Transportation Policy

Background

A functioning transportation system is imperative for economic health. People and goods need to move safely and efficiently. The indisputable importance of transportation to Oregon’s competitiveness demands credible, accountable, collaborative and reliable policymaking, leadership and management by the state. Oregon continues to lag peer states that prioritize and deliver transportation investments and infrastructure. Credible investment and funding models are important to the long-term viability of our state’s transportation infrastructure. That credibility is rooted in sustainability, affordability, feasibility, balance and – importantly – return on investment. Oregonians cannot be expected to pay more for a system that delivers less. As critical as the conversation about “how much” is the conversation about “what, why and how well.” As some projects remain unfinished from years-old investment packages and others have markedly exceeded budgeted amounts, the state needs to take a serious look at the business of executing on its promises to Oregonians footing the bills because the status quo will not advance public trust or beneficial outcomes.

OBI’s transportation policy principles:

2017 Projects: OBI supports the completion of HB 2017 (2017) transportation package projects such as the Rose Quarter Interchange and I-205 Abernathy Bridge projects. Delivery of the commitments made in 2017, based on the need to resolve mobility challenges, is essential to OBI’s support of future investments in transportation funding.

Accountability, Transparency and Efficiency: OBI supports measures that reduce project costs and delays while improving accountability, transparency and efficiency. Accountability, transparency and efficiency should be embedded throughout transportation policy and agency operations to maximize resources and the efficient and effective delivery of projects and services.

Equitable Cost Allocation: OBI supports a highway cost allocation system that ensures that road users are paying according to their relative impact on the transportation system consistent with the constitutional requirement.

Interstate Bridge: OBI supports Oregon’s collaboration with the state of Washington to replace the Interstate 5 bridge according to the funding mechanisms established by the bistate legislative committee. OBI opposes changes in the funding formula that would increase business costs.

Minimizing Costs: OBI opposes regulations from state agencies or other provisions that unnecessarily increase the cost of transportation and transportation projects.

New and Existing Highway Revenue: OBI supports long-term, sustainable funding streams for the state’s roads, bridges and resiliency needs that are commensurate with highway users’ impacts on the system. OBI supports equitable revenue mechanisms that ensure all vehicle types, irrespective of fuel source, share the cost of the transportation system and that revenue is dedicated to the state highway trust fund. OBI opposes funding schemes that tax the same mile twice or impose a sales-based tax.

Operations and Maintenance Activities: OBI supports addressing the budgetary needs for operations and maintenance to improve movement of freight and people, prevent further deterioration of the transportation system, improve safety and maintain services that support business needs.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Projects: Bicycle and pedestrian (bike/ped) infrastructure serves an important role in overall mobility. However, increases in bike/ped projects utilizing revenue collected from highway users reduce funding available for road projects. OBI supports new or enhanced revenue mechanisms for bike/ped projects generated from users of bike/ped infrastructure.

Public Transit: Public transit serves an essential function to many Oregonians, reduces impacts on the transportation system and improves congestion. However, public transit has faced increasing public safety and ridership challenges and, in some communities, enforcement of fares. OBI supports public transit funding provided there are clear benefits to communities and businesses. OBI opposes increased public transit funding that is not accompanied by provisions aimed at improving public safety, addressing challenges negatively impacting rider experience and resulting in diminished ridership, and enforcing fare recovery. OBI supports revenue sources that fund critical public services that will not place a disproportionate burden on state or regional employers and employees. OBI opposes the creation of new funding mechanisms that increase costs to businesses.

Tolling: OBI supports tolling as long as revenue is and remains dedicated exclusively to identified projects with a clear nexus to where the toll is collected and initiated for the purpose of both funding and maintaining major infrastructure projects. OBI opposes generalized tolling, sweeping funds, tolling on one project to benefit a separate project, congestion pricing and tolling with no ascertainable benefit to infrastructure and those paying the toll.