Transportation & Climate Justice

Our lives and our prosperity are deeply impacted by Portland’s transportation systems. With 600,000 new residents projected to live here by 2040, many of the problems such as  traffic congestion, risk of accidents, and carbon emissions, will get worse without bold leadership now. 

Our streets are for people first. This means prioritizing safety, neighborhood connectivity, and fulfilling our promise to neighborhoods that lack basic infrastructure.  We must also calm high-crash corridors. With new state and federal funding, we anticipate having the capacity to fund significantly more new projects. Because transportation contributes 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, leading the region, we need urgent and bold action to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and holds the fossil fuel industry accountable as part of our just transition to a clean energy economy.

Our transportation agenda is built around providing access for all of our neighbors, including residents with disabilities, youth, and seniors, while prioritizing safety and service to all of our neighborhoods, especially environmental justice communities. I will champion  pedestrian safety, expand our bicycle network, and create more community spaces with our streets.

Jo Ann’s Record:

What We’ve Done Together So Far


 

  • Ensured a safer, livable East 82nd Ave:  As Transportation Commissioner, Hardesty worked to secure a full jurisdictional transfer from the state to the city for East 82nd Ave/Avenue of the Roses and an historic $185 million investment which  will be used for upgraded signals, lighting, accessibility ramps, pavement and stormwater improvements.

  • Improved visibility at over 300 dangerous street corners: In compliance with state and city laws Hardesty  no parking adjacent to a crosswalk in. With a priority on High Crash Corridors, this will mean better visibility and safety for pedestrians crossing the street to go to places such as school, work, and local businesses. 

  • Authorized new street plazas for small businesses and pedestrians. Created options for patio capacity, take-out, and outdoor seating for restaurants and bars to provide safer options during the pandemic, and also expanded the uses of murals and other creative cultural arts on selected city streets. Worked with council to approve funding in order to waive fees for startup of the Health Business program expanding outdoor space for restaurants, bars, and small businesses.

  • Shifting from Fossil Fuels. I have renewed my pledge to take no money from the fossil fuel industry and executives for my campaign. As Transportation Commissioner, I authored the resolution passed unanimously by city council to develop new streams of revenue for the Portland Bureau of Transportation that are not dependent on fossil fuel consumption, such as charging for the right-of-way rather than fuel consumption and fees on transportation use and general tax revenues used in other cities.

  • Safer Critical Energy Hubs. Responding to community concerns, and working with city and county leaders, I championed funding for the in-depth study of the Northwest Portland fuel storage tanks along the Willamette River and a ban on future fossil fuel infrastructure. Our collaborative work led to swift action and investments by the State Legislature to secure these toxic facilities from natural disasters.

Policy Priorities

How We Will Lead on Transportation & Climate Justice. 

  1. Shift to Free Transit by supporting the Youth Bus Pass and forming a regional partnership to pilot fare-free transit routes.

  2. Transform 82nd Ave into a model corridor connecting and preserving working class neighborhoods and working with community stakeholders to ensure safety and accessibility improvements.

  3. Ensure that any Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Project adheres to the values of adding high-capacity transit and reducing vehicle miles traveled through an equitable congestion pricing structure.

  4. Implement the groundbreaking Pricing Options for Equitable Mobility (POEM) recommendations to reduce traffic demand, invest in multimodal transit options, and increase access for low-income households.