- Be prepared for winter weather. Check out ODOT’s winter travel tips and check TripCheck before you go. Here are a few of ODOT’s tips for winter travel:
- Focus on driving. Put away distractions like cell phones and other electronic devices. Keep your hands on the wheel and your mind on the road.
- Watch out for each other, on and near the road. Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists who may be obscured by heavy rain or snow. Give extra room for trucks and other large vehicles.
- If you lose traction and your vehicle feels like it’s floating, gradually slow down. Don’t slam on the brakes.
- Know your route. Some roads are regularly maintained. Other roads, such as Forest Service roads, are maintained less frequently.
- Keep a safety kit in your vehicle.
- Start your trip with a full fuel tank or vehicle charge.
I have been writing for years that the revenue the state agency takes in from gas taxes, licensing and titling fees, and other sources was flattening out, even as costs were rising steeply.
Legislative leadership offered up a number of road-funding proposals this year that would have filled the budget gap. An initial version of House Bill 2025 would have raised around $14.6 billion over a decade from higher gas taxes, a new tax on car sales, an increase in registration fees and more. Much of the money would have been shared with city and county road departments that are also warning of dire shortfalls.
But many legislators in both parties eventually said the proposal was too expensive. When it became clear a major road-funding package didn’t have support, leadership and the Governor scrambled in the final day of session to pass a stop-gap bill to avoid cuts at ODOT. That failed to advance as well. ODOT then started executing layoff plans. Read more here.
A central argument against raising transportation revenue was the understanding that too many Oregonians already struggle with increasing costs for utilities and groceries or finding a place to live they can afford. Further increasing costs didn’t have the votes needed. But when the weather changes this fall, attention will shift to roadway safety. Disappearing fog lines, potholes, dangerous driving in snow and ice, and slow response to landslides and accidents may become more important than charging electric vehicles using our roads or a modest increase in gas taxes.
The economy in our part of Oregon depends on a reliable and safe transportation network to get people to work, take our products to market, and to bring visitors to our tourism communities.
Much has been said about a special session to address transportation. That would require work on a compromise and consensus solution, and two-thirds of the members actually showing up. Without a special session, I expect transportation to be front and center when we reconvene in January.
As news develops, I’ll do my best to keep readers current and well-informed.
As always, thanks for reading.