only after the car travel lanes are expanded and designed.

An early roundabout in Springfield, c.2006

Here's an early higher-speed multi-lane roundabout in Springfield. The crossing areas for walking and biking force a person to contend with zoomy drivers who may not be looking for crossing travel from non-auto traffic.

In the proposal for OR-22 and OR-51, the path looks to be designed for east-west travel on OR-22 only. If a person biking wanted to make a turn from OR-22 southbound onto OR-51, or was northbound on OR-51 and wanted to make a turn onto OR-22, they would have great trouble. The design does not appear to have any consideration for those turning movements.

But there are reasons to question the whole project, not just design details for non-auto travel.

Excerpt of 350.org letter

You may recall that our 350.org chapter rightly criticized the project as contrary to our State goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ODOT's not looking at induced demand at all.

They wrote

This project violates EO 20-04 because ODOT has neither evaluated GHG impacts of this project nor considered actions that would address transportation needs without increasing GHG emissions. The proposed interchange would significantly increase capacity for single occupant vehicle commuting between Independence and the Salem-Keizer area, which would induce additional VMT and greenhouse gas emissions. However, ODOT has neither evaluated GHG impacts of the proposed project nor considered [other and less costly] actions to address transportation needs in a manner that would help achieve GHG emission reduction goals...

This project is also excessively expensive. ODOT has declined 350 Salem’s request to provide a cost estimate for this project and has prepared only a high-level estimate for the interchange itself of $25-40 million dollars. This estimate apparently does not include the cost of extensive “access roads” that would be constructed as part of the project. Past practice suggests that ODOT’s initial “high-level” estimates dramatically underestimate actual project costs. Funding for highway projects is extremely limited and likely to decline in the future as cars become more efficient and gas tax revenue declines. This means the project is unlikely to be built anytime soon and that the cost of this project is highly disproportionate to the benefits to the traveling public at large.

In addition to some smaller roadway and lane adjustments, the 350.org chapter suggests focusing on the demand side:

• Expanding transit between Independence and Salem
• Developing commute incentives and alternatives for Independence residents

As for cost, you may have seen that the I-5 Rose Quarter project is blowing up a little. ODOT generally is not going to have money for oversized projects like the proposed interchange on OR-22 and OR-51.

• At the Oregonian, "ODOT pumps brakes on two major freeway projects amid budget crisis, tolling pause"
• And at BikePortland, "‘This is not okay’: Black committee members respond to Rose Quarter funding shortfall at emotional meeting"
  

ODOT's history of cost overruns on big projects
via BikePortland and Joe Cortright (2017)

ODOT has this thing where they act surprised on budget busting cost overruns, but on large projects they have a documented pattern of wildly underestimating costs. Like every time, even 10-15 years ago when there was something of a deflationary pattern in construction costs linked to the Great Recession.

On the OR-22 and OR-51 interchange, ODOT is totally on the wrong path. They need to downsize and reconsider the road widening and construction, and to focus more on actions to reduce emissions.

The online Open House and survey runs through July 21st.

Previously see:

• "ODOT Wildly Overengineers Early Concept Drawings for OR-22 and OR-51 Project" (2022)
• Skepticism and caution for our current roundabout mania, especially on higher-speed, multi-lane roundabouts, "A Caution on Roundabouts" and "More on Roundabouts: Eugene's Current Planning for Franklin Boulevard"
• On cost locally, "Cost Overruns and 2024-2029 Funding Cycle."
  

Addendum

Here's what Mark is talking about in the comments.

The RR crosses OR-51 at McNary station! (1940)

The Salem, Falls City & Western right-of-way crosses OR-51 at the old McNary station.

I hadn't registered that Rickreall Road was the old highway, and you can see where it joins OR-22 just below the golf course.