A coalition of anti-freeway activists in Portland has taken legal action against the U.S. Department of Transportation, filing a lawsuit aimed at halting construction on a heavily congested segment of Interstate 5 known as the Rose Quarter Improvement Project. The complaint was filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Portland, claiming that federal officials failed to adequately assess the environmental impacts before granting approval for the $1.9 billion project.
The Rose Quarter project seeks to widen a two-mile stretch of I-5 in North Portland, with the stated goals of improving safety and reducing congestion on a critical freight route that experiences collision rates more than three times higher than the statewide average. The project has garnered significant support from state lawmakers and transportation officials, receiving funding from the Oregon Legislature in 2017 as well as a recent $450 million federal grant.
The lawsuit names the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the highway agency’s administrator as defendants. Activists, led by the group No More Freeways, argue that the project will exacerbate pollution and disrupt the historically Black Albina neighborhood, which was severely impacted when the freeway was originally constructed. They advocate for an alternative solution: a “highway cap,” which would create a broad bridge over the interstate, reconnecting the Albina community without expanding the highway.
This legal challenge could complicate the efforts of lawmakers to secure funding for transportation projects during the upcoming 2025 legislative session. Completing the Rose Quarter project, along with replacing the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, are among the top priorities for state officials, who are also focused on maintaining existing roadways rather than pursuing new construction.
Joining No More Freeways in the lawsuit are several organizations, including the Eliot Neighborhood Association, the environmental nonprofit Neighbors for Clean Air, Families for Safe Streets of Oregon and Southwest Washington, the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, and BikeLoud, which advocates for cyclists.
The complaint contends that federal transportation officials did not conduct a thorough Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and instead opted for a less rigorous Environmental Assessment (EA), undermining the project’s evaluation of potential environmental consequences.
In a related legal effort, No More Freeways and other plaintiffs filed a similar lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Transportation in Multnomah County Circuit Court in May, alleging that the Rose Quarter project does not align with comprehensive growth plans set forth by the city of Portland and the Metro regional government. That case is currently pending.
The Rose Quarter’s two-mile stretch of I-5 is notable for being the only urban two-lane section of the highway stretching from Canada to Mexico. It also serves as a crucial junction where interstates 84 and 405 intersect with I-5. State transportation officials believe that the addition of ramp-to-ramp lanes could alleviate congestion and reduce collisions by minimizing the need for full merges between highways.
