Oregon Department of Transportation director Matt Garrett misled lawmakers about his agency’s mistakes when he testified recently before a legislative committee. Even if you put the best possible spin on what Garrett said, he has undermined his credibility and the work of ODOT. How are Oregonians supposed to trust his agency to manage the $5.3 […]
Read More »
Economist, environmentalists fight project to redesign I-5/I-84 interchange in Rose Quarter As photo opportunities go, Gov. Kate Brown’s ceremonial signing of the new state $5.3 billion road-and-bridge funding bill on Tuesday, near the corner of Southeast 82nd and Division, was a huge success. Source: Pamplin Media Group – Just say ‘no’ to freeways
Portlanders are increasingly frustrated with traffic congestion, lengthy commutes and poor road conditions, but they are not ditching their cars. That’s according to a survey of 400 Portlanders commissioned by the Portland Business Alliance and TriMet. The survey, shared with The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday, found traffic congestion is the top transportation priority facing the city today. […]
Read More »
The Idaho and Oregon onion industry has already started making plans to ensure a proposed rail transload facility in Malheur County is done right. A planned rail transload facility in Oregon’s Malheur County could reduce transportation costs for onion shippers in the region but, perhaps more importantly, it could also speed up delivery times and […]
Read More »
Pension and tax reform need to be addressed. The Legislature closed its 2017 session a few days ahead of schedule, and there will be plenty of political posturing about the successes, missed opportunities and issues that need to be revisited. Many veteran lawmakers say the session was one of the toughest they’ve participated in and […]
Read More »
Oregon’s 2017 legislature is over and managed another patch job for the budget. It kicked the can until next time on more substantive, structural changes to deal with the state’s biannual budget crisis from such things as pension costs. But it did remember higher education and, specifically Oregon Tech, and what’s good for Oregon Tech […]
Read More »
Rep. Greg Barreto votes against transportation bill, district doesn’t get project earmarks The Oregon Legislature passed the $5.3 billion transportation package a day before the 2017 session ended, and although every town and county in Eastern Oregon will receive some sort of benefit from it, Pendleton was shut out when it came to earmarked projects. […]
Read More »
A $5.3 billion proposal to raise taxes and fees to pay for Portland-area congestion relief and transportation upgrades across Oregon passed the state House Wednesday. Source: $5.3 billion transportation upgrades plan passes Oregon House | OregonLive.com
The compromise measure will raise $5.3 billion over a 10-year period through hikes in gas tax, registration fees and other mechanisms. Rep. Caddy McKeown, co-chair of the joint transportation committee, summed up 18 months of work, and a bill of steep compromises, with this: “We aimed for the sun and landed on the moon.” Source: […]
Read More »
There’s gloom in the Oregon Legislature these days, as prospects appear to be dimming that lawmakers will be able to pass a transportation package to help up shore up the state’s roads and bridges. Before we go any further, though, a word to the wise: It’s true that the Legislature faces a July 10 deadline […]
Read More »
