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WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE PROJECT DESIGN IS ACKNOWLEDGING AND CELEBRATING HISTORIC ALBINA

From early July through the Labor Day weekend, the local community participated in the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Summer Design Survey. Of the 350 participants, 25% identified as African American/Black and African, with nearly half indicating they live in the Albina neighborhood. The community was asked to provide feedback on design elements for highly visible walls and bridges in the project area, including the addition of historical images of the neighborhood, rotating art murals, concrete patterns, street names and decorative lighting.

The Historic Albina Advisory Board (HAAB) informed the designs with the intent to honor the historic Albina community and recognize the neighborhood's history. Read the results of this second design survey. View the results from the first survey, which gathered community feedback on the design of crash barriers and columns.

We're planning more surveys for community input. Continue to check this website or join the mailing list for more updates and details on how to get involved.

Click to zoom-in on image Illustration of potential bridge design elements, as shown in the Summer Design Survey.
Illustration of potential bridge design elements, as shown in the Summer Design Survey.

PROJECT TEAM WAS PRESENT AT SEVERAL POPULAR PORTLAND FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Project team members attended multiple festivals and events this summer. You may have seen us at Juneteenth Oregon, Good in the Hood, Homowo & Twins Festival, Vanport Jazz Festival, Community Pulse series, In My Shoes 5K Walk or the MLK Dream Run. We set up iPads for attendees to participate in the Summer Design Survey, and walked them through some of the latest project updates. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk to us.

Representatives speak with community member at Rose Quarter tent
Staff members share information on the project's workforce opportunities at the Community Pulse kick-off event in August 2022.
Adults line street to cheer on kids running a race
MLK Dream Run attendees and staff members cheer on kids race participants at the September 2022 event.

FALL BRINGS A FRESH ROUND OF ACTIVITIES AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

We're off to a busy start this fall, with more events and committee meetings open to the public:

On Monday, November 14, 2022, members of the project team will join Kairos PDX students in celebrating Ruby Bridges' contributions to the United States school system. Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is an annual event that celebrates the courage and legacy of a six-year-old Black student who integrated William Frantz Elementary in New Orleans in 1960. In the spirit of the event, the project team hopes to share the project values and ways the project can positively impact the Portland community with those who attend the walk.

Both project committees met in September. The HAAB is scheduled to meet again later this month, and the Community Oversight Advisory Committee will meet next quarter. All committee meetings are open to public comment. Check our Events & Meetings page for schedule updates.

A LOOK AHEAD: SHARE YOUR INPUT ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DURING THE UPCOMING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

We're encouraging the public to learn about the project's Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA). The Supplemental EA evaluates the benefits and impacts of the currently proposed design, including a highway cover that reconnects the neighborhood and provides space for community development opportunities. We'll publish the Supplemental EA report to the project website this fall followed by a public comment period.

Watch for more announcements about how, when and where to share your input. Join the project's mailing list here: Contact Us.