FEDERAL GRANT CUTS LEAD TO COMMUTE CHALLENGES FOR STUDENTS

As construction continues on the I-5 Rose Quarter improvement project, one of the project’s key contractors has announced it is pulling out from the project. Mt. Hood Community College students and faculty that commute should be aware of this important change as it will affect the improvement project.

Raimore announced early October that it will withdraw from the project, a process expected to take several months as its responsibilities are transitioned to general contractor Hamilton Sundt and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

This comes on the heels of the Reconnecting Communities federal grant being revoked by President Donald Trump. The federal grant was initially awarded during President Biden’s administration.

The Rose Quarter Improvement project is currently in its 1A Phase, which is slated for construction of an improved stormwater system, bridge preservation and seismic update of the intersection of I-84 and I-5, extension of the southbound auxiliary lane, and updated signage for drivers. That is why the southbound lanes are closed for five weeks.

The 1A Phase will be building the southern portion of the highway cover, complete the southbound auxiliary lane, extend the northbound auxiliary so that it lines up with the highway cover, install signage for drivers and widen the Holladay/Hassolo bridge.

The grant would have given the project a staggering $500 million in funds.

The funds would have helped cover the cost for the highway cover, and connecting a portion of I-5 to Albina, a historically Black neighborhood, which now is unfunded.

ODOT has stated that the project will continue as planned despite a key project contractor departing. The Rose Quarter project is already underfunded, overcost and severely delayed.  ODOT will continue on with the next phase of the project.

Raimore Construction is a Black owned company based in Portland, Oregon. Raimore Construction states that 80% or more of its employees, including those in leadership roles, are that of minorities. It is also a federally and Oregon certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Minority Business Enterprise.

When ODOT selected Hamilton Sundt in association with Raimore in 2020, ODOT described that partnership as a significant step toward doing business differently and better aligning the project with community input and restorative justice.

Raimore wasn’t merely there to pour concrete. The Hamilton Sundt and Raimore construction team was involved in developing the project’s Diversity and Subcontracting Plan, including apprenticeship and training opportunities, strategies for building the capacity of disadvantaged businesses, subcontracting and workplace culture.