Don't Complain Without a Solution...
Other States are facing transportation funding problems... Diversion concerns... and "What's in Your Wallet?"
In Short
Article 1 - Michigan is said to be looking for $1 Billion dollars a year in order to repair their roads and infrastructure. With a dwindling gas tax, as their main source of revenue, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is looking at an Road Usage Charge (RUC). This is similar to Oregon’s Vehicle Mileage Tax (VMT) that has been in use, on a voluntary basis, for the past few years.
To say we might not want tolling means we need a solution to funding our maintenance and infrastructure. Is a RUC or VMT the answer? It is definitely equitable.
Article 2 - The Lake Oswego City Council chimed in and called out ODOT earlier this month. Concerns of traffic diversion on Stafford, McVey and Rosemont along with Hwy 43 are of major concern. ODOT’s Mandy Putney was quoted as saying, “Our analysis shows that there are limited impacts…”
Lake Oswego is one of the border cities to the I-205 tolling project, grouped in with Oregon City, Gladstone, West Linn and Tualatin. Diversion looks to dissect many of these cities and the neighborhoods in the near future.
Article 3 - We have stated before, ODOT needs money for maintenance and road improvements. The question is, where does that money come from?
On today’s economic horizon there is much uncertainty and fear. We need to be prudent with how we spend our money and where. Considering ODOT wants a minimal $650 to $2,200 annually for the local business commuter we thought we would raise the banner of “what another bill” might look like for today’s family.
This is a study on how many consumers are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Note too that this article is from August 2022… before higher interest rates and further economic concerns.
Article 4 - This is the link to the Environmental Assessment. Note that you have to scroll down a little for the EA and the Appendix’s are below that.
Weekly Articles
Michigan's $1 Billion funding problem
Lake Oswego council unsatisfied with tolling mitigation proposals
Easy answer to the problem. As EVs don't pay any tax for running on the state's roads, charge them an additional $200 each time they update their registration. Although I'm sure the state would piss that money away vice using it to make our roads safe.
Tolling is not the answer. Tolling is to redirect traffic to a less busy time..... we don't have any, maybe 1-2 hrs at the most on any major highway. Want to find money to spend? Do what private sector does and start cutting and spending better. We have 4 DOT's in the area, yet we cannot get new highways, roads or bridges built? Are you really going to tell the public that all these DOT's are run so effeciently that they cannot cut anywhere? We all see the road crews standing around on projects, while one person works. The "city that works" is the biggest joke or the area. Are wages in line at the DOT's? Why do you need Metro and DOT's. Can that not be consolidated and give someone a little more work? Are you really getting 8 hours work out of your staff? Is there really no way to consolidate jobs? You don't have to terminate people, just get more done with what you have! I am so tired of government asking for more money and never looking in the mirror first. Be more efficient and you won't need more money. Quit wasting money on green boxes and white lines for bikes that represent less than 1% of our traveling workers. Quit wasting Millions on a train system that you yourself say only moves 3% of the population- that is just irresponsible! The average commute time in Portland Metro has gone from 25 minutes to 45 minutes. Thanks to Max you now have 97% of cars, putting out emissions an extra 20 minutes a day (10 minutes each way), and thats conservative- adding to our carbon ouput instead of reducing it. That's a failed system, it's had decades and does not work. Add roads and lanes with that money, and get cars off the road quicker and reduce our carbon footprint.