House and Senate pass transportation bill

In recent weeks, when it became clear that the transportation bill moving through the Legislature was not the balanced package agreed upon during the advisory process, the BTA joined a coalition of sustainability groups lobbying to restore balance in HB 2001. We also asked you, our members and friends, to write or call legislators to improve the bill. Collectively we helped maintain and restore the positive aspects, but the final version of the package fell short of our expectations.

Here’s a breakdown of the bill soon to be signed into law by the Governor. Click here to read the full text of the bill.

The good:
HB 2001 increases the total amount of state transportation funding, which means more dollars for bicycles and pedestrians – about $5.6 million about $3 million of additional funding per year, despite no increase in the 1% minimum bike and pedestrian funding.

Local communities throughout the state will also benefit from the increased funding. Fifty percent of the state transportation dollars go to cities and counties, while ODOT receives the other fifty percent. In Portland, the transportation department expects to spend about 12% of state funding on bike, ped and safety projects.

The bill created the Urban Trail Fund for off-highway transportation corridors, with expected $1 million seed. The Oregon Transportation Commission also set aside $24 million for non-highway projects. We will advocate that at least a third goes towards bicycle and pedestrian projects.

It also established a congestion pricing pilot program in Portland within three years.

The bad:
No increase in minimum bike and ped funding to 1.5%.

The ugly:
Included $840 million in earmarks for highway projects.

Allocated $192 million for the construction of the new Newberg-Dundee bypass.

Legislated that two-thirds of the new ODOT spending will go towards building new highway capacity and interchanges.