Eastern Oregon Legislators respond to ODOT’s winter service cuts
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, November 27th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON – Earlier this fall, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced that, in response to ongoing budget issues, it would be reducing its winter service capacity. This reduction will, among many other cuts and changes, limit plowing and de-icing on state highways, forgo fog line painting on low usage state roads/highways, reduce graffiti removal, along with reducing herbicide spraying and litter removal outside of the winter months. These changes will impact all ODOT management regions, including Region 5, which encompasses the entirety of Eastern Oregon. For a much more detailed breakdown of what will be cut/reduced, see our original article, which includes statements from ODOT Region 5 Director Ken Patterson, at https://elkhornmediagroup.com/odot-cuts-service-and-maintenance-capacity-across-the-board-as-oregon-braces-for-winter/
In the meantime, however, House District 58 Representative Bobby Levy, along with other Oregon senators, representatives, and Eastern Oregon County Commissioners, penned a letter addressed to ODOT director Kris Stickler with their concerns over the Region 5 service reductions. The letter in its entirety is as follows:
Elkhorn Media Group has reached out to both Ken Patterson and Kris Stickler for comment on the letter.
