Comment by Nov. 21 on Draft STIF Rules

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 11/17/2017 03:29 PM PST

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Nov. 17, 2017

Comments encouraged on STIF draft General and Formula Fund rules by November 21

ODOT encourages public transportation providers, government and non-profit partners and community members to participate in an online survey on the draft General and Formula Fund rules for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund by November 21. The survey opened on November 7.

Comments and questions on any section of STIF rule content are welcome at any time and may be directed to: Karyn Criswell, project manager, karyn.c.criswell@odot.state.or.us.

About the STIF

On July 6, 2017 the Oregon State Legislature passed Keep Oregon Moving (HB 2017), which makes significant multi-modal transportation investments in Oregon. The law went into effect on October 6, 2017.

Section 122 of this law provides statewide funding for public transportation services through a new payroll tax of one-tenth of one percent on wages paid to employees. Proceeds from the payroll tax will be deposited into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund, or STIF. The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin assessing the tax on or after July 1, 2018. The programs funded by these revenues will be operative on or after January 1, 2019, with funding distributions as follows:

  • Ninety percent by formula to counties without a mass transit district or transportation district, mass transit districts, transportation districts, and federally-recognized tribes;
  • Five percent to public transportation service providers based on a competitive grant program;
  • Four percent to public transportation service providers to improve public transportation between two or more communities based on a competitive grant program; and
  • One percent to ODOT to establish a statewide public transportation technical resource center to assist public transportation providers in rural areas with training, planning, and information technology.

The ODOT Rail and Public Transit Division will work with the Oregon Transportation Commission, the STIF Rules Advisory Committee, and key stakeholders to develop rules that specify the processes and procedures for administering the new programs. The first grant agreements for distribution of the 90 percent formula funds are planned to be executed by January 1, 2019; and the agreements for the competitive programs by July 1, 2019.

Spread the word!

Encourage your partners to sign up to receive STIF rulemaking email announcements at Register at GovDelivery.com. If you received this email from the Oregon Department of Transportation, you are already signed up to receive STIF rulemaking email announcements. Introduce STIF to your partners using the information above.