Transportation Bill Lobbying
In this May 17, 2012, file photo, the steel skeleton for the eastern end of the new Innerbelt Bridge in Cleveland sits next to the existing span.
(AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
UPDATED AT 7:57 p.m.
Congress ended its long logjam over transportation funding, a move that should produce an additional $235 million for Oregon over the next five years.
That's the word from Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who helped negotiate the $305 billion, five-year transportation bill that received final final congressional approval on Thursday.
DeFazio said the state will receive at least $2.6 billion in road and bridge funding over the next years and at least $500 million for transit.
In addition, the bill includes several provisions that Oregon transportation officials could use to compete for additional funding.
The Newberg-Dundee bypass, the first phase of which is under construction, was designated as a high priority corridor, which DeFazio said makes it more competitive for future federal dollars. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., sought that designation.
The Oregon portion of Interstate 205, which runs from Interstate 5 at Tualatin to the Columbia River, was also designated as a high priority corridor.
Legislators from Oregon and Washington also won language in the bill that will allow the states to compete for federal funding to improve bridges in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. The measure also includes an increase in funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Approval of the transportation package ends a long congressional standoff over funding for roads, bridges and transit. For years, lawmakers have resorted to a series of short-term funding measures that have made it more difficult to plan for and build large projects.
Funding still remains a problem. Congress refused to approve any gas-tax increases and instead are banking on a series of federal budget offsets to pay for much of the spending.
DeFazio said he is skeptical that the offsets will produce the promised money. But he said the money for transportation is guaranteed even if it adds to the deficit. "I can justify borrowing money to build bridges" and other transportation projects, he said.
--Jeff Mapes
503-221-8209
@jeffmapes