(Pictures: Metropolis of Portland, Rad Energy Bikes – Graphic: BikePortland)
“I believe the constitution change shall be good for transportation within the long-term, as a result of there’ll be one-stop store for accountability.”
– Jo Ann Hardesty, metropolis commissioner
Because the elected official main the Portland Bureau of Transportation for the final two years, Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty has frolicked as Metropolis Council’s voice on all issues transportation and infrastructure. However since she was ousted in November by incoming Council member Rene Gonzalez, Hardesty will quickly be leaving her spot in metropolis management and at PBOT.
Hardesty was given the PBOT project in January 2021 after serving on Council for 2 years. So, after this time navigating the ins and outs of PBOT, what does Hardesty take into consideration the place Portland transportation is — and the place it’s going? She gave us some insights finally night time’s Bicycle Advisory Committee assembly, and even included just a few hints about her future plans. (Former PBOT Commissioner Chloe Eudaly gave an identical handle earlier than she left Council in 2021.)
As shall be no shock to anybody who paid consideration to Metropolis Council dynamics during the last two years, Hardesty isn’t solely optimistic about putting the destiny of her assignments within the arms of the present native elected officers. She stated Mayor Ted Wheeler and the remainder of council will spend time, cash and vitality on transferring Portland’s homeless inhabitants into large outside encampments, probably ignoring different areas.
“PBOT will proceed to do the nice work they’re doing, and hopefully received’t be pulled away from that work to do issues only for downtown particular pursuits,” Hardesty stated.
Hardesty was an advocate for individuals in east Portland throughout her time as PBOT commissioner. Now that Council will lose its solely member who lives east of 82nd Avenue, Hardesty is worried metropolis management will ignore every thing exterior of the central metropolis.
“The way in which the council operates, no [commissioner] is meant to characterize a person group. Their objectives are presupposed to be citywide,” she stated. “However truthfully, that simply doesn’t occur except they’re advocates or electeds who really reside exterior of the downtown core and who care about different elements of town.”
However Portlanders voted in November to alter our authorities construction and create a system with extra elected policymakers on Metropolis Council representing completely different elements of town, which Hardesty (and transportation advocates typically) is trying ahead to.
“I believe the constitution change shall be good for transportation within the long-term, as a result of there’ll be one-stop store for accountability,” Hardesty stated. “What I imagine will occur is there shall be extra grassroots individuals who reside in the neighborhood, and who shall be bringing your voices to the Metropolis Council. So I believe…we’ll really find yourself in a greater place to have the ability to have communities actually represented.”
Although Hardesty has earned reward from transportation advocates for her work creating carfree public areas across the metropolis and talking up for east Portland, her relationship with activists hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Bike advocates will recall her heated Might 2021 assembly with the BAC when she revealed she didn’t find out about Portland’s Bicycle Plan for 2030. To BAC members, this was indicative not solely of a private lack of familiarity of motorcycle points, but in addition demonstrated that PBOT was letting the once-glorified bike plan fall to the wayside. Hardesty mirrored on this expertise on the assembly final night time.
“The primary time I got here and talked to [your committee], I didn’t know we had a 2030 bike plan. Who knew? No one advised me because the transportation Commissioner,” she stated. “I’m comfortable to say that I left that assembly and went and went on-line and located that 2030 Bike plan…are we making progress? The reply is sure. However as you already know, covid actually simply despatched every thing right into a tailspin.”
“I nonetheless have quite a lot of knife wounds in my again from the final marketing campaign, so I’m not able to decide to any public service for the time being.”
Maybe the achievement Hardesty is most pleased with from her time overseeing PBOT is getting 82nd Avenue transferred from the Oregon Division of Transportation to the Metropolis of Portland and set for massive infrastructure tasks coming down the pike. She stated she plans to proceed engaged on the 82nd Ave venture — in addition to weighing in on plans to increase I-5 on the Rose Quarter and with the Interstate Bridge Alternative Program — after she leaves workplace, although she didn’t say in what capability.
“I’m fairly positive what I do subsequent will proceed round transportation. As a result of I don’t need to depart the I-5 Bridge, Rose Quarter and 82nd Ave to newbies,” she stated.
So far as whether or not or not she’ll run for a spot in our bigger metropolis authorities in 2024? That’s not but clear.
“I nonetheless have quite a lot of knife wounds in my again from the final marketing campaign, so I’m not able to decide to any public service for the time being,” Hardesty stated.
The opposite massive piece of reports in Hardesty’s future? Probably impressed by Rad Energy’s current product announcement, she needs to get an electrical tricycle. “Simply so you already know, I ended driving in March of 2020,” she stated. “[An electric trike] is my subsequent car.” (Hardesty stated since she weighs simply 100 kilos, customary e-bikes are too heavy for her to deal with.)
It’s nonetheless unclear who would be the subsequent commissioner to steer PBOT. (Some suspect it will likely be Mingus Mapps — Hardesty stated Wheeler has plans to disclose this subsequent week.) Whoever will get the project has a giant job forward of them. With large upkeep and funds issues, Portland’s transportation bureau is a huge ship to steer.
On the finish of Hardesty’s discuss, BAC members thanked her for her work as PBOT Commissioner. Some individuals asking her to hitch their subcommittees and different teams. She didn’t decide to something but, however stated individuals will nonetheless be capable of tune into Metropolis Council conferences to listen to her ideas.
“Simply be assured, I’m not going wherever. Chances are you’ll not know this, however I’ve been I’ve been testifying at metropolis council for 25 years,” Hardesty stated. So if [the mayor] thinks I’m not going to nonetheless yell at him, he’s in for a impolite awakening.”
Taylor has been BikePortland’s workers author since November 2021. She has additionally written for Avenue Roots and Eugene Weekly. Contact her at taylorgriggswriter@gmail.com
