A couple of weeks after being told that the I-5 Project will be delayed, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg met with Oregon officials to discuss the future of 82nd Avenue. A ride was set up to take a look at the area in an all-electric TriMet bus. The primary visit location was Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus. Attending was Oregon’s congressional delegation and Governor Tina Kotek.
Raimore Construction is a prime construction company on the Rose Quarter Highway Improvement Project. The company has worked on other major projects including with TriMet. Local leaders know the importance of keeping companies with great work records like Raimore in the front of the conversation. It was Representative Earl Blumenauer who arranged the visit to talk about the 82nd Avenue corridor. The old state highway is serviced by the city of Portland. Southeast on 82nd is where much of the crime in the city is being reported now.
Buttigieg visited the Pacific Northwest on Friday where he first met with Washington state leaders in Washougal. A railroad crossing elimination grant was the focus there before meeting with Oregon leaders to tour the 82nd Avenue corridor. In Oregon the federal commitment for a replacement for the Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River was mentioned.
Oregon and Washington State have committed state funds to the Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River. The case for federal funding is said to be strong in the grant application process to come. Buttigieg said it’s something the federal government can get behind financially. “Ultimately what we’re doing with the federal dollars going out is actually going to be decided at the state and local level, we’re constantly trying to empower state and local government to get things done,” said Buttigieg.
After the disappointment of the I-5 project delay, many want to be sure those readying for such a big project are not left without complete answers. Raimore is continuing to train workers and providing jobs for current and future projects in Portland and throughout Oregon. The PCC stop and bus tour on the all-electric TriMet bus ended with Buttigieg stating, “… seeing everything from this great green bus, which we’re buying more and more for transit agencies across the country, to the corridor that is going to benefit from good policy choices and good investment in the future. This is why transportation matters.”
