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Ryan Phillips

@oregonryan.bsky.social
73 followers 49 following 80 posts

Policy researcher turned policy doer // Senior Transit Policy Analyst @ ODOT // Currently a runner // Views expressed are my own

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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Love it. Here’s my contribution to the study of the European Union: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Genealogies of European governance - Comparative European Politics
How should scholars study European governance? In this introductory article, we situate our genealogical approach in relation to existing research by summarizing the key features of major strands of r...
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Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 15/09/2026
US could be rapidly electrifying its trucking system (China’s new heavy duty trucks are 30% electric www.ttnews.com/articles/car...) and its buses (EU’s new city buses were 60% electric in 2025 www.sustainable-bus.com/news/bloombe...), but it hasn’t & it isn’t. Now it’s suffering the consequences.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Job opportunity in the Public Transportation Division at ODOT: www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
State of Oregon hiring Transit Analyst in Salem, OR | LinkedIn
Posted 11:25:10 PM. Initial Posting Date05/08/2026Application Deadline05/26/2026AgencyDepartment of…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Do US carmakers believe they will be able to sustain indefinitely a trade blockade against Chinese EVs that have 500 miles range, recharge in 5 minutes and cost $25k? That seems to me to be the bet.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Solid strategy
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
It would surely be one of the great ironies of political history if the antidemocratic goal of voter suppression is the reason for the end of the antidemocratic filibuster.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
$11.3 billion. 1 week.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Also, because the common wisdom is the referendum will pass and the taxes repealed there is no journalist actually discussing the merits/demerits of the repeal beyond vague references to “reduced service levels.” Effect on the economy? Access to jobs? Healthcare? Education? Crickets.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
It really shows how bereft of expertise Oregon news organizations are that there are now 2 lawsuits against moving the transportation tax referendum and the best that can be done is to say “there’s a lawsuit” +/- 500 words. Not a single word about the merits. Anyone can file a lawsuit. Anyone.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
There are capital grant opportunities opening in the next month through ODOT. Hope that is in TriMet’s and other transit agencies’ plans. Will be looking for projects that improve access, climate and safety.
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dnnynnn.bsky.social @dnnynnn.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Aside from the tone-deafness of these priorities, the "business taxes have increased by an astonishing 81%" is a textbook case of lying with statistics. Let's look at the likely source for this claim: an EY report commisioned by Oregon Business & Industry: oregonbusinessindustry.com/wp-content/u...
oregonbusinessindustry.com
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Interested in how transportation decisions are made in Oregon? PSU is providing a course open to any Oregon resident free of charge, remote or in person, stipends available for childcare and transportation costs. trec.pdx.edu/community-tr...
trec.pdx.edu
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
My daughter took her first trip on public transit today without adult supervision. She and her friends went to protest against ICE abductions. Or as I am thinking about it: Using a public good for the public good.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Options: 1) very large amount of one time funding that can be used over many years, 2) smaller, but significant amounts of funding on ongoing basis. 3) smaller, one time funding that staves off some immediate cuts but only temporarily.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
2/3 of the cost of running transit is operating expenses, mostly labor. One time funding will only make significant impact if a) it replaces large amounts of planned future capex and 2) supplanted and saved $ can be redirected to opex.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
100%. I believe a valuable role state DOTs could play, assuming they have some funding to put to this use, is to be “public consultancy agencies”. It’s incredibly inefficient for small and medium sized agencies to staff or rely on consultants for many of their planning needs.
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Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
from Ganz @lioneltrolling.bsky.social www.unpopularfront.news/p/living-in-...
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I agree Sunday Parkways aren’t good enough. Let’s do Everyday Parkways for bicyclists and pedestrians! Save on the need to set them up and break them down periodically!
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Got an e-bike. Been taking my kid to school on it. It’s the best.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Less importantly, I’d be surprised if ODOT figures showed that, but I’d be willing to look at those figures and figure out where the misinterpretation arises.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
“In the past, Oregon Department of Transportation figures show, TriMet received more than half of its total revenue from the payroll tax. “ The .1% Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund payroll tax is not 50% of TriMet’s budget. It’s more like 3% of the budget. trimet.org/budget/pdf/2...
trimet.org
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Definitely the aim. Priority Intercity Bus Network study will be out this month or next. ODOT will be assessing this investment alongside other priorities in the coming months.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
This is accurate although a little nuanced. ODOT administers 5311(f) funding as a federal-state partnership. 5311(f) comprises 15% of OR’s annual federal apportionment of 5311 funding. In short, its federal funds that ODOT administers.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
NWSL is also providing the non-federal match
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Roughly 2/3 of cost is being covered by NWSL service revenues - fares, etc. 1/3 is a 5311(f) grant of up to $600,000. No state funds are paying for the service.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Monday (12/15) I’ll be at Union Station in Portland at 10 AM to celebrate the relaunch of I-84 intercity bus service and everyone is invited. You should come. Why not.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Happy that intercity bus service is being restored on I-84 for the communities of NE Oregon in time for Christmas and New Years www.opb.org/article/2025...
opb.org
Northeast Oregon regains daily bus service to Portland and Boise after an 11-month gap
Nearly a year after Greyhound ended bus service, residents of northeast Oregon will again have a public transit option to reach Portland and Boise. The daily service will be operated by Northwestern S...
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Having solar installed on our house today and it’s very satisfying
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Won’t pretend to know much about VA politics, but this is how the peaceful transfer of power in a democracy is suppose to work. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
washingtonpost.com
Campaign jabs give way to ‘lovely’ lunch between Youngkin and Spanberger
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) met for a traditional lunch Tuesday with outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) as she begins assembling her transition team.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Update: “The Constitution demands the Court set aside this lawless behavior” www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
politico.com
Judge rules Trump administration can’t tie transportation funding to immigration
Judge John McConnell previously issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Transportation Department directive.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Isn’t a key problem that only one OEM manufacturers them for N America and they had to be persuaded by King County and SF MUNI not to end their production all together in the last couple of years?
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Practical Magic ✨ Aunty Em @strike26.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
“We are home now. We marched from the park to ICE, very peaceful crowd. We were standing around ICE pushed us down, sprayed us with chemical and I was hit in the head with a projectile. This was so unprovoked. People have to know that the Feds are attacking people with NO provocation whatsoever.”
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
29 years for me
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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 23/09/2025
Many Oregon voters are stuck using flawed, outdated winner-take-all voting methods — even though their constitution calls out a better option by name. www.sightline.org/2025/09/23/f...
sightline.org
For Oregonians, Better Elections Are Hidden in Plain Sight | Sightline Institute
The state’s constitution lets localities opt for methods that better reflect their mix of voters.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
To be fair, to the extent there has been reporting on divisions within the R’s there are some members who realize the role of a party is to win elections. The opposition to Dallas Heard was such an example. But overall the party has taken too many policy positions that too few Oregonians support.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
They could run on a policy platform that could win a majority of seats in the legislature or statewide office. The lack of competition means D’s do not have electoral incentives to competently govern.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
No. That’s not what it basically says. What the article states is there’s been no significant policy wins and that’s largely due to a dysfunctional council. A proper defense would say yes there have been and describe what they are. What are policy wins does the article miss?
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
I regularly wonder if Oregon would have a better Democratic Party if it had a better Republican Party.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
The article is too generous towards republicans. Their actual proposal was to eliminate the dedicated transit tax altogether and redirect that funding to the state highway fund.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
I think it is partly due to the fact that shamelessness and norm destruction is integral to their appeal
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Death by car - that’s just how it works. Death by non-cars - it’s a crisis. Congestion from cars - that’s how it works. Congestion from non-cars - it’s a crisis.
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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
It’s so important to show people—esp public leaders—that e-bikes may look like traditional pedal bikes, but they’re used completely differently. They’re like a miracle drug for replacing car trips.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
It’s actually quite easy. All you have to believe is that ridership is not the only orienting value of public transportation. We don’t provide ADA paratransit to maximize ridership or demand response in rural areas or broad coverage of fixed route in urban areas. There’s a host of other values.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
The technocratic formulation of the issue - listen to those who study it - is both anti-democratic and misleads about the value choices involved. There isn’t a technocratic answer to “what should the nature of transit service be?” This is something @humantransit is exactly right about.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
IMO the biggest hole in the anti-fare free argument is the issue of (electoral) politics. A candidate made fare free transit a significant priority in their campaign. To what extent does that mobilize a coalition and voters? IDK, but policy (can) have political feedback loops.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
483 employees and almost 1000 positions overall were eliminated at ODOT today. Even when the OR Leg acts the damage has been done. Next time an elected suggests that public transportation isn’t a “core service,” ask them about the tens of millions of rides each year. Are those all luxury trips?
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
This article is from May. The transportation bill passed out of committee in Oregon yesterday would raise the payroll tax to .3% and generate ~500m annually once fully implemented. Vote in the legislature this week. So we’ll see…
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BikePortland @bikeportland.org · 27/06/2025
The bill picked up a Republican vote in the committee, which is a very positive sign as it heads to the House floor tomorrow. bikeportland.org/2025/06/26/t...
bikeportland.org
Transportation bill passes committee (again), now heads to floor vote
Dems have navigated rough waters and are on course for full passage.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 26/06/2025
Never forget that in US political discourse, the Pragmatic, Realistic position, the position that Understands Economics and puts away childish "luxury beliefs," is that US citizens cannot enjoy the public services & amenities enjoyed by citizens of virtually every other advanced democracy.
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Ryan Phillips @oregonryan.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
“Under the Defendants’ position, the Executive would be allowed to place any conditions it chose on congressionally appropriated funds, even when it would be entirely unrelated to the Dept’s purpose. Such is not how the three equal branches of gov’t are allowed to operate under our Constitution."
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