SALEM— It’s been almost a year since state lawmakers met in Salem for a six-month legislative session and failed to update the Oregon Department of Transportation’s revenue streams.
That legislative session resulted in two failed attempts to pass transportation funding bills, followed by a special session months later, when Democrats finally had the votes needed to pass a transportation package. But that package was so unpopular that nearly 250,000 Oregonians signed a petition to block several tax and fee hikes included in the law until a statewide vote. That vote is scheduled for the May 19 primary election.
That’s the situation state transportation leaders outlined Friday to a panel of experts tasked with finding a solution to Oregon’s transportation funding crisis.
Gov. Tina Kotek said she has a lot of confidence in the 12-member workgroup she convened, which includes longtime-transportation and business experts.
“We all depend on a reliable transportation system, and frankly, our system here in Oregon is showing its age and we have work to do,” Kotek told the group at its first Friday meeting at transportation department headquarters in Salem.”I believe we’re losing out on economic development in our state because we don’t have the consistency and certainty that we need.”
The workgroup set goals to find a sustainable solution to fund the state’s transportation needs while also keeping drivers safe, supporting transportation systems that strengthen the state’s economy, investing in transportation for all Oregonians and recognizing the unique transportation needs of rural and urban Oregonians.
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