Looking into the future...
Can we anticipate the effects of tolling on business, family... or Oregon...
This past Friday morning we had a Key Leaders Breakfast put on by our Business Advocacy Council of the Tualatin Chamber. On our panel were distinguished members of the Oregon Legislature, Mayors, ODOT and the Trucking Industry.
For those in the room: business leaders, legislative assistants, concerned Oregonians and the press, the conversation was respectful but very much disjointed. It is obvious that Oregon has a transportation and funding problem. Unfortunately, it is also apparent that a united front, to solve these issues, is not being considered.
This week we look at costs, funding and the current ODOT project rolling into town.
In Short
Article 1 - Joe Cortright has hit our feeds numerous times this past year. This article, from the City Commentary, raises the question of how much will a project cost? And truly, is there ever a real budget?
In 2017, House Bill 2017 gave funding to a few transportation plans. Our question is who made up those budgets and where is the accountability for such? Joe seems to press the point even further.
Article 2 - In Central Oregon people are talking about tolling. That is, they are talking about tolling coming to Portland but… maybe coming to Bend, Oregon.
But, to The Bulletin’s main point, the question asked is how much people will pay if they are below the poverty line… or even above it.
Article 3 - John Ley, who follows tolling closely from the other side of the Columbia River… errr Washington, states, in a very detailed manner, the plans ODOT has for I-205 and I-5. These have also been laid out by us here over the last year but…
With the pause in tolling, through Governor Tina Kotek’s stroke of the pen, most of the Tri-County area has thought tolling is going away or they still know nothing about it… Seriously!
Well, tighten your seat belt cause The Regional Mobility Pricing Project is coming to 42 miles of Interstate near you!
Weekly Articles
City Commentary piece, pricing that is relevant...
Who will get a tolling discount...
The pain is in the details of this article from Clark County Today.com