Bend, Ore. – Bend 2030 will present the results of an online community survey on transportation at tonight’s Bend City Council meeting and call for the City of Bend to consider a comprehensive transportation package before putting a fuel tax on the ballot.
The online community survey, which was taken by 1,687 Bend residents, was the companion to a statistically valid survey conducted in June to more directly test attitudes about a fuel tax and other funding solutions for improvements to Bend’s transportation system. Bend 2030 and the City of Bend partnered to complete the surveys with the support of DHM Research, a Portland-based research strategies firm.
Both surveys showed strong support for a fuel tax and a studded tire fee as top solutions to Bend’s growing transportation challenges. The online survey also showed strong support for a tourism tax, such as on food and beverage. Both surveys also showed a high level of support for improving city streets and other options such as more and safer bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and a more robust transit system.
“These surveys show that Bend residents expect strong action from the Bend City Council on two primary fronts—maintaining our streets and pivoting us toward a future where multimodal options like biking, walking and taking the bus are safer and more convenient choices,” said Erin Foote Marlowe, executive director of Bend 2030. “The surveys also show that a gas tax is just one piece of the transportation funding puzzle and that a comprehensive package should be considered by the Council before the gas tax question is put to voters.”
If you see local news happen, call the Horizon Broadcasting Group News Tip Hotline at 541-323-NEWS, or email us.
