Audit reveals ODOT waste. House GOP Calls for accountability

By Oregon House Republicans Caucus

February 26, 2025
SALEM, Ore. – House Republicans are calling for accountability and transparency from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) as the agency has failed to complete previously funded projects, and audits reveal issues with how funding is being tracked.

In 2017, the Legislature passed a $5.3 billion transportation package to fund major projects like the Rose Quarter in Portland and the Interstate 205 Abernethy Bridge. Eight years later, projects are delayed or incomplete while costs have soared, and the agency is making huge mistakes in projected revenue.

For example, in Tuesday night’s Joint Transportation Committee meeting, ODOT revealed the $248 million originally slated for Phase I of the I-205 Abernethy Bridge project has now been determined to cost $815 million.

A January audit reveals ODOT overestimated its revenue by $1.1 billion. “The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) did not have key controls in place to ensure that its legislative budget was built with an accurate revenue figure,” reads the audit.

“A billion-dollar budget mistake coupled with a more than 300% increase on the cost of the Abernethy Bridge are just two examples, although massive, of problems that need to be fixed and accounted for before we ask Oregonians for another dollar,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), vice chair of the Joint Transportation Committee. “We’re also paying $250 million a year in debt service and still not keeping up with the system.”

ODOT also revealed that 40% of its workforce is remote, which lawmakers pressed the agency for more information on.