News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
After a regional transportation commission declined to hear Sisters' argument against a passing lane west of town, the city council is taking the battle to the State Transportation Commission in Salem next week.
The commission meets on November 15.
ODOT plans to build a westbound passing lane on Highway 20 between the Cold Springs Cutoff and Cascade Meadow Ranch. The agency dropped an eastbound lane out of the plan in the face of public pressure; however, ODOT officials have said the agency will eventually construct the eastbound lane as well.
In a 4-1 vote on October 26, the city council resolved to oppose the project, arguing that ODOT's own data does not support a need for the project based on safety and that the project will have a negative impact on the gateway into Sisters.
Two councilors went to argue their case before the Central Oregon Area Commission on Transportation (COACT) last Thursday. COACT, which consists of the regional players - cities, counties and some agencies involved in transportation issues - voted not to weigh in on the matter.
Bob Bryant, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Regional Director had requested that the matter go to COACT.
Councilor Brad Boyd thinks Bryant deliberately steered the council toward a hearing before a board that has no interest in the issue so that the city would not bring the issue before the State Transportation Commission in a timely manner.
"It was a brilliant move of misdirection on Bob's part," Boyd told the council in a workshop last week.
"I take my hat off to him. We were played."
When contacted by The Nugget, Bryant said, "He can say what he wants and you can print what you want, but I wasn't playing anybody."
Bryant said he suggested COACT as "a possible forum for more floor time for their resolution."
He said "There is no decision process here. The decision has already been made and we're implementing the decision."
Boyd will go to Salem this week to speak before the state commission. Bryant said he does not believe any action of the commsiion will change the course of the project.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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