« Rex in a Box? | Main | Planning Commission Disses the Couplet »
February 28, 2007
Agreeing with ODOT
ODOT Region 1 director Jason Tell (mislabled James Tell in the print edition) has an opinion piece in Friday's Trib bemoaning the state of transportation funding here in Oregon.
While I don't always agree with ODOT about modernization (i.e., new capacity) projects (hightlighed in an article in the same issue: "Caution: bump in road"), Jason nails it that our system of funding transpotation here in Oregon is broken. We can't even maintain the system we have. The legislature, and the people who elect them, need to step up to reality.
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:43 AM
Comments
February 28, 2007 10:09 AM
Ross Williams Says:
We can't even maintain the system we have. The legislature, and the people who elect them, need to step up to reality.
I see no evidence that new funding will be used to maintain the current system. It will get spent on shiny new projects instead.
February 28, 2007 10:47 AM
Terry Parker Says:
One of the biggest problems is that motorist paid transportation funds continue to be siphoned off to pay for other modes of transport such as bicycle infrastructure, transit and aesthetics. A stool with only one leg has problems staying upright. Just more proof bicyclists should be directly taxed to pay for bicycle infrastructure and transit fares must better reflect the costs of providing the service
February 28, 2007 10:49 AM
Richard Says:
,on shiny new projects, like 205 light rail, Transit Mall, Washington County commuter rail, streetcar extensions, light rail extension, TODs, etc. because "studies" 20 years ago showed they are "alternatives", to sanity.
Ross, really man where do you live?
February 28, 2007 6:05 PM
Ross Williams Says:
on shiny new projects, like 205 light rail, Transit Mall, Washington County commuter rail, streetcar extensions, light rail extension, TODs, etc. because "studies" 20 years ago showed they are "alternatives", to sanity.
FYI - the state gas tax is constitutionally dedicated to road infrastructure. Not one dime goes to transit. And you apparently haven't looked at a a very long list of new infrastructure that is being built under OTIA - indcluding an interchange at Jackson School Road and Highway 26 among others.
The fact is that ODOT is not adequately maintaining current roads and some will have to be rebuilt at great expense in the future because they didn't receive much less expensive preventive maintenance.
