[CCCNFBW] FW: I-205 Toll Project Environmental Assessment Public Comment Period open through April 7, 2023

Wed Feb 22 13:45:00 UTC 2023

From: WILLIAMS Hannah <Hannah.WILLIAMS at odot.oregon.gov> 
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 4:49 PM
To: Oregon Tolling <OregonTolling at odot.oregon.gov>
Subject: I-205 Toll Project Environmental Assessment Public Comment Period
open through April 7, 2023

Dear Community Partners,

We are reaching out to notify you that the I-205 Toll Project Environmental
Assessment public comment period is now open through April 7, 2023, 4:00
p.m.

The I-205 Toll Project would fund seismic improvements to eight bridges on
I-205 from Stafford Road to OR 213, add the missing third travel lane in a
seven-mile stretch from Stafford Road to the Abernethy Bridge and apply
congestion pricing through variable-rate tolls at the Abernethy and Tualatin
River bridges, beginning in late 2024 at the earliest.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Federal Highway
Administration have reached a project milestone in publishing the
Environmental Assessment. This document contains results from detailed
analysis of the project's potential short- and long-term effects on the
transportation system, local communities, the economy and the environment,
along with possible solutions to address negative effects. 

A 45-day public comment period will be held from today, February 21, 2023,
to April 7, 2023, 4:00 p.m. During this time, we are inviting partner and
public feedback on the Environmental Assessment and associated technical
reports. 

The Environmental Assessment is a component of ODOT's coordination with the
Federal Highway Administration, required by the National Environmental
Policy Act. This process for the I-205 Toll Project launched in 2020, when
ODOT received more than 4,600 comments from the greater metropolitan
Portland community about adding tolls to I-205. Thousands of public comments
and dozens of community conversations have informed ODOT's work to date.

In response to community feedback, we are developing a toll discount program
for low-income drivers, working with local jurisdictions to minimize impacts
from drivers rerouting from I-205 and are directing toll revenue from the
Abernethy and Tualatin River bridges to fund improvements on I-205.

Later this year, ODOT will publish a Revised Environmental Assessment based
on public input and an engagement report that summarizes the input received
during this comment period.

Read the report

The Environmental Assessment, appendices, technical reports and a summary
fact sheet are now posted
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oregon
.gov%2Fodot%2Ftolling%2FPages%2FI-205-Toll-Project-Environmental-Assessment.
aspx&data=05%7C01%7CHannah.WILLIAMS%40odot.oregon.gov%7Cbc5d67531f7443fb69ac
08db146c383a%7C28b0d01346bc4a648d861c8a31cf590d%7C0%7C0%7C638126227335129995
%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWw
iLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bsFw6Iwso19r0yxVapOxSd24TtOmMgP%2BwCDK
mXqZRU0%3D&reserved=0> online. In addition, you will find an interactive map
that shows the effects at studied intersections and corridors as well as a
series of short videos about the report and findings. In the Toll Program
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.orego
n.gov%2Fodot%2Ftolling%2FPages%2FLibrary.aspx&data=05%7C01%7CHannah.WILLIAMS
%40odot.oregon.gov%7Cbc5d67531f7443fb69ac08db146c383a%7C28b0d01346bc4a648d86
1c8a31cf590d%7C0%7C0%7C638126227335129995%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC
4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sda
ta=rwr831Xn13%2Fs4qUyJV7hfX2QpShNawhcV%2BCDum3Eoo4%3D&reserved=0> Resource
Library, you can find more project documents, including study methodologies
and past engagement summaries. 

Community events 

Would you be able to help inform the communities you serve about the project
and the public comment period? Please see the attached flyer and toolkit
outlining engagement opportunities for reading the report, attending a
community event, and instructions for ways to submit comments. Informational
materials in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese will be
posted online by March 3. 

You are also invited to join us at upcoming events: 

Webinar: We will share the results of the report and answer questions on the
Environmental Assessment. 

*        Tuesday, March 14: 6-7:30 p.m.
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.z
oom.us%2Fj%2F82648924413&data=05%7C01%7CHannah.WILLIAMS%40odot.oregon.gov%7C
bc5d67531f7443fb69ac08db146c383a%7C28b0d01346bc4a648d861c8a31cf590d%7C0%7C0%
7C638126227335129995%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l
uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ysb%2FJ1VOg0kAcKf7
EQUZzcpBlHuNLZ0ZrS9uUO%2FC5J0%3D&reserved=0> [webinar link]

*        Thursday, March 16: 12-1:30 p.m.
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.z
oom.us%2Fj%2F84251818390&data=05%7C01%7CHannah.WILLIAMS%40odot.oregon.gov%7C
bc5d67531f7443fb69ac08db146c383a%7C28b0d01346bc4a648d861c8a31cf590d%7C0%7C0%
7C638126227335129995%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l
uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7eNqANxTS9aPVeyBo%
2BLOeFnTpzKem2aC4nLwbvvryHY%3D&reserved=0> [webinar link]

Attendees can join these events using the Zoom platform online or by phone.
Each event will present the same information. No RSVP is needed. 

In-Person: View our
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.orego
n.gov%2Fodot%2Ftolling%2FPages%2FCalendar.aspx&data=05%7C01%7CHannah.WILLIAM
S%40odot.oregon.gov%7Cbc5d67531f7443fb69ac08db146c383a%7C28b0d01346bc4a648d8
61c8a31cf590d%7C0%7C0%7C638126227335129995%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiM
C4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sd
ata=Z3EFHQKuQtrBKauTynpPp7THmrj3SclWBMwwS2lWlBw%3D&reserved=0> online
calendar for a full list of tabling sessions we'll provide during the
comment period.

Submit comments

Public hearing: We will host an online public hearing on Tuesday, April 4,
3-6 p.m. where attendees may provide verbal comments on the Environmental
Assessment. The hearing will be hosted on Zoom. 

Verbal comments: Call 503-837-3536 to leave a comment via voicemail. We will
also provide an opportunity for you to provide a verbal comment in person on
April 4, 3-6 p.m. Location details will be posted on our project website.

Electronic comments: If you wish to submit an official comment on the I-205
Toll Project Environmental Assessment electronically, please use this
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surve
ymonkey.com%2Fr%2FI205TollEA&data=05%7C01%7CHannah.WILLIAMS%40odot.oregon.go
v%7Cbc5d67531f7443fb69ac08db146c383a%7C28b0d01346bc4a648d861c8a31cf590d%7C0%
7C0%7C638126227335129995%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjo
iV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7UuF%2BNb43vH1
e81VMLHROHYpBMXJ2rha8PmyjsYhJBA%3D&reserved=0> online comment form. If your
comment includes an attachment, you may email it to
<mailto:I205TollEA at odot.oregon.gov> I205TollEA at odot.oregon.gov. All comments
must be submitted by April 7, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to be considered.

We appreciate your engagement to date and look forward to your continued
partnership as we develop the I-205 Toll Project.

Hannah Williams (she/her/hers)
Community Engagement Coordinator, Toll Program

Oregon Department of Transportation

Urban Mobility Office

Matthew L. Garrett Building 

123 NW Flanders St., Portland, OR 97209

Cell: 503.894.4173

 <mailto:Hannah.WILLIAMS at odot.oregon.gov> Hannah.WILLIAMS at odot.oregon.gov

This e-mail and related attachments and any response may be subject to
public disclosure under state law.

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