Portland Bureau of Transportation

In May 2017, Willamette Week first reported PBOT's maintenance leader had subjected subordinates to various forms of hazing, such as shooting BBs and popcorn kernels at them.[11] The report obtained by the paper which was based on interviews with nine employees characterized the workplace culture at PBOT maintenance shop as a place of "violence, hazing and bigotry inside a shop that prizes loyalty and punishes "snitching."[11] The investigation was focused around a longtime city employee Jerry Munson who was the crew leader for the "liner crew" maintenance branch. After learning of hazing, city officials transferred the "ring leader" and terminated one of the whistleblowers.[12][13] An internal investigation of the agency later yielded a pattern of "workplace harassment, intimidation, discrimination, dishonesty, retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation and physical violence".[14] One victim, Adam Rawlins, said that between Augusts 2016 and December 2016, he had been subject to numerous pranks by other employees while he was working at PBOT. His lawsuit, which sought $250,000, indicated that pranks included "being locked in a dark shed while being bound with duct tape and zip ties."[15][16] The city settled with Rawlins for $80,000 citing "risk the city may be found liable."[16]

The parking enforcement division under PBOT enforces city's parking regulations per title 16 chapter 16.10 of city code.[17] A consultant report obtained by The Oregonian reported Parking Enforcement Division's method is "unprofessional and leaves room for “favoritism” and “illegal conduct"[18]

A PBOT Parking Enforcement Division parking enforcement officer Barbara Lorraine Peterson, a special police officer[19] was convicted of official misconduct in May 2014 for her role in tipping off and accepting kickback for each vehicle tagged as abandoned to illegal tow truck operators whom in turn took them to a crushing yard.[20] This followed an investigation into auto theft.[21] It was found that more than three dozen vehicle owners were victims of illegal scrapping operation in which Peterson had a role. Under standard procedures, vehicles identified as abandoned are tagged, and the owners are given 72 hours to take care of it. Instead, a PBOT parking enforcement officer was tipping off rogue tow truck drivers soon after they were tagged and they took them to a crushing yard before 72 hours had elapsed. The officer in question received a kickback from the tow truck operators for each vehicle she tipped off.[20]

The Oregonian reports PBOT's then director Leah Treat signed off on hiring Millicent Williams, a candidate with felony conviction[22] for her role in diverting funds from a non-profit she was leading. She started with a salary of $112,000 in January, 2017[23] and remained in this position until 2020, then served as the deputy director until May 2021.[24] Williams pleaded guilty for "diverting $100,000 intended for youth programs to pay for a 2009 inaugural ball."[25] Williams returned to PBOT as the bureau director in July 2023.[2]

In May 2017, PBOT announced that they were launching mobile payment service Parking Kitty, which would allow drivers to pay for parking through a mobile app.[26]

The bureau's total FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget is $376.0 million. Of that amount, the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2016-17 totals $91.1 million[27] During FY 2014–15, the Bureau employed 749 staff members.[8] The managed assets totaled $8.4 billion in public assets from streets and bridges to traffic signals and street lights at the time Asset Status and Condition Report 2013 was published[28]

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has a roughly $309 million budget for FY 2014–15. The bulk of the money comes from year-to year carryover ($59 million), bonds and notes proceeds ($51 million), gas taxes ($62.7 million), contracts with other city agencies ($30.7 million), fees for permits and other services ($27.1 million) and parking meters ($25.4 million). Remaining sources included parking garages, the city's general fund, parking citations and local parking permits.[8]

The budget is then split into two categories: discretionary and restricted. Nearly two-thirds of the budget falls in the restricted category, meaning the Bureau must follow certain spending guidelines depending on where the money comes from.[29]

The Bureau's FY 2014–15 discretionary budget is $108.3 million in all. It was spent as follows: Operations ($28 million), maintenance ($27.9 million), overhead and administration ($14.5 million) and construction projects (11.3 million). Another $26 million was spent on various bureau programs, contingencies and reserves.[8][29]

The City of Portland paid $119,000 per month for SoloPower's default on a loan the City guaranteed under Mayor Sam Adams in 2011. The payments continued until October, 2020.[30] The money is taken out of Portland's Bureau of Transportation.[31][32] The Bureau of Transportation pays because parking-meter revenue was used as guaranty.[33]