March 18, 2020
Page 7
C annon ’ s r ib e xPress
3625 NE MLK Jr Blvd,
Portland OR
Call to Order: 503-288-3836
Cannon’s, tasty food and
friendly neighborhood
atmosphere.
Open (hours)
Mon-Sat: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 11am- 6pm
Closed Tuesday
P orTland o bserver PhoTo
The Oregon Transportation Commission is recruiting at-large members of the public to form a new
advisory committee to look at equity and mobility issues for the proposed tolling of the I-5 freeway
(above) through north Portland, I-5 in southwest Portland, and on I-205 through east Portland.
Equity Impacts on
Tolling Considered
ODOT forms
advisory panel
The Oregon Department of
Transportation Monday began ac-
cepting applications for members
of the public to form a new advi-
sory committee to look at equity
and mobility issues for the pro-
posed tolling of the I-5 and I-205
freeways through Portland.
The Equity and Mobility Ad-
visory Committee will develop
an equity framework for the toll-
ing project to advise the Oregon
Transportation Commission and
the Oregon Department of Trans-
portation on community concerns.
The goal of the I-5 and I-205
Tolling Projects is to manage con-
gestion and generate revenue to
fund bottleneck relief projects, as
directed by the Oregon Legisla-
ture in 2017.
House Bill 2017 committed
hundreds of millions of dollars to
address congestion and improve
the transportation system in the
Portland metro region and around
the state, including freight rail
projects, transit and bicycle and
pedestrian facilities. The bill also
directed the Oregon Transporta-
tion Commission to implement
congestion pricing, also known
as variable rate tolls, on I-5 and
I-205 in the Portland metro region
to provide additional traffic man-
agement tools to further manage
congestion,
In 2018, the Portland Metro
Area Value Pricing Commission,
set out three priorities for the toll-
ing program to move forward.
The issues were impacts to adja-
cent neighborhoods, making new
mass transit investments to offset
freeway use, and equity related to
low income people and communi-
ties of color who have historically
been underserved by transporta-
tion planning decisions.
The new committee will be
made up of about 15 members who
represent a variety of mobility and
equity interests and perspectives.
Three to five members will be at-
large positions selected through the
application process. Other commit-
tee members will be appointed by
the director of ODOT. Funds for
time and travel may be available to
committee members.
The meetings will follow guid-
ance of Gov. Kate Brown and pub-
lic health officials on proper safety
precautions and social distancing
recommendations in light of pre-
venting the spread of the coronavi-
rus pandemic. Options for alterna-
tive meeting schedules and formats
will be considered if needed.
The committee will meet ap-
proximately 8 to 10 times and will
complete its work in early 2021.
Interested community members
can apply for the committee and
learn more on the project by vis-
iting the web page oregon.gov/
ODOT/tolling.
Avalon Flowers
520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland,
OR 97204 • 503-796-9250
Cori Stewart--
A full service flower experience
• Birthdays • Anniversaries
• Funerals • Weddings
Owner, Operator
Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm
Saturday 9am til 2pm.
Website: avalonflowerspdx.com
email: avalonflowers@msn.com
We Offer Wire Services
For your light bulbs & parts to
repair or make fixtures
Web: www.sunlanlighting.com
E-mail: kay@sunlanlighting.com
3901 N. Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
503.281.0453
Fax 503.281.3408