City Observatory
@cityobservatory.bsky.social
Original research and commentary on what matters for city success.
Happy exploding whale day to all those who celebrate! 55 years ago today, OregonDOT dynamited a whale carcass to achieve lasting infamy. Today @oregondot.bsky.social celebrates by blowing up budgets with billions in cost overruns on its highway projects. cityobservatory.org/reign_of_err...
November 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Happy exploding whale day to all those who celebrate! 55 years ago today, OregonDOT dynamited a whale carcass to achieve lasting infamy. Today @oregondot.bsky.social celebrates by blowing up budgets with billions in cost overruns on its highway projects. cityobservatory.org/reign_of_err...
Should anyone believe IBR's claims to be on schedule? Today's legislative presentation (15 September) says they "anticipate" that this Hayden Island technical work will begin in "Q3 2025", which ends in two weeks. olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1/D...
September 15, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Should anyone believe IBR's claims to be on schedule? Today's legislative presentation (15 September) says they "anticipate" that this Hayden Island technical work will begin in "Q3 2025", which ends in two weeks. olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1/D...
Greg Johnson claims that the Interstate Bridge Replacement never promised a ROD by 2023. Here, from his testimony to the same committee in 2020 is the plan showing IBR called for the NEPA process to be complete by Summer of 2023 (the green dot in the fourth row). cityobservatory.org/ibr-falling-...
September 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Greg Johnson claims that the Interstate Bridge Replacement never promised a ROD by 2023. Here, from his testimony to the same committee in 2020 is the plan showing IBR called for the NEPA process to be complete by Summer of 2023 (the green dot in the fourth row). cityobservatory.org/ibr-falling-...
IBR Greenwashing: Six slides showing proposed designs. Collectively they show 48 people walking, 6 on bikes, 1 light rail train, and a grand total of 3 cars. $7.5 billion for 127,000 cars a day.
September 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
IBR Greenwashing: Six slides showing proposed designs. Collectively they show 48 people walking, 6 on bikes, 1 light rail train, and a grand total of 3 cars. $7.5 billion for 127,000 cars a day.
Greenwash galore to sell a $7.5 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement: Illustrations show 12 people walking, 3 on bikes, and only 2 cars. If these are the real proportions of users, why widen the highway? (Slide 18) olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1/D...
September 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Greenwash galore to sell a $7.5 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement: Illustrations show 12 people walking, 3 on bikes, and only 2 cars. If these are the real proportions of users, why widen the highway? (Slide 18) olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1/D...
More greenwashing of the Interstate Bride Replacement (IBR): Project renderings show only people, virtually no cars. This shows 25 pedestrians and one car for a project that spends $7.5 billion to widen a freeway for 127,000 cars. (Slide 17) olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1/D...
September 15, 2025 at 8:17 PM
More greenwashing of the Interstate Bride Replacement (IBR): Project renderings show only people, virtually no cars. This shows 25 pedestrians and one car for a project that spends $7.5 billion to widen a freeway for 127,000 cars. (Slide 17) olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1/D...
7/ MONEY DIVERSION 🔄
Despite claims of limited discretion, ODOT diverted:
$6.2M from operations for Abernethy Bridge startup
$100M from bridge preservation for I-205 overruns
All for projects with NO legislative funding.
Despite claims of limited discretion, ODOT diverted:
$6.2M from operations for Abernethy Bridge startup
$100M from bridge preservation for I-205 overruns
All for projects with NO legislative funding.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
7/ MONEY DIVERSION 🔄
Despite claims of limited discretion, ODOT diverted:
$6.2M from operations for Abernethy Bridge startup
$100M from bridge preservation for I-205 overruns
All for projects with NO legislative funding.
Despite claims of limited discretion, ODOT diverted:
$6.2M from operations for Abernethy Bridge startup
$100M from bridge preservation for I-205 overruns
All for projects with NO legislative funding.
6/ MISLEADING COMPARISONS 📊
ODOT claims Oregon spends less on transportation than other states. @WillametteWeek fact-check: FALSE. Oregon falls in the middle among neighboring states for highway spending per capita.
ODOT claims Oregon spends less on transportation than other states. @WillametteWeek fact-check: FALSE. Oregon falls in the middle among neighboring states for highway spending per capita.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
6/ MISLEADING COMPARISONS 📊
ODOT claims Oregon spends less on transportation than other states. @WillametteWeek fact-check: FALSE. Oregon falls in the middle among neighboring states for highway spending per capita.
ODOT claims Oregon spends less on transportation than other states. @WillametteWeek fact-check: FALSE. Oregon falls in the middle among neighboring states for highway spending per capita.
5/ EMPTY PROMISES 🤥
In 2017, Deputy Director Travis Brouwer promised: "Generally, we prioritize the basic fixing the system above the expansion of that system." Then ODOT immediately launched unfunded megaprojects.
In 2017, Deputy Director Travis Brouwer promised: "Generally, we prioritize the basic fixing the system above the expansion of that system." Then ODOT immediately launched unfunded megaprojects.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
5/ EMPTY PROMISES 🤥
In 2017, Deputy Director Travis Brouwer promised: "Generally, we prioritize the basic fixing the system above the expansion of that system." Then ODOT immediately launched unfunded megaprojects.
In 2017, Deputy Director Travis Brouwer promised: "Generally, we prioritize the basic fixing the system above the expansion of that system." Then ODOT immediately launched unfunded megaprojects.
1/ MASSIVE COST OVERRUNS 📈
Abernethy Bridge: $250M → $815M (tripled)
Rose Quarter: $450M → $2.1B (quadrupled)
This is the REAL cause of ODOT's budget crisis, not declining revenue or electric cars.
Abernethy Bridge: $250M → $815M (tripled)
Rose Quarter: $450M → $2.1B (quadrupled)
This is the REAL cause of ODOT's budget crisis, not declining revenue or electric cars.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
1/ MASSIVE COST OVERRUNS 📈
Abernethy Bridge: $250M → $815M (tripled)
Rose Quarter: $450M → $2.1B (quadrupled)
This is the REAL cause of ODOT's budget crisis, not declining revenue or electric cars.
Abernethy Bridge: $250M → $815M (tripled)
Rose Quarter: $450M → $2.1B (quadrupled)
This is the REAL cause of ODOT's budget crisis, not declining revenue or electric cars.
OregonDOT's budget is in crisis because of billions in cost overruns on megaprojects. We're told "Accountability" measures will fix it. Learn why ODOT accountability is a cynical joke--the product of consultants with blatant conflicts of interest cityobservatory.org/oregon-dots-...
August 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
OregonDOT's budget is in crisis because of billions in cost overruns on megaprojects. We're told "Accountability" measures will fix it. Learn why ODOT accountability is a cynical joke--the product of consultants with blatant conflicts of interest cityobservatory.org/oregon-dots-...
We compared trends for ACS and CPS migration for young adults and found a similar pattern with CPS showing a much more significant decline cityobservatory.org/are-young-ad...
August 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
We compared trends for ACS and CPS migration for young adults and found a similar pattern with CPS showing a much more significant decline cityobservatory.org/are-young-ad...
OregonDOT routinely--and falsely--pleads poverty when asked to pave potholes or plow roads; but just puts megaproject cost overruns on the credit card--cutting future revenues--making its financial problems worse. Ex: ODOT borrowed $280 million for Abernethy Bridge. www.oregon.gov/odot/About/S...
August 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
OregonDOT routinely--and falsely--pleads poverty when asked to pave potholes or plow roads; but just puts megaproject cost overruns on the credit card--cutting future revenues--making its financial problems worse. Ex: ODOT borrowed $280 million for Abernethy Bridge. www.oregon.gov/odot/About/S...
cityobservatory.org/where-we-emb.... US Parking is actually a socialist utopia.
August 24, 2025 at 12:03 AM
cityobservatory.org/where-we-emb.... US Parking is actually a socialist utopia.
OregonDOT claims it has to shortchange maintenance, because laws require it to spend money on megaprojects. But legislatures can change those laws to make O&M a priority: Rep. Shelley Boshart Davis: www.facebook.com/shellyboshar...
August 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM
OregonDOT claims it has to shortchange maintenance, because laws require it to spend money on megaprojects. But legislatures can change those laws to make O&M a priority: Rep. Shelley Boshart Davis: www.facebook.com/shellyboshar...
A phony talking point: OregonDOT data actually don't show the state spends less on roads than other Western states, according to Willamette Week. www.wweek.com/news/2025/08...
August 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A phony talking point: OregonDOT data actually don't show the state spends less on roads than other Western states, according to Willamette Week. www.wweek.com/news/2025/08...
Rep. Susan McLain falsely testifies to City IBR will improve the climate: "Climate was a filter we put everything through"--In fact, the Interstate Bridge Project plans for a 25% increase in driving, when state law and regional plans call for a 12% decrease. cityobservatory.org/ibr-contradi...
August 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Rep. Susan McLain falsely testifies to City IBR will improve the climate: "Climate was a filter we put everything through"--In fact, the Interstate Bridge Project plans for a 25% increase in driving, when state law and regional plans call for a 12% decrease. cityobservatory.org/ibr-contradi...
ODOT's billion dollar mega-projects and massive cost overruns are the real cause of its financial crisis, and have led to the neglect of basic maintenance. www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...
August 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
ODOT's billion dollar mega-projects and massive cost overruns are the real cause of its financial crisis, and have led to the neglect of basic maintenance. www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...
Women are from Portland, men are from Oklahoma City: Gender gaps in favorable perceptions of US cities. Where does your city rank? cityobservatory.org/the-gender-g...
August 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Women are from Portland, men are from Oklahoma City: Gender gaps in favorable perceptions of US cities. Where does your city rank? cityobservatory.org/the-gender-g...
Trying to figure out how much states spend on transportation using tax revenue data is hard: that's why you should just look at the Census spending data, tabulated by Brookings, which shows how much states spend per capita on highways. It shows Oregon right between CA and WA.
July 31, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Trying to figure out how much states spend on transportation using tax revenue data is hard: that's why you should just look at the Census spending data, tabulated by Brookings, which shows how much states spend per capita on highways. It shows Oregon right between CA and WA.
A case of wine in the panniers and basil bike bag of my city bike.
July 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
A case of wine in the panniers and basil bike bag of my city bike.
ODOT's I-5 Rose Quarter Freeway widening manager, Megan Channell resigned: Her farewell post claims a "Pyrrhic Victory" ODOT only had to go to thru environmental review twice because they screwed it up so badly the first time & the "secure" funding just evaporated.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
July 15, 2025 at 4:11 AM
ODOT's I-5 Rose Quarter Freeway widening manager, Megan Channell resigned: Her farewell post claims a "Pyrrhic Victory" ODOT only had to go to thru environmental review twice because they screwed it up so badly the first time & the "secure" funding just evaporated.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
OregonDOT is laying of hundreds of workers because of budget shortfalls, but says its still committed to a $2.1 billion mile-long Rose Quarter freeway widening for which it has no money after losing $400 million in federal funds. Priorities?
www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/07...
www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/07...
July 15, 2025 at 12:40 AM
OregonDOT is laying of hundreds of workers because of budget shortfalls, but says its still committed to a $2.1 billion mile-long Rose Quarter freeway widening for which it has no money after losing $400 million in federal funds. Priorities?
www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/07...
www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/07...
It looks like the US House of Representatives FY26 budget is cutting back funding for the transit "New Starts" program making it all but impossible for the Interstate Bridge Project to get a hoped for $1 billion federal grant for light rail. An expensive & perhaps lethal blow to IBR.
July 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It looks like the US House of Representatives FY26 budget is cutting back funding for the transit "New Starts" program making it all but impossible for the Interstate Bridge Project to get a hoped for $1 billion federal grant for light rail. An expensive & perhaps lethal blow to IBR.
Did the Oregonian editors actually read HB 2025? HB 2025 would have allocated another $1.5 to $1.9 billion for an even longer list of mega-projects, not even half enough for the $3.5 to $4 billion they would cost: Repeating the same mistake as before. www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...
July 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Did the Oregonian editors actually read HB 2025? HB 2025 would have allocated another $1.5 to $1.9 billion for an even longer list of mega-projects, not even half enough for the $3.5 to $4 billion they would cost: Repeating the same mistake as before. www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...