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Hello,
Here are updates from this week:
Stop Freeway Tolls
Tolls are imminent in Oregon as two new tolls are planned for I-205 early next year. I am a Chief Sponsor of a bipartisan bill to prevent tolls on I-205 and I-5. Here is one of the many recent articles about it.
In the case of the coming I-205 tolls, residents are correctly worried that instead of taking the freeway, people will clog city streets and impact commerce. For my district, this would happen in Canby and rural Oregon City.
Many residents are still stunned we are even at this point. So how did we get here?
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The history starts in 2017 when legislators approved HB 2017, a transportation package that included tolling.
From there, the legislature directed the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) to investigate tolling on Oregon’s major I-5 and I-205 freeways.
In 2018, the OTC applied to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to request clarity and continue the process of implementing tolls in Oregon.
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This application was followed by guidance from the FHWA in 2019. 2020 brought an ODOT-led initiative to engage with and educate Oregonians regarding an I-205 toll project.
In 2021, the legislature passed a bill requiring ODOT to study income-based rates before tolling could be implemented. Gov. Kate Brown signed HB 3055, which provided financing options for the “I-205 Improvements Project”, slated to begin in the summer of 2022. In 2023, ODOT released a draft of the environmental assessment of I-205 tolling.
Bringing us to today, with the earliest I-205 tolling beginning in 2024.
Natural Gas, Affordability
I spoke on the Senate Floor again about natural gas as a business owner. The benefits of natural gas include its availability, significant domestic supply, well-established distribution network, low cost, and low emissions.
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It is an affordable and clean energy that is part of a balanced system in Oregon.
We should not be going away from natural gas and forcing people into more expensive sources of energy.
We should all watch out for HB 3152.
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The predictable negative impacts on Oregonians are worth tabling this bill indefinitely.
Visit from Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer
I had the pleasure of welcoming and introducing Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer to the Senate Floor. Watch my remarks here.
Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the first Republican woman to represent Oregon in the House, and she serves Oregon's 5th congressional district.
 From left to right: Senator Daniel Bonham, Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Representative Shelly Boshart Davis
Constituent Moments
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Thank you to Pastor Justin from Grandview Baptist Church in Beavercreek for coming to my office. I am especially grateful for the chance to pray together and for the framed Oregon Constitution - written in 1pt. font! |
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I also had a great conversation with constituents from the Wasco Electric Cooperative.
Founded in 1940, the area served by Wasco Electric Cooperative, Inc has grown to over 5,000 square miles in five counties – Wasco, Sherman, Jefferson, Gilliam, and Wheeler.
They boast over 3,000 members with 1,685 miles of electricity lines.
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I will be back next week!
Until then,
Senator Daniel Bonham
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-423, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.DanielBonham@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bonham
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