Overview
ODOT maintains the land adjoining highways and transportation infrastructure, or right of way. Part of that maintenance includes litter removal and graffiti cleanup. We do a lot of work to keep our roads clean, but the problem is constant and increasing at rates greater than our crews, volunteers and partners can keep up with.
In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 5701 giving ODOT $20 million in general fund dollars for litter removal, graffiti cleanup, camp cleanup and access prevention in the Portland metro area for use through June 2025. This funding was available on April 17, 2024 and on April 18, we had contracts in place for the work.
In addition, we are partnering with local business leaders to pilot a Sponsor-a-Highway program that is currently removing graffiti and litter on the I-405 corridor in Portland.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, these efforts have accomplished the following:
| December Outcomes
| Outcomes to date
|
---|
Litter removal
| 15,840+ lbs. collected
| 196,920 lbs. collected
|
Graffiti removal
| 1,245+ tags removed
| 17,558+ tags removed
|
Camp clean-up
| 145 camps cleaned up
| 1,191 camps cleaned up*
|
Access prevention
| 1 project underway
| 7 projects completed*
|
*April was first month of graffiti, camp cleanup & access prevention work with SB 5701 funds
Clean up locations in Dec. 2024
|
|
Sign before graffiti removal.
|
Sign after graffiti removal.
|
Litter and graffiti removal happens along state highways in our Portland Metro Region (Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties).
In Dec., our primary litter removal focus areas were:
- I-205 between mile points 0 and 26 - throughout the corridor roughly between I-5 in the Tualatin area and the Sandy Blvd exit in NE Portland.
- US 26 (Sunset Highway) between mile points 55 and 65 – throughout the corridor from Dersham Rd in Cornelius to Hillsboro.
- I-5 southbound between mile points 282 and 308 – roughly from SW Multnomah Blvd to Hayden Island.
- I-84 east and west between mile points 0 and 17, from I-5 to Troutdale.
In Dec., our primary graffiti removal focus areas were:
- I-84
- I-205
- I-5
- US 26
- I-405
This work includes the removal of over 1,245 tag clusters and application of over 1,459 gallons of paint, 131 spray cans and 13 gallons of graffiti removal solvent. Graffiti was removed from four signs and no signs were replaced. Since April, a total of 79 signs have been cleaned and 59 were replaced.
Camp cleanup was conducted at the following locations by city of Portland contractors:
- Frequent posting & cleaning areas:
- Major projects completed:
- 99W Barbur Blvd Vermont Structure – a reinforced fencing project is being constructed at this site.
- Southbound I-205 on ramp from Powell Blvd
- I-405 southbound Exit 2B Glisan off ramp
- Rapid Response truck
set on fire by camper during cleanup.
Funding Spent to Date*
Numbers may not reflect all worked billed during this time period.
Funding from SB 5701
| Total Budget
| Spent to date
| Spent this month
| Remaining
|
---|
Litter removal
| $4 million
| $2,409,777
| $291,210
| $1,590,223
|
Graffiti removal
| $4 million
| $962,917
| $73,241
| $2,017,083
|
Camp clean-up
| $4 million
| $2,908,970
| $364,883
| $2,111,030
|
Access prevention
| $8 million
| $553,399
| $47,569
| $7,446,601
|
Total
| $20 million
| $6,835,063
| $776,902
| $13,164,937
|
Service Delivery