The Week Observed: May 8, 2026
Oregon’s Department of Transportation (ODOT) admits per‑capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) have risen 0.5% annually since 2019, contradicting the Statewide Transportation Strategy’s 20% reduction goal by 2050. The agency’s plan to fund highway expansions assumes a 25% increase in total driving, further misaligning with state climate mandates. In Portland, Intel’s 4,500‑job layoff and Nike’s 740‑job cut accounted for most of the 8,800 net jobs lost in 2025, though the broader Oregon economy rebounded in Q3‑Q4 2025, outpacing national growth. Meanwhile, gas prices above $4.40 per gallon are eroding the affordability of exurban homes, nudging buyers toward denser, transit‑oriented neighborhoods.
Eight Reasons the Interstate Bridge Project Shouldn’t–And Can’t Legally–Move Forward
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program released a 10,000‑page Final Environmental Impact Statement after six years and $270 million in consulting fees. The FEIS assumes a $15.5 billion full build‑out, yet Oregon and Washington DOTs intend to construct only a $7.6 billion “core”...
The Week Observed: April 17, 2026
The Interstate Bridge Project’s independent toll‑revenue study has been pushed back to June 2027, missing its original October 2025 deadline and raising doubts about the $1.25 billion revenue target. Drafts suggest traffic volumes are far lower than projected, which would force tolls higher...
City of Industry: Portland, Oregon–Number One Large Metro in New Manufacturing Firms
Portland, Oregon, tops the nation’s large metros in new manufacturing startups, recording 2.47 firms per 10,000 residents over the past five years. The city added roughly 250 more manufacturing businesses than it would have if it grew at the national...
The High Cost of Hiding: Why IBR’s Delayed Revenue Study Is a $15 Billion Warning Sign
The Interstate Bridge Project (IBR) announced that its Investment Grade Analysis (IGA), a critical revenue forecast, will be delayed until June 2027—over a year past the original October 2025 target. The delay follows a recent cost revision that pushed the...
The IBR Boondoggle Blunders Ahead
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) has released a new cost estimate of $13.5‑$15.2 billion, more than double the original $6 billion projection. Phase I, advertised at $7.5 billion, is backed by only $5 billion in identified revenue, leaving a shortfall of over $10 billion. The estimate...
Single Stair Reform and Housing Affordability
Many U.S. cities mandate two separate exit stairways per multifamily unit, inflating construction costs and limiting design flexibility. Advocates like Mike Eliason and Steven Smith argue that single‑stair buildings are safe, more ventilated, and can reduce unit prices. Recent analyses...