Latest news with #RoadUsage
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Oregon lawmakers unveil $1.9B transportation package amid ‘crumbling infrastructure'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon lawmakers unveiled plans for a $1.9 billion transportation package on Thursday, amid concerns over deteriorating roads and bridges across the state. The Oregon Transportation ReInvestment Package was announced by Joint Committee on Transportation Co-Chairs Rep. Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro) and Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham), who said 'urgent action is needed this session' to build a stable transportation system for the 21st century. According to the co-chairs, Oregon's transportation systems 'are in crisis,' as more than 90 state-owned bridges have major structural issues, some school zones lack sidewalks and potholes go months without repair. The transportation co-chairs further that without sufficient funding, essential workers at transportation agencies will face layoffs, including jobs responsible for clearing traffic accidents, road striping, road repairs and plowing roads over winter. DON'T MISS: National Transportation Safety Board report shows concerns over bridge conditions in the Pacific Northwest Among the provisions in the $1.9 billion package are increases in fees such as the fuels tax, Department of Motor Vehicles fees, and road usage charges. Almost 90% of the investments in the State Highway Fund will go towards operations, maintenance and preservation efforts in state infrastructure, such as paving priority routes, restoring bridges and improving road and pedestrian infrastructure. Remaining funds will go towards previous projects under the last transportation package. TRIP includes a 20-cent per gallon fuels tax increase – starting with an eight-cent increase January 1, 2026, before transitioning to four-cent increases every year through 2032. The co-chairs noted that Oregon was the first state in the nation to impose a gas tax in 1919, which has since helped pay for state transportation. However, McLain and Gorsek argue that Oregon is facing 'modern transportation challenges,' such as increased freight traffic, a growing population, and a rapid increase in electric and fuel-efficient vehicles – which contribute less to the fuels tax. Instagram account of 'reckless' blue pickup driver strikes fear in Portland online community To ensure all drivers pay their share for road use, TRIP proposed a phased-in Road Usage Charge for electric vehicles. TRIP states that vehicles can enroll with the RUC program or pay a flat RUC annual fee. Once enrolled, EVs would no longer pay higher registration fees. Additionally, the proposal could bring higher DMV feed to Oregonians, including a $66 rise in vehicle registration fees and a $90 increase in title fees. The proposal also includes an over $16 increase for weight-mile fees. The package also seeks $486 million through a one-time system user fee on all vehicles at the time of purchase at 1% of the vehicle price. Lawmakers note that Oregon is one of five states that does not have this revenue stream. Oregon is doling out $11M in unclaimed funds. Here's how to find out if you're owed money Other investments would go towards infrastructure for buses, rail, bicycles and pedestrians — including $17 million to maintain Amtrak service levels and an increase in the state bike tax. The current bike tax stands at $15 per bike with a sale price of at least $200. The proposal suggests increasing the bike tax by $9.50 for a total $24.50 bike tax at the point of sale. According to TRIP, this tax would increase state revenue by about $1 million per year. Another 'key' part of the bill, according to the co-chairs: accountability. McLain and Gorsek said there is broad bipartisan support for oversight of the Oregon Department of Transportation to make sure tax dollars are used effectively. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The package comes after a bipartisan group of lawmakers held a 13-stop transportation listening tour in 2024 to learn about local infrastructure concerns in places including Portland, Tillamook, Eugene, Medford, Bend and Ontario. Using those stops to frame TRIP, the transportation committee co-chairs highlighted the importance of increased investments. 'From public testimony in committee, to last year's statewide transportation listening tour, Oregonians have been clear that they want action, not delay,' Rep. McLain said. 'They want clean, safe streets. They want reliable public transit. They want to know the bridges their children cross every day are structurally sound.' Oregon Department of Education ends math, literacy programs after federal funding cuts 'Oregon TRIP is focused on the safety and maintenance of our roads, bridges and transit — not just for today, but for years to come,' Sen. Gorsek said. 'Inaction is not only irresponsible, it's dangerous. This framework is a starting point and we are looking forward to sitting down with stakeholders and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to finalize a package this session.' Senator Gorsek added that investing in transportation will also give Oregon an economic boost. 'Bad transportation infrastructure is more than just an inconvenience, it harms Oregon's economy. Employees need to be able to get to work, businesses and truckers need to be able to move goods, students need to be able to get to school,' Sen. Gorsek said. 'At a time when everyday costs are already too high, we cannot afford to allow crumbling infrastructure to undermine Oregon's economy.' 'They've had enough': Clackamas County workers union vote to authorize strike in unprecedented move McLain and Gorsek said a team of external transportation experts are currently reviewing ODOT's project delivery and accounting practices with the Joint Oversight Committee on Transportation. Results from the review will be released in May and incorporated into the final transportation package. 'This framework is grounded in fairness and accountability,' Rep. McLain said. 'It ensures every user of the system pays their fair share and includes oversight from a bipartisan committee and independent transportation experts. But most importantly, it puts the focus where it's urgently needed: operations, safety, and maintenance.' In response to the proposed transportation package, the Oregon House Republican Caucus called for more accountability and less spending for 'ODOT's failures.' 'The Democrats' tone-deaf proposal throws more money at a system that has repeatedly failed to recognize that its core mission is to provide safe and reliable roads and bridges,' said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). 'A dozen new taxes and fees is a slap in the face to all Oregonians that simply can't afford to pay more for less.' 'Since the beginning of this session, House Republicans have pressed ODOT on budgeting errors, incomplete projects, and mishandling of tax dollars,' said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. 'It's shocking that in spite of Oregonians' resounding rejection of the tire tax proposal, Democrats are doubling down on this tax at a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet.' Oregon Supreme Court allows class action lawsuit against Tillamook County Creamery Association to proceed The transportation package comes amid a budget shortfall at the Oregon Department of Transportation. In a statement to KOIN 6 News on Friday, ODOT Director Kris Strickler said the funding included in TRIP is necessary after 'historic underfunding' for the agency. 'Oregon's transportation system needs a sustainable funding source so Oregonians can travel safely across the state,' Strickler said. 'This framework outlines a necessary shift away from historic underfunding to sustainably fund the maintenance and operation of Oregon's transportation system.' In August of 2024, ODOT announced the agency was facing a $354 million budget shortfall — warning the agency could see large job cuts and significant increases in response times in some areas of the state if the agency doesn't receive needed funding in 2025. Feds crack down on illegal 'Portland Sunday Market' selling LSD, ecstacy and mushrooms ODOT discussed the potential budget shortfall during an Aug. 1 Oregon Transportation Committee , where ODOT representatives explained where the agency would stand if it does not receive a boost in funding, as first reported by OPB. 'We're looking at a budget shortfall with three main issues. We're seeing revenues start to flatten, and we expect them to decline at the same time our costs are going up. We were paying more for everything from paint to equipment to concrete and asphalt. And lastly, we are not able to move funds around,' ODOT Spokesperson Katherine Benenati previously told KOIN 6 News. During the meeting, ODOT Budget Manager Russ Casler said, 'We would be purchasing half of what we do today.' ODOT stressed that the reduced budget, potential job cuts, and decreased supplies could lead to slower response times, noting they're already operating under a lower level of service than is ideal. 'We would have to redistribute our resources and maintenance in a different way than we are today. This would mean we would not be doing a lot of things we are doing today,' said Casler. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pay-by-mile is getting closer to reality in Washington
This story was originally published on After more than a decade of tabletop exercises, pilot programs and studies, the legislature is finally going to take up the Road Usage Charge (RUC). The plan to have us pay-by-mile will have its first hearing on Thursday. The gas tax just doesn't cut it anymore. I have been reporting on this idea for more than a decade. Fuel-efficient cars get better gas mileage and pay less gas tax. Electric vehicles don't use gas, and their owners don't pay gas taxes for the upkeep of roads. We know the legislature fails to fund the maintenance and preservation of roads by a billion dollars a year. Is pay-by-mile the answer for a fairer, more stable road funding source? State Representative Jake Fey, a Democrat from Tacoma, has finally introduced a bill to start the RUC program. I spoke with the House Transportation Committee Chair last year about whether now was the time to get started. 'We need to set things in motion,' he said. 'It's going to take some time to get this all in place and to do it in a way that's that is going to be very workable, but the longer we put it off, the more we find ourselves to be in a hole.' As Representative Fey announced Thursday's hearing, his office made the case for starting the RUC by saying gas tax revenue will decline by over 70% by 2050. To keep pace, his office said the gas tax would have to go up from its current $0.494 a gallon to nearly $2 a gallon over the same time. If the situation is so dire, I asked Representative Fey why there hasn't been any urgency to transition to this. 'I try to listen to people, and I think they're frustrated that we haven't made a lot of progress, other than doing some interesting studies,' he said. 'It was time to actually set this in motion because our gasoline revenues are not going to grow.' Here's how the Road Usage Charge would work The plan is for the RUC to eventually replace the gas tax, though that is not mentioned specifically in House Bill 1921. It would charge drivers $0.026 a mile for every mile they drive. That's up from the $0.024 a mile that had always been on the table. The money raised would be protected by the 18th Amendment, just like the gas tax and earmarked specifically for the preservation and maintenance of highway purposes. But this bill goes beyond the original road usage plans by also charging drivers an extra assessment — equal to 10% of your yearly RUC charge — that would go to other modes, like rail, bikes, pedestrians and public transportation. You would pay the RUC when you renew your tabs. And here is where it gets really messy. Drivers would pay the gas tax at the pump and be charged the RUC at the same time. Your gas tax would then be credited toward your RUC at renewal. 'For a gas vehicle, it's going to be a reconciliation,' Fey said. 'You're not going to stop collecting gas tax at the pump.' That's because our transportation projects are bonded against the gas tax and those bonds need to be paid back with the gas tax. Also compounding things, the state doesn't know how to do that reconciliation. This bill only refers to the state having to figure that out later. If passed by the legislature, EVs and hybrids would be able to start a voluntary program in 2027. Gas vehicles, with better than 20 miles a gallon, can start a voluntary program in 2029. This would become mandatory for EVs and hybrids in 2029 and mandatory for the most fuel efficient gas vehicles in 2031. It would start with a straight odometer read when renewing your tabs. Plans for wireless or GPS-based tracking would follow as an option. The bill does mention that the privacy of the owner is a 'first principle,' as it pertains to location data. There are no plans to track travel patterns or locations. Check out more of Chris' Chokepoints here. You can also follow Chris on X. Head here to follow KIRO Newsradio Traffic's profile on X
