Community Engagement Summary - December 2020
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Community Engagement Summary
June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
This report summarizes community engagement for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project
from June 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Overview
The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project, led by ODOT, will improve local, regional, and
international travel on the I-5 corridor. The project will reimagine highway overpasses to
complement local street improvements that reconnect neighborhood streets. In doing so, the
project will enhance public spaces while supporting opportunities for economic development. On
the I-5 mainline, auxiliary lanes and shoulders will be added to improve travel reliability, safety
and will smooth traffic flow between I-84 and I-405. Throughout the project, ODOT has and will
continue to conduct outreach to and engagement with the public.
ODOT continued public engagement after the close of the 45-day environmental assessment
public comment period on April 1, 2019. During the environmental review phase, engagement
activities included:
• interviews with Black Portlanders and communities of color
• working with a Community Liaisons Group to inform outreach
• project presentations at over 100 events
• nine hosted events with more than 280 attendees
• community walking and biking tours
• door-to-door outreach
• a public hearing
• updates via the project website
Engagement during this time frame was described in a previous Public Involvement Summary
through May 30, 2020. This summary describes the engagement from June 1, 2020 until
December 31, 2020 leading up to and following the release of the Finding of No Significant
Impact and Revised Environmental Assessment on November 6, 2020. Most of the community
engagement during this time period focused on project awareness and outreach to
environmental justice and Title VI communities to collect feedback informing project design and
decision-making, particularly focusing on the historic Albina community that was harmed by the
original construction of I-5 and other urban renewal efforts.
This summary includes the following sections:
• By the numbers
• What we heard
• Information sharing
• Outreach and engagement
• Attachments (supporting materials)
1 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
By the numbers
The following statistics represent engagement from June 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Other
sections of the summary discuss this engagement in greater detail.
Approach
1 online open house
2 surveys
10 project advisory committee meetings
15 e-alerts (including e-newsletters and press releases)
3 mailers
4 briefings and 1 event (Meet the Proposers) with stakeholders
Reach
• 135 comments submitted
• 4,798 e-newsletter recipients (as of December 2020 newsletter)
• 29 voicemails received
• 27,390 website views
• 400 businesses canvassed
What we heard
The project team received broad input encompassing a large range of perspectives. This report
summarizes themes identified between June 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Key themes
include:
• Support for the project purpose to address the largest congestion bottleneck in the state.
• Support for the highway covers to reconnect the local street grid and create more
community space in the neighborhood.
• Support for the highway covers to be built in a way that would support development on
top.
• Desire for the highway covers to provide opportunities for economic development and
restorative justice (e.g., affordable space for housing, businesses, and community-based
organizations) and design elements and/or uses reflecting the historic Albina community
and promoting community cohesion.
• Need for improvements to local streets for multimodal safety and mobility with support
for more separated and/or protected facilities for people walking, rolling, cycling, and
accessing transit.
• Opposition to moving I-5 closer to Harriet Tubman Middle School.
• Support for the project to include mitigation measures reducing air quality and noise
impacts to Harriet Tubman Middle School.
• Opposition from bicycle and climate advocacy groups regarding adding auxiliary lanes to
I-5 as a means to mitigate congestion.
• Support for the project values particularly related to restorative justice and climate action
and improved health outcomes.
2 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
• Support for the project to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
• Need for more community involvement and representation in project processes and
decision-making, particularly from the historic Albina community and communities of
color.
Information sharing
E-alert
Five e-alerts announcing upcoming project advisory committee (i.e., Executive Steering
Committee, Community Advisory Committee, Community Oversight Advisory Committee)
meetings were sent to people who signed up for the project updates list and posted to the
project website. The newsletters are included in Appendix 1.
E-newsletters
Four email newsletters were sent to people who signed up for the project updates list and
posted to the project website. The purpose of each newsletter and the topics included are listed
in Table 1. Copies of the newsletters are also included in Appendix 1.
Table 1. Project Email Newsletters
Number of
Date Subject Purpose Sections Recipients
July 31, I-5 Rose To provide • Community 4,740
2020 Quarter project updates Advisory
Improvement about the Committee hears a
Project July upcoming project update and
Email Update advisory learns about
committee workforce and
meetings, business
ODOT’s Notice opportunity
of Intent to • ODOT issues
Award for the Notice of Intent to
Construction Award, takes step
Manager/ toward unlocking
General the project’s
Contractor, economic
virtual summary opportunity
engagement, • Sliding into
and field work in Summer:
the project area. Engagement in
Virtual Spaces
• Community
Opportunity
Advisory
3 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Committee will
meet online August
13
• Rose Quarter
Underground:
Looking at
conditions from the
bottom up
September I-5 Rose To inform • I-5 Rose Quarter 4,763
3, 2020 Quarter recipients about Improvement
Improvement minority-owned Project spotlights
Project e- businesses minority-owned
Newsletter participating on business
the project, a • Project convenes
new community new community
advisory board, board in response
public to stakeholder
engagement engagement
opportunities • Look for new public
and initiation of engagement
the Independent opportunities soon
Highway Cover • Community
Assessment Opportunity
process. Advisory
Committee hears
project update and
discusses
expectations for
workforce program
• Work has begun on
Independent Cover
Assessment
• Rose Quarter
Underground:
Looking at
conditions from the
bottom up
November I-5 Rose To inform • Rose Quarter 4,771
9, 2020 Quarter recipients about Environmental
Improvement upcoming Assessment and
Project e- advisory Finding of No
Newsletter committee Significant Impact
meetings and Released
4 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
field work, the • Historic Albina
release of the Advisory Board
Revised Recruitment
Environmental • Have Your say at
Assessment the Online Open
and Finding of House
No Significant • Rose Quarter
Impacts, Recap: Project
recruitment for Committees
the Historic • A Rose by Any
Albina Advisory Other Name:
Board (HAAB), Featured
an opportunity Community Voices
to participate in • Rose Quarter
an upcoming Underground:
online open Looking at
house and Conditions from the
highlight key Bottom Up
project team
members.
December I-5 Rose To inform • How Do You 4,798
3, 2020 Quarter recipients about Envision the Rose
Improvement the online open Quarter?
Project e- house and • Rose Quarter
Newsletter provide updates Recap: Project
on recent and Committees
upcoming topics • Rose Quarter
discussed in Underground:
advisory Looking at
committee Conditions from the
meetings. Bottom Up
Press Releases
Six press releases were sent to people who signed up for the project updates email list and
posted to the project website. The press releases are described below and copies of each are
included in Appendix 2.
Environmental Peer Review Report
The press release was sent on June 2nd to announce the findings and availability of the report
completed for the Environmental Peer Review of air quality, greenhouse gas, and noise
analyses completed for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Environmental Assessment.
The report provided recommendations to incorporate into the project’s future design and
construction phases, such as the requirement of low-emission construction equipment including
5 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 electric vehicles. The review process occurred between April and May 2020. Staff from the City of Portland, Metro and Portland Public Schools participated in the process. Meet the Proposers Event The press release was sent on July 7 to announce that proposers in competitive range for the Construction Management/General Contractor contract would be providing an informational briefing for stakeholders, potential subcontractors and other interested parties from the community. The community questions and feedback provided at the event informed ODOT’s creation of at least one interview question for the Proposers to answer at the separate, mandatory interviews that took place the following day on July 9, 2020. Construction Management/General Contractor: Notice of Intent to Award The press release was sent on July 13 to announce the Notice of Intent to Award the Construction Management/General Contractor contract to Hamilton Sundt a joint venture, in association with Raimore Construction, for the design and build of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project. This partnership marked a significant action towards ODOT doing business differently−in a way better aligning community input and values with restorative justice. New Community Board The press release was sent on September 2 to announce the newly formed Historic Albina Advisory Board. The board is a 13-member decision-making body of current and former partners who will prioritize restorative justice and advise the Executive Steering Committee on project design elements, including the highway covers, while centering voices of Portland’s Black community. Applications were available from November 9 through November 30. Finding of No Significant Impact The press release was sent on November 6 to announce that the Federal Highway Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project, marking completion of the environmental review phase under the National Environmental Policy Act. ODOT published the Revised Environmental Assessment and the Finding of No Significant Impact for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project online, which included responses to common community questions and information about design changes responding to community feedback. Survey Results The press release was sent on December 15, to inform the public of the results of the public survey conducted between September 8 through 28 to better understand community vision and values for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project and project area. African Americans were oversampled by the survey to reflect the demographics of the Albina area. After respondents learned about the project, 77 percent of Portland area respondents and 83 percent of African American respondents supported the project. This survey was conducted separate from an online open house survey that was available in late November 2020. Mailers Three mailers were sent to residents and businesses within the project area regarding upcoming field work activities with potential noise and/or traffic impacts and project updates and 6 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
engagement opportunities. These mailers are described below and copies of each are included
in Attachment 3.
Fieldwork Mailer: Summer
A field work notification postcard was sent to 93 businesses and residents adjacent to pavement
sampling sites in the project area in June 2020. The field work mailer was sent to inform those in
the immediate area of the presence of equipment and to notify residents and businesses of
nighttime noise and lane restrictions due to the field work.
Online Open House and Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact Mailer
(December 2020)
A mailer was sent to 20,826 households as an invitation to attend Online Open House from
November 16 to December 6, 2020. The mailer invited the public to share feedback on the project
and learn of ways to stay involved. The mailer was also sent to notify the public of the Revised
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact available for review online.
Fieldwork Mailer: Winter
A field work notification postcard was sent to 5,122 businesses and residents within a quarter-
mile radius of underground utility mapping, soil sampling, and hazardous materials sampling
sites in the project area in December 2020. The field work mailer was sent to inform those in the
immediate area of the presence of equipment and to notify residents and businesses of
nighttime noise and possible lane restrictions due to field work in the area from early December
2020 through April 2021.
Project voicemail
An informational project voicemail recorded in both English and Spanish was updated weekly to
provide project updates. The hotline received the most traffic during October 2020. Table 2
includes the number of calls received by month.
Table 2. Project Voicemail Visitors
Month Number of calls
June 4
July 4
August 3
September 3
October 7
November 4
December 4
7 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Website
The project website was available to the public at www.i5RoseQuarter.org. The website
provided a way to learn about the proposed project and its history, as well as how to get
involved, submit comments or sign up for project updates. The website was referenced on all
project materials as the hub for the most in-depth and up-to-date project information.
Between June 1 and December 31, 2020, there were 43 posts published and 27,390 webpage
views. The website had the most visitors in July viewing news related to hiring the Construction
Manager/General Contractor, upcoming field work, and community engagement opportunities.
More than 60 percent of visitors found the project website through an online search engine,
although another quarter of visitors were directed to the website from project newsletters or
social media. The top three most visited pages were the homepage, the events page, and the
document library.
Figure 1. Website Visits by Month
Outreach and Engagement
Presentations and Outreach to Community-Based Organizations
The project team held four community briefings by request to provide information about and
updates on the status of the project, including the highway cover assessment, design elements,
project committees, and disadvantaged business workforce development program. Briefings
also included opportunities for participants to ask questions, request more information, and
provide feedback to the project team. Table 3 lists when these briefings occurred and the
organizations included.
Table 3. Community Briefings
Date Community Briefing Organization or Group
type
10/8/2020 Disability Rights Oregon Briefing Community Organization
10/29/2020 Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Community Organization
Health (REACH) Briefing
11/4/2020 El Programa Hispano Católico Briefing Community Organization
11/5/2020 SE Uplift Briefing Community Organization
8 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Online Open House The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project held an online open house event from Monday, November 16 through Sunday, December 6 with attendance from over 2,300 visitors. The purpose of the online open house was to share information with the public on the status of the project, the project’s values and outcomes, and preliminary design. Participants were also provided with information on next steps and ways to stay involved as the project works toward 30 percent design. The online format was used to reach as many people as possible given in- person limitations due to COVID-19 health guidelines. A summary of the online open house is provided in Attachment 4. Open House Survey The online open house also collected input through a set of questions to help the project team understand community expectations for potential highway cover uses and how the project should measure success in the future. In 2020, the Oregon Transportation Commission directed ODOT to retain a consultant team of local and national urban design, engineering, and environmental experts in response to project partner requests to conduct an independent assessment of the project’s highway cover designs. This independent team reviewed and provided input on the survey questions to ensure that the feedback gathered could inform their work to develop three design scenarios supporting the community’s vision for neighborhood revitalization and restorative justice. Future work from the Independent Cover Assessment team will gather input on the highway cover as well. Over 300 participants provided input – expressing support for outdoor areas, community gathering spaces, and buildings with space for affordable housing and community organizations. Online open house feedback was consistent with and considered together with the results from the public survey (described in the next section below) to inform both the work of project team to refine overall design and the independent team to develop the highway cover design scenarios. Canvassing Business canvassing for the Open House took place between November 18 to December 4, 2020. Outreach efforts prioritized Black and African American businesses, businesses in the immediate project area and businesses with whom the project had previously engaged as part of the environmental review phase. 9 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Figure 2. Canvassing Outreach The project team sent a personal email from I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Communications and Public Involvement Manager April deLeon-Galloway to over 400 businesses in the project area. For Black-owned businesses without a valid email address, the project team contacted each business by phone to speak with the owner or manager or leave a voicemail with information about the project and invite their feedback (See Attachment 5). Survey The project team conducted a statistically valid survey from September 8 through 28, 2020 to better understand community vision and values for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project and project area. A total of 605 adults in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties were asked a variety of questions ranging from their view on project elements to highway cover uses and project values. In line with the project values of restoring justice and elevating Black voices, the survey oversampled the African American community to better reflect the perspectives of people living in the Albina community (rather than the region). After being provided with more information about the values and elements, 77 percent of Portland area respondents and 83 percent of African American respondents expressed support for the project. Participants supported all of the project values and the new shoulders and auxiliary lanes on I-5 were highly popular elements of the project. Outdoor areas were the most popular highway cover uses among all respondents, while buildings containing affordable space for community organizations and other restorative justice elements were most popular with African American respondents. The survey results are available online and were presented to the Executive Steering Committee at the December meeting.. 10 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Social Media
Many project updates were provided via Twitter (8 posts) and Facebook (6 posts) to expand
outreach beyond the newsletter email list to engage community members less likely to prefer
receiving news by email. Social media outlets are especially important in reaching communities
of color who are more likely to use sources like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook to receive
content and news.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/On-the-Job Training Outreach
The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project aims to improve economic opportunities and reduce
barriers for disadvantaged business enterprises.
Disadvantaged business enterprises are small businesses that are at least 51% owned by:
• Minorities: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Island
Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans.
• Women and other individuals on a case-by-case basis.
Meet the Proposers Event
Proposers in competitive range for the Construction Management/General Contractor contract for
the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project provided an informational briefing for stakeholders,
potential subcontractors and other interested parties from the community, and responded to
moderated questions. The community questions and feedback provided at the event informed
ODOT’s creation of at least one interview question for the Proposers to answer at the separate,
mandatory interviews that took place the following day on July 9, 2020 The summary of this
meeting can be found at: https://www.i5rosequarter.org/wp-
content/uploads/2020/07/RQ_MeetProposers_MeetingSummary.pdf.
Community Oversight Advisory Committee (COAC)
A Community Oversight Advisory Committee advises on the project’s disadvantaged business
enterprise and on-the-job training program. Established in March 2019, the committee had four
meetings during the last half of 2020.
COAC Meeting #4
The project team hosted the committee’s fourth meeting on June 18, 2020 via Zoom with eight
members in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the changes to the
committee’s charter and the role and expectation of the committee at the upcoming Meet the
Proposers event.
Thus far, the committee had focused on providing feedback on the development of the
disadvantaged business and workforce program. The purpose of the committee was decided to
transition to an oversight role of implementation and accountability. This was reflected in the
proposed new name: Community Oversight and Advisory Committee (same acronym). Key
takeaways regarding the role and responsibility of the committee include:
• Accountability in partnership with ODOT
11 | January 2021Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
• Committee reviews the Diversity Plan and workforce utilization as it relates to the
disadvantaged business and workforce program goals
• Committee may request written responses from the construction contractor to questions
it raises
• Provide feedback and make recommendations to ODOT
The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All
meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/coac-meeting-4/.
COAC Meeting #5
The project team hosted the committee’s fifth meeting on August 13, 2020 via Zoom with ten
members in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the committee’s workforce
expectations for the project.
The committee discussed their expectations for the workforce program and the construction
contractor. Their key points are as follows:
• Workforce diversity data will be disaggregated.
• Despite past workforce goals, the construction industry is still almost entirely white.
There is a need to figure out why Black people are not joining the industry.
• Workforce goals should not be aspirational. The contract should state concrete
examples of steps that need to be taken to create long term, systemic change.
• Committee members cited examples of other companies who have taken tangible steps
towards addressing their lack of Black people in leadership positions.
• It is critical to hold the contractor accountable to these goals by putting them in writing
and including consequences and incentives in the contract.
• Committee members requested to be briefed on the contractor’s contractual obligations
and historical employment of disadvantaged business contractors by ODOT.
• The workforce goals need to be realistic by taking into account other projects happening
at the same time as Rose Quarter.
• Working with apprenticeship programs would be a good step to reaching diversity goals.
• Committee members shared several ideas on how to address barriers and harassment
in the workforce.
• The committee should push for ODOT to work with diverse firms as well as diversity in
the construction workforce.
The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All
meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/coac-meeting-4-2/.
COAC Meeting #6
The project team hosted the committee’s sixth meeting on October 15, 2020 via Zoom with
seven members in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss topics from the
Community Input Matrix in break out groups.
Each breakout group discussed a separate question, listed below, and reported back to the full
group with key points and feedback.
• How do we create a workplace culture that benefits people of color?
12 | January 2021Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
• How do we disaggregate disadvantaged business and workforce goals?
• What can ODOT and the committee do to hold prime contractor accountable?
The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All
meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/dbe-ojt-coac-meeting-2/.
COAC Meeting #7
The project team hosted the committee’s seventh meeting on December 10, 2020 via Zoom
with twelve members in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss project updates
and continue discussing topics from the Community Input Matrix in break out groups.
Two breakout groups discussed the questions listed below and then reported back to the full
group with key points and feedback:
• What recommendations do you have for the construction contractor to achieve a
successful disadvantaged business and workforce diversity program?
• What advice would you offer the construction contractor about their approach?
The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All
meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/dbe-ojt-coac-meeting-4/.
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Community Advisory Committee was composed of
up to 25 members who represent diverse perspectives including historic and existing ties to the
project area and community. Members represent individual or organizational interests and
served as a conduit of information between the committee and the community, organization
and/or interest they represented.
CAC Meeting #2
The CAC’s second meeting was held on June 23, 2020 via Zoom with 17 CAC members in
attendance. At this meeting the committee heard findings from the African American and Native
American Discussion Groups and offered their perspectives and suggestions to ODOT as part
of a listening session. The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the
project website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/cac-
meeting-2/.
CAC Meeting #3
The CAC’s third and final meeting was held on July 23, 2020 via Zoom with 17 CAC members in
attendance. At this meeting the committee heard ODOT’s response to the last meeting’s
listening session and learned about the project’s disadvantaged business and workforce
program. The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project
website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/cac-meeting-
3/.
13 | January 2021Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Historic Albina Advisory Board (HAAB) The Community Advisory Committee was sunset in August 2020 to form the Historic Albina Advisory Board with the purpose to elevate voices in the Black community, ensuring that project outcomes reflect community interests and values and that Historic Albina directly benefits from the investments of the project. The Board advises the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project and its Executive Steering Committee about project design and how the project can support future development opportunities within the historic Albina neighborhood. The Board was convened in December with the first meeting scheduled for January 12, 2021. Membership The board is composed of 13 members that include Black Portlanders and those with ties to Historic Albina. Membership is based on recommendations from the collective group of facilitators and consultants who support the project’s committees, as well as at-large members selected through an open recruitment process with input from Metro. The Board is composed of leaders and volunteers who work with and serve the Blank community in Albina and Portland. Members represent a wide array of civic and community interests. Executive Steering Committee (ESC) The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Executive Steering Committee is composed of local government officials and pertinent community-based organizations in our region with 12 current members (representatives from Albina Vision Trust, Multnomah County and the City of Portland Office of the Mayor and Office of the Commissioner resigned in June 2020).The committee advises the Oregon Transportation Commission and ODOT on major decisions related to the project’s design and construction. The committee provides a critical opportunity for the Oregon Transportation Commission, ODOT, and regional and local organizations to work cooperatively to develop a design for the project that responds to local transportation needs in the area as well as addressing critical regional and state mobility, congestion relief, and safety improvement needs. ESC Meeting #2 The committee’s second meeting was held on June 22, 2020 via Zoom with 15 members in attendance. At this meeting the committee discussed the values document and charter and heard about the environmental peer review process and final report. The meeting was livestreamed, live-captioned, recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/get- involved/events/. ESC Meeting #3 The committee’s third meeting was held on September 28, 2020 via Zoom with 11 members in attendance. At this meeting the committee heard updates on the project from ODOT, discussed the charter and received an introduction to the Independent Highway Cover Assessment. The meeting was livestreamed, live-captioned, recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on 14 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 the project website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/esc-meeting-2/. ESC Meeting #4 The committee’s fourth meeting was held on October 26, 2020 via Zoom with 10 members in attendance. At this meeting the committee heard updates on the project from ODOT, adopted the charter and learned more about the Independent Highway Cover Assessment. The meeting was livestreamed, live-captioned, recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/esc-meeting- 4/. ESC Meeting #5 The committee’s fifth meeting was held on November 23, 2020 via Zoom with 10 members in attendance. At this meeting the committee heard updates on the project from ODOT and learned more about the approval of the environmental document, the finalization of contract execution with construction contractor, and the start of the project design and recruitment for the Historic Albina Advisory Board. The majority of the meeting was spent learning about the Independent Highway Cover Assessment and their work related to project document review, governance and finance, and the facilitation and needs assessment. The meeting was livestreamed, live-captioned, recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/esc-meeting- 5/. ESC Meeting #6 The committee’s sixth meeting was held on December 14, 2020 via Zoom with 11 members in attendance. At this meeting the committee heard updates on the project from ODOT and learned about the community survey results and about the Independent Highway Cover Assessment. The meeting was livestreamed, live-captioned, recorded and posted on YouTube and linked to on the project website. All meeting information is posted on https://www.i5rosequarter.org/event/esc-meeting-6/. 15 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Appendix 1
E-Alerts and Newsletters
16 | January 2021Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Table A-1. E-Alerts and E-Newsletters Date Website Link June 16, 2020 June E-Alert July 16, 2020 July E-Alert July 31, 2020 July E-Newsletter September 3, 2020 September E-Newsletter September 24, 2020 September E-Alert October 14, 2020 October E-Alert November 9, 2020 November E-Newsletter December 3, 2020 December E-Newsletter December 9, 2020 December E-Alert 17 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Appendix 2
Press Releases
18 | January 2021Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Table A-2. Press Releases Date Website Link June 2, 2020 Environmental Peer Review Report July 7, 2020 Meet the Proposers Event July 13, 2020 Construction Management/general Contractor: Notice of Intent to Award September 2, 2020 New Community Board November 2, 2020 Finding of No Significant Impact December 15, 2020 Survey Results 19 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Attachment 3
Project Mailers
20 | January 2021July field work
What you will see and hear during the •
I-5 Rose Quarter area on July 6 and 7
Plans for pavement assessment in the •
Look inside to learn
HERE
STAMP
PLACE Portland, OR 97209-4012
123 NW Flanders St
JUNE 2020
What is the Project?
Stay informed The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project
Sign up for updates at www.i5RoseQuarter.org adds auxiliary lanes and shoulders to reduce
Questions? Just ask! congestion and improve safety on the main
503-470-3127 | info@i5RoseQuarter.org north-south freeway on the west coast and
24-hour noise hotline: 503-731-8415 redesigns the multimodal local street network.
The Project will smooth traffic flow on I-5
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Civil Rights
Title VI accommodations and/or translation/interpretation between I-84 and I-405 where three interstates
services, call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900 or Oregon intersect and feature the biggest traffic
Relay Service 7-1-1. bottleneck in Oregon.
The Project will also improve community
¿Hablas español? Podemos proporcionar la información de
esta publicación en español. Para recibir información por connections by redesigning overpasses and
favor llame al 503-731-4128. reconnecting neighborhood streets, enhancing
public spaces, and promoting economic
Para solicitar adaptaciones que cumplan con las disposiciones development opportunities.
de la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA,
por sus siglas en inglés) o con el Título VI de la Ley sobre
Derechos Civiles y/o para solicitar servicios de traducción/
interpretación, llame al 503-731-4128, teléfono de texto (TTY)
800-735-2900 o al Servicio de Retransmisión de Oregon 7-1-1.ROSE QUARTER UNDERGROUND: approximate location 0 1/8
Looking at conditions from of nighttime pavement
assessment miles
the bottom up
ODOT crews will be in the Rose Quarter area on July 6
and 7 to conduct nighttime work
The work will provide information about the existing
pavement condition of local streets to inform the design
of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project.
What you will see and hear
Crews will examine the pavement by drilling holes
ranging from 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep to 8 inches
wide and 10 feet deep. The holes will be backfilled
within 24 hours and covered when not in use. You may
hear some noise while crews work nearby, but activities
will be no louder than typical traffic noises.
July pavement assessment will occur in the I-5 Rose
Quarter area along N Broadway St and N Vancouver
Ave.
Here’s what you can expect
Work dates: July 6 and 7
Nighttime work: Mon-Wed, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Temporary closures and detours for people walking,
biking, rolling, and driving
Partial lane closures:
• N Broadway between NE 2nd Ave and
N Wheeler Ave
• N Vancouver Ave between N Broadway and
N Weidler
Crew in the Rose Quarter taking pavement samples.
Visit TripCheck (www.tripcheck.com)
www.i5RoseQuarter.org
for details on specific closures and detoursOPEN HOUSE
Questions? Just ask!
Stay informed
503-470-3127 | info@i5RoseQuarter.org
Sign up for updates at www.i5RoseQuarter.org
November 2020
www.i5rosequarter.org
Portland, OR 97209-4012
123 NW Flanders St
YOU’RE INVITED TO THE
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ONLINE
ONLINE OPEN HOUSE
ODOT invites the public to participate in the
NOVEMBER 16 - DECEMBER 6
I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project
Online Open House
November 16 – December 6, 2020
QUARTER TIMELINE
In addition to allowing us to hear from you, at
the online open house you can learn about:
ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION
• How your feedback will help inform and
DOCUMENT NOW AVAILABLE
The Federal Highway Administration and ODOT
• Next steps for project design
released the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement
• How you can stay involved
Project’s Revised Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact.
I-5 ROSE WORK
• Latest project updates
View the document online at the project website.
shape the project
www.i5RoseQuarter.org/Library
FIELD
For Americans with Disabilities Act or Civil Rights Title VI
accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or
more information call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900 or
Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1.
STAMP
PLACE
Esta información también está disponible en español; HERE
solicítela llamando al 503-731-4128.ROSE QUARTER THEN... ROSE QUARTER IN ENVIRONMENTAL
THE FUTURE... DECISION DOCUMENT
In the 1950s and 1960s, ODOT’s
construction of I-5 divided and The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project is NOW AVAILABLE
displaced the historic Albina committed to supporting a safer, more just
and inclusive Albina community and greater The Federal Highway Administration and ODOT
community, specifically Portland’s released the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement
Portland region. The project will make local,
Black community. We recognize Project’s Revised Environmental Assessment
regional, and international travel more and Finding of No Significant Impact.
that this action and other urban predictable and reduce frequent crashes on
developments took generational the I-5 corridor, supporting Oregon’s economy, While this is an important milestone in the federal
environmental process, ODOT continues to work
wealth and opportunity from the and will create new community connections
with the community and project partners to identify
Albina community. To address this, to support future economic development. We potential solutions to minimize environmental effects
we are committed to elevating the must ensure the historic Albina community including air quality, noise, and water. We are excited
benefits from the investment of this project. to work together to design and build a project that
voices of the historically harmed
provides the most community benefit.
Albina community to understand The project aims to reconnect both sides
View the document online at the project website.
the needs of and provide benefit to of I-5 to help reconnect the historic Albina
this community as we design and community, unify the Albina street grid, and www.i5RoseQuarter.org/Library
build the project. provide more community spaces. The project
If you are unable to view the document on the project website,
will improve transportation and community please contact us to discuss reasonable accommodation.
places, spaces, and connections. It is estimated
to save nearly 2.5 million hours of congestion
per year and result in up to a 50% reduction What is an Environmental Assessment/
in crashes. It aims to fix safety issues on local Finding of No Significant Impact?
streets and the reconfiguration of a highway An Environmental Assessment determines if
on-ramp. With the new full shoulders, it also actions have the potential to cause significant
environmental effects. The Environmental
allows space for emergency vehicles and Assessment states the purpose and need for the
potentially transit. proposed action, alternatives to the actions and
Albina 1930s - Broadway and Larrabee environmental effects of the proposed actions and
alternatives.
Based on the Environmental Assessment, if the
www.i5RoseQuarter.org action will not have significant environmental
impacts, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
503-470-3127 info@i5RoseQuarter.org is issued.Questions? Just ask!
Stay informed
24-hour noise hotline: 503-731-8415
503-470-3127 | info@i5RoseQuarter.org
Sign up for updates at www.i5RoseQuarter.org
December 2020
Portland, OR 97209-4012
123 NW Flanders St
UPCOMING FIELD WORK
Purpose of Field Work
Crews will perform field work in the area from early
December through April 2021.
Three types of field work will inform project design and
construction: underground utility mapping, soil sampling,
and hazardous materials sampling.
See inside for details on work timing and traffic and noise
impacts. See project website for updates:
for details on specific road closures and
www.i5RoseQuarter.org.
Visit TripCheck (www.tripcheck.com)
detours as the schedule is developed
FIELD WORK TIMELINE
What is the Project?
The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project is committed
to supporting a safer, more just and inclusive Albina
community and greater Portland region. The project
will make local, regional, and international travel more
predictable and reduce frequent crashes on the I-5
corridor, supporting Oregon’s economy, and will create
new community connections to support future economic
development. The project aims to reconnect both sides
of I-5 to help reconnect the historic Albina community,
unify and fix safety issues on the Albina street grid, and
provide more community spaces.
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Civil Rights
Title VI accommodations and/or translation/interpretation
services, call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900 or Oregon
Relay Service 7-1-1.
STAMP
PLACE
HERE
¿Hablas español? Podemos proporcionar la información de
esta publicación en español. Para recibir información por
favor llame al 503-731-4128.SOIL AND HAZARDOUS
UTILITY MAPPING MATERIALS SAMPLING SOIL AND HAZARDOUS
Utility mapping nighttime work starts in December
Utility mapping and investigation work will begin in
Soil and hazardous materials sampling to start in December
Crews are expected to begin collecting soil and other
MATERIALS SAMPLING AREA
December and continue through March. Work will occur material samples throughout the Rose Quarter area in
approximate location of
on or near I-5, local streets, and the Rose Quarter Transit early December and continue through April. Sampling will daytime soil sample sites
Center. Crews will collect and record the locations of occur on and near I-5 at nighttime and along several local
approximate location of
underground utilities to inform design and construction streets primarily during the day. The work will ensure that nighttime soil sample sites
planning with short-term traffic impacts and little noise. designs are appropriate for local soil conditions and that
approximate location 0 1/8 1/4
construction activities are done safely. of nighttime hazardous
Here’s what you can expect: materials sample sites miles
• Work dates: December through March What you will see and hear
N Kerby Ave
Legacy
Emanuel
• Nighttime work: Mon-Sat, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Soil sampling will be conducted by heavy machinery: a truck- Medical
• Temporary closures and detours for people mounted rig for most locations and a track-mounted rig for 405 Center
NE Graham St
walking, biking, rolling, driving, and on transit sites that are difficult to access (shown below). The work
involves digging holes approximately 8 to 12 inches wide 5
N Russell St
and up to 120 feet deep. They will be covered while not in
N Vancouver A ve
general areas use and backfilled within approximately two weeks. N
Int
0 1/8 1/4
N Williams Ave
N Flint Ave
er
where utility sta
te
mapping will take Hazardous materials sampling will involve collecting small
miles
Av
N Thompson St
amounts of paint and other materials from bridges and
e
place
other structures to test for hazardous materials. Crews NE Tillamook St
N Kerby Ave
Legacy
Emanuel will also dig and then refill small holes by hand to collect
Medical
405 Center samples from highway shoulders. NE Hancock St
NE Graham St
You may hear some noise while crews work nearby, but St NE Broadway St
N Russell St
activities will be no louder than typical traffic noises. N
Di
xo
n
NE Weidler St
NE W
N Vancouver A ve
N
Int
N Williams Ave
N Flint Ave
er
he
sta
5
ele
te
ge
r
rid Veterans
Av
Av
N Thompson St B
e
ay Memorial Moda
e
dw Coliseum Center at
oa
NE Tillamook St Br the Rose om
ah St
ltn
Quarter NE M u
W
ill ive
Rose Quarter NE Holladay St
am r
NE Hancock St
R
Transit Center
e tt
Oregon
e
t
nS NE Broadway St Convention
xo
Di ge Center
N rid
NE Weidler St lB
e
Ste
NE W
N E Lloyd Blvd
he
Here’s what you can expect:
ele
e
idg
r
Veterans
Av
r
B
• Work dates: December through April
e
ay Memorial Moda
dw Coliseum Center at 84
oa
Br the Rose
u lt
no
mah St • Daytime work: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Quarter NE M
W
• Nighttime work: Mon-Sat, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
ill ive
Rose Quarter NE Holladay St Sampling will occur in theBurRose Quarter area
am r
• Temporary closures and detours for people nside Bridge
R
Transit Center
along I-5 and on/off ramps, shoulders, and
e tt
Oregon walking, biking, rolling, and driving nearby local streets between I-84 and I-405.
e
Convention
ge Center
rid
elB
Ste
www.i5RoseQuarter.org
N E Lloyd Blvd
Visit TripCheck (www.tripcheck.com)
for details on specific road closures and
84
detours as the schedule is developed
Burnside BridgeCommunity Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Attachment 4
Online Open House Summary
21 | January 2021Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 Table A-4. Online Open House Summary Date Website Link February 10, 2021 Winter 2020 Online Open House Summary 22 | January 2021
Community Engagement Summary: June 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Attachment 5
Canvassing Summary
23 | January 2021Online Open House Business Phone
Canvassing Summary
Task: 7.3
ODOT EA: PE002591000J71
January 14, 2021
This document describes the strategy for the focused outreach effort conducted to canvass over
400 businesses in and near the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project area, including Black-
owned businesses. This effort intended to increase awareness about the project and encourage
participation in the Online Open House among the businesses in the area, including:
• Providing an invitation to participate in the Online Open House and share input to help
the project team better understand community expectations, inform future design
decisions, and deliver on our commitment to restorative justice for historic Albina;
• Ensuring businesses were aware of the project and providing a contact and resource for
asking questions and/or finding out more information about the project; and
• Offering options for businesses to stay informed about project updates and future
engagement opportunities through the project email list or website and inviting input on
other ways to best keep businesses engaged.
Canvassing for the Open House took place between November 18 to December 4, 2020. The
project team sent a personal letter from I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Communications
Manager April deLeon-Galloway to businesses with a valid email address. For Black-owned
businesses without a valid email address, the project team contacted each business by phone
to speak with the owner or manager or leave a voicemail with information. As indicated below,
some of the businesses were also contacted by the project team through door-to-door
canvassing conducted in 2018 to talk to the owners, give them information about the project,
and hear their feedback.
Outreach efforts prioritized Black and African American businesses, businesses in the
immediate project area and businesses with whom the project has previously engaged (Figure 1
and Appendix 1 below). Contact information for businesses engaged through canvassing by the
project are included in Appendix 1 below.
1 | January 14, 2021Figure 1. Canvassing plan 2 | January 14, 2021
Appendix 1. Online Open House Businesses Canvassing Business Name Description Elevated Coffee Coffee Cason's Fine Meats Retail Mama Pauline’s African Market Retail Champions Barbershop Services Dean's Beauty Salon and Barber Shop Services Eliot E-Mat Café Services Mirage Salon Services The Influential Grooming Lounge Services Green Haus Boutique + Gallery Venue Cookie Connection catering EcoVibe Apparel clothing Hashi Halal Market market Awash Ethiopian Market market Merkato Ethiopian Food Store market Meskel Market market Feather Lite Enterprises Office Queen of Sheba Restaurant Akadi PDX restaurant Dirty Taetoe restaurant E'njoni Cafe restaurant Fuel Café restaurant Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant restaurant Horn of Africa Restaurant Kaiya’s Kitchen restaurant The Big Elephant Kitchen restaurant Cannon's Rib Express/Jackson's restaurant Catfish Corner Delivery Ck's Kitchen restaurant Enat Kitchen restaurant Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine restaurant King of the Cajun restaurant Nana’s Ice Cream Scoop Shop restaurant NE Creperie restaurant Southern Kitchen restaurant The Big Elephant Kitchen restaurant The Spicy Spoon restaurant Ulicious Smokehouse & BBQ restaurant Yaad Style Jamaican Cuisine Restaurant 3 | January 14, 2021
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant Restaurant Merkato Ethiopian Food store Retail Jayah Rose Salon Spa Salon ACE EVENT SERVICES, INC. Services Alarms Tracks, Inc Services Always Cab Company, LLC Services Sistahs 4 Life services Green Hop Brewery Portland Kettle Works (LABrewtory) Brewery Endurance Gym Legacy Laboratory Services Medical Crowne Plaza Office John Scott Real Estate Office Koch Landscape Architecture Office NW Documentary Office Rare Bird Real Estate Office RH Brown Co. Office Frank's Noodle House Restaurant Honey Mamas Restaurant Jersey Mikes Restaurant Taste of Bangkok Restaurant AT&T Mobility Retail Botanical Laboratories/Top-Shelf Inc Retail Breadwinner Cycles Retail Cycle Oregon Retail Eddie Murphy Cabinets Retail Electric Lettuce Retail Huser Fire Fighting Equipment Retail Moberg Fireplaces Retail Sloan Body & Paint Retail BESC School Evermine (printing business) Services Lasko Printing Services North Lake Phsycial Therapy Services Portland Packaging Services Terry Family Funeral Home Services Western Oregon Builders Services Willamette Dental Clinic Services Public Storage Storage Portland Institute for Contemporary Art Venue 4 | January 14, 2021
Williamsen & Bleird - A Portland Wholesale Coating Inc., Co. #1 Mashita Teriyaki Restaurant 7-Eleven Retail Aaron Lee Photography Office Advanced M & D Sales Wholesale AirFilCo, LLC Wholesale AKA Direct Office Americas Noodle Restaurant Aprende Con Amigos Preschool School Aquinas Hall Venue Arabella Salon & Spa Services ARCIFORM Contractor Arnerich Massena Office Ashley May Jewelry Retail AT&T Store Retail Atelier Meridian Print shop AutoCare NW Automotive Avant-Garde Collection Automotive Avis Car Rental Services A-WOL Dance Collective Services Bardy Trophy Company Retail Battery Power Solutions Services Beam & Anchor Retail BedMart Mattress Superstores Retail Belmont Coffee Service Wholesale Benessere Retail Bernstein's Bagels Restaurant Bike Farm Retail Billy Rays Dive Restaurant Billy Webb Elks Lodge Bar Black Parent Initiative Services Black Water Bar Bar Black Water Records Retail Block Advisors Office Block Party Barricades Wholesale Bloom Dispensary - Portland Retail Blossoming Lotus Restaurant BLVD Kitchen & Bar Restaurant Breadwinner Cycles Retail Brick and Motor Pizza Restaurant 5 | January 14, 2021
Bridge City Cycles, LTD Retail Bridge City Sessions Office Bridges Café & Catering Coffee Broadway ACE Hardware Retail Broadway Barber Shop Services Broder Nord Restaurant Brown Printing Services Bryan Atkinson Real Estate Office Budget Blinds of Central Portland Retail Buger King Restaurant Burgerville Restaurant Café 700 Restaurant Café Yumm Restaurant Capitol Restaurant Capitol Appliance Repair Automotive Caravan Recordings Services Cathay Market Retail Central Pre-Mix Concrete Wholesale Central Welding Supply Wholesale Chai Yo Thai Restaurant Chen's Dynasty II Restaurant Chipotle Restaurant Chuck J&S Grocery Retail City and State Real Estate Services Cloudburst Recycling Services Clow Roofing and Siding Contractor Comfort Auto & Body Repair Automotive Comfortlines Retail Compass Coffee Roasting Coffee Consolidated Supply Co Wholesale Coraggio Group Office Cotton Cloud Retail Craft Brew Alliance Brewery Cravedog Office Creo Chocolate Retail Crowell Insurance Services Office CSR Personnel Office Cyclepath PDX Retail Dan's Classic Auto Parts Retail DaVita Northeast Portland Rental Services Center 6 | January 14, 2021
DaVita Portland Mlk Dialysis Office Daystar Education Inc Services Delmain Office Denny's Restaurant Direct Air Heating & Cooling Services Dollar Tree Retail Don Rasmussen Co Autos Automotive Eb & Bean Local Restaurant Ecopdx Retail Elmer's Flag, Banner, Kites Too! Retail Emerald Petal Retail Endodontic Associates Services E-San Thai Cuisine food cart Restaurant Eve Pdx Bar Evermine Retail Evolve Fit Wear Retail Evolve Perfomance Healthcare Services Ex Novo Brewing Co Brewery FE Bennett Office FedEx Services Fidelity National Title Office Fishpeople Seafood Retail Five Star Cleaners Services Flex Delivery Warehouse Storage Flux Design Contractor Footwise Retail Fouch Electric Manufacturing Co manufacturer Friends of Trees Services Fuego Food Carts Burritos & Bowls Restaurant Gabe's Mobile Automotive Repair Automotive Game Knight Lounge Restaurant Gather Food & Drink Restaurant Genius Services Genoa Healthcare Services Geo S. Bush & Co. Office Gerber Collision & Glass Services Glass America Retail Gluten Free Gem Retail Goods BMX Retail Goodwill Broadway Retail 7 | January 14, 2021
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