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In continuing to develop the 2021-2024 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan, the Oregon Transportation Commission considered a presentation on the condition of the transportation system after the passage of House Bill 2017, the legislative transportation funding package, at its September meeting.
The presentation outlined the condition of various highway assets given the new funding from HB 2017. The bill, which directed most additional state highway funding to maintenance and preservation, also matched the public expectation to meet maintenance needs before the system is enhanced.
"With this infusion of funds, ODOT will be able to keep the system operating for the next decade or more, specifically addressing bridge and seismic needs, keeping our pavements in good condition, and tackling the critical and poor rated culverts on major highway routes," said Paul Mather, ODOT Highway Division Manager. However, the legislation didn't meet the full need outlined in the
Commission’s investment strategy, so conditions will begin to decline as the system ages - though more slowly than it otherwise would have.
In addition, HB 2017 has reporting requirements for each major asset. If changes are made to the current level of Fix-it funding, it will be evident in performance measures.
Next, the Commission heard a presentation on the Enhance Highway category, which funds the highway capacity expansion projects. HB 2017 added more than $600 million dollars in Enhance projects, but the Commission has the ability to add additional funds to enhance the transportation
system.
ODOT staff asked for feedback from the Commission on how to structure the Enhance funding
category. ODOT presented two basic options.
- Create a statewide pool of enhance funding and give discretion to the Area Commissions on Transportation. However, this would lessen the ability to leverage funds with existing Fix-it projects, and it may not meet all the statewide freight needs.
- Create targeted categories based on needs. In particular, ODOT region managers want the ability to add Enhance and Safety elements to Fix-it projects and leverage opportunities to partner with local community projects.
"The latter example you provided is exactly what I'd like to see happen," said Commission Chair Tammy Baney. "That sounds like good governance in terms of making sure that we are getting the right projects for the best community benefit."
Next, ODOT staff presented the Commission with funding allocation scenarios for the various categories in the overall STIP and asked for high level direction. The first scenario is called the "Base Case" and in essence stays in line with the existing policy direction from the Legislature and the existing policy the Commission set in the 2018-2021 STIP. ODOT will present alternative versions of this scenario that modify the amount of Enhance Highway funding to facilitate a discussion of tradeoffs between Enhance and Fix-it needs.
The Commission asked ODOT staff to come back in October to clarify all the funding categories in the total STIP - including funds from HB 2017 - to get a truer sense of the allocations within each category and show where the Commission has discretion to allocate additional funds.
In October the Commission will meet at their annual workshop along with representatives from the Area Commissions on Transportation, advisory committees, and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to further discuss more detailed funding scenarios.
For more information, see the memo
to the OTC on STIP development, watch the video
of the meeting or visit the STIP website.
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