Oregon

Oregon Law Requires Cooling, but Could Leave Many Renters Out
A state bill requiring landlords to allow tenants to install portable air conditioners comes with a raft of exemptions that could restrict the most affordable options.

Oregon Makes Historic Parking Reforms. What’s Next?
The state made sweeping reforms that eliminate parking requirements in some jurisdictions, which supporters hope will lead to faster, less expensive construction and the revitalization of vacant properties and underused lots.

Portland Increases Downtown Parking Fees To Fund Transit Passes
The city will use revenue from a 20-cent hike in street parking fees to subsidize transit and bike share passes for low-income residents.

Bus Service Cut in Portland as Driver Shortage Lingers
Like many transit agencies around the country, the regional transit agency for Portland, Oregon is struggling to attract enough bus drivers to maintain planned levels of transit service.

Toward More Inclusive Emergency Management
People with disabilities often die at higher rates during natural disasters or other emergencies. One Oregon advocacy group wants to change that.

Portland Approves ‘Residential Infill Project – Part 2' to Add New Forms of Residential Density
The city of Portland is already building upon the historic work of the Residential Infill Project, approved by the city in August 2021, with a new slate of zoning changes dubbed the ‘Residential Infill Project – Part 2.”

How Bike Racks Are Weaponized To Displace Unhoused People
In Portland, a set of mysteriously installed bike racks is prompting questions about their true purpose.

Oregon to Reform Parking Requirements in 52 Cities
Oregon, the first state to end single-family zoning statewide, is on the cusp of another historic planning reform as the Land Conservation and Development Commission nears approval for new “Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities” rules.

Eugene Approves ‘Missing Middle Housing’
The city council voted to approve an ordinance that will permit more middle housing types in single-family neighborhoods.

New Portland Transit Budget Targets Driver Shortage, Express Service
The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon plans to restore pre-pandemic service, expand its light rail lines, and move toward an all-electric bus fleet.

Dams on the Way Out on Two California Rivers
The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is about to commence on the Klamath River. Due to a recent development, a dam on the Eel River is also on expected for decommission.

Can Portland Have its Climate Goals and Expand its Highways Too?
Portland wants it both ways, but so do most places. But if Portland can't quit the car habit, which cities can?

To Fight ‘Range Anxiety,’ Oregon To Invest $100 Million in Electric Vehicle Charging
The Oregon Department of Transportation plans to install EV chargers along crucial transportation corridors and expand charging options around the state to encourage more Oregonians to buy electric vehicles.

Portland Extends Pandemic Public Space Programs
PBOT will continue two highly successful COVID-era programs that allowed businesses and community groups to repurpose public spaces for pedestrian-oriented uses and engage with customers in safe, accessible outdoor settings.

Traffic Deaths Reach Three-Decade High in Portland
In spite of the city's commitment to Vision Zero goals, more people died on Portland's streets than anytime in the last thirty years, with unhoused people most vulnerable to traffic violence.

Building Safety, Climate Change, and Equity
A Portland coalition is drawing attention to the disproportionate impacts of unsafe and inefficient housing on low-income households and pushing for legislation that would mandate building improvements and tenant protections.

CDC Not Yet On Board with Ending Masking Requirements
Blue states have joined red ones in ending masking orders as COVID cases plummet, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sticking to its guidance: where transmission is 'high' or 'substantial,' universal indoor masking is recommended.

Legal Battle Heats Up Over the Form and Function of Oregon's Coasts
As Oregon's coastal beaches erode, taking valued public space with them and exposing private property to increased risks from flooding and sea-level rise, some local governments want to allow property owners the right to "armor" the coast.

Lawsuit Challenges Zoning to Limit Church Soup Kitchens
Local residents of Brookings, Oregon say a local church's meal services during the pandemic were attracting crime and vagrancy, so the city passed a zoning ordinance that limited the number of days the church could serve meals to two a week.

Upzoning Leads to Sharp Growth in Construction in Bend
After Oregon legalized 'missing middle housing' in cities statewide, Bend, the first city to comply with the state law, has experienced a significant boost in mid-density housing construction.
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