On July 31, Metro will vote on a new bond, extending the city's debt until 2039. Sadly, they are not able to start paying off the bond until 2035 and can only cover interest payments for the first 7 years of the new bond! Metro wants money now for their projects and aren't

What is the plan for 82nd Avenue? Seven miles of bus-only lanes from Clackamas Town Center to Cully—turning four car lanes into two, leaving the other two as bus-only lanes. TriMet says it will save transit riders 3–4 minutes. Cascade believes the cost to drivers and

Metro Council would rather burn $50 million than plan for Oregon’s long-term benefit. Metro’s Step 1A.1 bond will forfeit $135 million in future federal grants so it can spend $89 million now, and use the rest to pay off the interest. What’s on the spendlist: A host of projects

BURYING THE LEAD TO CUT 82ND AVE IN HALF! Metro knows converting 82nd Ave to bus-only BAT lanes is unpopular and unwanted. That’s why they’re ambiguous about their official plan. They claim BAT lanes are one option of ongoing conversations, to avoid including them in the project

Metro needs to vote NO on Step 1A.1 of the Regional Flexible Funds Allocation Bond, which will create a "road diet" for the Burnside Bridge. Currently serving 58,000 people/day, 80% of which drive cars, closing eastbound traffic to one lane doesn't make any sense. Metro is

CUTTING 82ND IN HALF! Metro’s Step 1A.1 bond measure will pay to cut auto lanes in half down 82nd avenue – in exchange for 7 miles of bus-only BAT lanes. These lanes will severely increase congestion and put more stress on I-205 and surrounding neighborhoods. Don’t let their

🆕 Metro is preparing to vote on funding the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge—but the current lane design would eliminate an eastbound car lane, forcing more drivers into traffic. Cascade Policy Institute says the design punishes the majority of bridge users and needs to be

On July 31, Metro is set to vote on bond funding for 82nd Ave traffic changes as well as four other projects. Cascade firmly believes the bus-only “BAT lanes” should be removed from the 82nd Ave plan.

We vote with our feet. When parents are able to allocate educational funding to environments where their kids are successful, better education outcomes and school accountability naturally occur. Oregon parents and students deserve the right to choose.

Education in Oregon is an urgent matter. Oregon families deserve options to find the right learning environment for their student. Traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private and parochial schools, homeschooling, and tutoring are all

🌎 Environmental protection without government overreach? Yes, it’s possible. We believe market-based environmentalism isn’t just theory — it works. ✅ Private landowners are often the best stewards of natural resources ✅ Real sustainability begins with individual

Oregonians are paying more for health insurance and hospital care—thanks to a health care tax that expanded Medicaid while ignoring government mismanagement. Cascade is fighting for real reform that lowers costs without raising taxes.

With 58,000 people crossing the Burnside Bridge daily, Portland needs a bridge to support vehicular travel in and out of downtown. The new design would cut car-traffic from four lanes to three with no added capacity. While it would be great if people took mass transit or rode

"What Does It Cost?" Ken Peterson’s documentary challenges claims that net-zero policies are “manageable.” Using real-world data and interviewing experts, "What Does it Cost?" illustrates the massive cost the Pacific Northwest is facing by chasing idealistic goals.

Currently, the Burnside Bridge serves 58,000 people a day. Metro’s redesign will remove an eastbound car lane and will, therefore, slow down nearly 80% of drivers for the sake of “multimodal” priorities.

We all want a state where everyone prospers. Cascade advocates for a stronger, freer economy by restoring the entrepreneurial spirit that brought pioneers to Oregon. Through research, outreach, and advocacy, we believe limited government and free markets will expand

🆕 "What Does It Cost?" - a powerful documentary by Ken Peterson investigating the economic reality behind Oregon's net-zero energy agenda. From skyrocketing energy bills to grid instability, the filmmaker asks the hard question politicians avoid: What does it cost? Watch it at

TriMet’s 82nd Ave plan will cut car lanes in HALF forcing 25% of drivers into neighborhood streets—in order to save bus riders 3–4 minutes. Seven miles of traffic chaos for a few minutes of transit “gain.” Is it worth it?

Oregon’s push for net zero emissions by 2040 could easily cripple lower-wage earners while delivering negligible environmental benefits. "What Does It Cost?" is a documentary breaking down the impact and cost to the Pacific Northwest by using studies and interviewing experts in

Metro’s redesign of the Burnside Bridge removes an eastbound car lane—shrinking driver capacity on one of Portland’s busiest crossings. According to Metro’s own data, 78 out of every 100 people crossing the bridge are drivers. Cascade Policy Institute says this design fails to