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May 8, 2009
Transportation group to select potential road work
Legislators want to be sure some of the projects can get started soon
By Peter Wong
Statesman Journal
As part of a deal to raise fuel taxes and vehicle fees, the Oregon Transportation Commission agreed
Thursday to send lawmakers a big shopping list of highway and bridge projects they can pick from.
The list tops $15 billion, far less than what any package of tax increases would raise.
Chairwoman Gail Achterman said she was concerned that lawmakers would pick expensive projects
that are years off.
"I think we have to make a clearer distinction than this list does between projects that are going to be
able to be delivered within a fixed period, and those that don't have dates on them," she said.
But Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said lawmakers would settle mostly on projects that
have already been reviewed by the commission and regional panels — and that are far enough along
that they can be built soon.
Courtney said the total would be whittled down to $800 million or $900 million.
"We're going to pick from their project list, even though we've already picked them," Courtney said at a
meeting of the Statesman Journal editorial board.
"Then we're going to send the projects back to the commission, which will say go. Every project we will
choose has been officially chosen by the commission and listed as a project that we should do in this
state."
The list includes some projects, such as enlargement of the Woodburn interchange on Interstate 5 and a
third bridge spanning the Willamette River in Salem, that are far from being ready for construction.
But Courtney said lawmakers will consider whether projects can create jobs in the next couple of years.
"We have to come up with a major job-creation program — and (transportation projects) will do it," he
said.
For every $1 million spent on heavy construction, 11 direct jobs are created, according to state
transportation officials.
Lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement on a package raising $300 million annually, less than
the $500 million proposed Nov. 10 by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
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Among the proposed increases are 6 cents in the state gasoline tax, now 24 cents per gallon; $16 in the
vehicle registration fee, now $54 for two years; and $23 in the current title fee of $100.
The gasoline tax would go up on Jan. 1, 2011, or after Oregon's employment rate grows for two
consecutive quarters — whichever comes first.
Fuel taxes and vehicle and license fees can be used only for road work.
According to a long-standing formula, the state would get half the money raised, counties 30 percent
and cities 20 percent.
Part of the state's share may be used to repay bonds, which would enable the state to raise money to
do more projects.
House Bill 2001, which would contain the increases, is pending in the House Revenue Committee. It will
require 60 percent majorities in both chambers for approval.
Kulongoski, in a letter to lawmakers last week, had threatened to veto any tax bill that tied money to
specific projects.
"If we are going to ask legislators to vote for a gas tax and increase the car registration and license fees,
we believe we have to show where the money is going to go," Courtney said.
pwong@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6745
Potential transportation projects
Additional Facts
These are the potential Mid-Valley highway projects that the Oregon Transportation Commission
suggested Thursday to lawmakers as part of a transportation funding package.
Some projects already have undergone commission review; others are part of a list of "modernization"
projects that lawmakers ordered in 2007, but that have not yet completed environmental review or been
designed.
ALREADY REVIEWED
HIGHWAY 22: At Doaks Ferry Road in West Salem; land acquisition for future project, $300,000 (2012).
INTERSTATE 5: At Kuebler Boulevard interchange in South Salem; realign southbound exit ramp, $15
million (2011), and improve local street access to Mill Creek industrial site, $4 million (2012).
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HIGHWAY 221: (Wallace Road): At Glen Creek Road in West Salem; rebuild intersection and add a
second left-turn lane, $8.7 million (2011).
HIGHWAY 99W: At Bethel Road near Perrydale, raise road grade, cut bank embankment, add
delineation and left-turn refuge, $1.8 million (2010).
HIGHWAY 214: At Cascade Highway in Silverton, correct alignment to improve sight distance, $1.5
million (2010).
HIGHWAY 99E: At Young Street, Woodburn, increase turning radius and relocate signal poles, $600,000
(2011).
OTHER MODERNIZATION proposals
INTERSTATE 5: Woodburn interchange, increase safety and capacity, $70 million (2015).
HIGHWAY 22: Interchange with Highway 51 west of Salem, build new frontage roads, $20 million
(2014).
INTERSTATE 5: Kuebler Boulevard to Linn County line (about 12 miles), add third travel lane in each
direction, $500 million, no date.
HIGHWAY 22: Gaffin Road to 25th Street SE in Salem, add third travel lane from Interstate 5 to 25th
Street, grade-separated intersection at 25th Street, possible upgrades of interchanges at I-5 and
Lancaster Drive, $100 million, no date.
HIGHWAY 18: Widen from Van Duzer corridor to Steel Bridge Road, also new interchanges at Grand
Ronde Road and Valley Junction (Highway 22), $100 million, no date.
HIGHWAY 22: New bridge across the Willamette River, $670 million, no date.
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