Statewide Transportation Bill Approved By Oregon Legislators

PORTLAND, OR — Oregon State Legislators last week approved a statewide transportation improvement plan that will raise $5.3 billion over the next 10 years to repair and improve the state's transportation infrastructure.

According to Robin Maxey, spokesman for Senate President Peter Courtney, House Bill 2017 seeks to accomplish five specific goals identified by the 14-member joint transportation committee: reduce congestion, increase alternate transportation options, invest in maintenance and preservation, improve the safety of existing infrastructure, and ensure accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent.

In a statement, Co-Chair Sen. Lee Beyer (D-Springfield) praised the future possibilities secured through the bill's passage. (Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Portland Patch.)

"Transportation is essential to the quality of Oregonian's lives and the vitality of Oregon's economy," said Beyer, who led the joint committee with House Co-Chair Rep. Caddy McKeown (D-Coos Bay), and Vice Co-Chairs Sen. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas) and Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario). "For too long our system has been falling in to disrepair. The investments in HB 2017 will move freight more efficiently, reduce congestion in our cities, make our roads and bridges safer and expand mass transit options from border to border."

Overall, the bill will raise funds to seismically reinforce and improve bridges, highways, and culverts across the state; improve the frequency and connectivity of public transportation in both urban and rural communities; provide $10 million per year for Safe Routes to School initiatives, which will increase to $15 million per year by 2023; add six rest areas and three state parks to the list of facilities managed by the Travel Information Council, as well as upgrade existing facilities; provide $12 million per year in rebates to promote the use of electric and other zero-emissions vehicles; and fund marine dredging and derelict vessel removal operations.

In the Portland area, specifically, the bill will allow for investments to widen Interstate-205 northbound from Powell Boulevard to Interstate-84; relieve bottleneck congestion on Highway 217; and add news lanes to Interstate-5 at the Rose Quarter.

"This is an exciting and impressive package of transportation projects and maintenance funds for our entire state but also the city of Portland," Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman said in a statement. "I look forward to working with community partners, our employees and the private sector in bringing good projects and needed maintenance to Portland's streets due to this unprecedented level of investment. Thank you Oregon legislators and Governor for working hard and making this happen."

This bill marks the first transportation-centric funding investment approved by state legislators since 2009.

Funding for all the improvements will come from vehicle registration and title fees, fuels and new light vehicle dealer privilege taxes, and a statewide payroll tax (the sum for which will be designated entirely to public transportation investments).

"Oregon's rural transportation system is crumbling and outdated while cities are clogged with congestion. This plan takes a smart, responsible approach to preserving our existing infrastructure and investing in a system for the next two decades," Boquist said in a statement. "It's not just enough to simply raise funds blindly. The accountability measures in HB 2017 seek to ensure that Oregonians get known infrastructure improvements and congestion relief for their investment."

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