Oregon county commissioners advocated for crucial county road and bridge funding to be included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) during the March 10 meeting of the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). The OTC is expected to finalize its allocations of nearly $1.2 billion in state formula program funds by its May 12 meeting. An estimated $412 million in flexible funding will be approved during its March 30 meeting.
Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) President and Umatilla County Commissioner George Murdock, who also serves as liaison to Governor Brown’s infrastructure cabinet testified on behalf of AOC during the March 10 meeting. In his remarks, Murdock called on the OTC to “support equitable distribution of funding and consider direct and increased county investments in the allocation plan for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” Murdock called out several high level priorities including investment in Oregon’s bridges. In his testimony, Murdock requested a minimum 50 percent investment in the new Bridge Formula Program Funding to maximize the 100 percent federal funding match.
Bridge funding is a top priority for AOC as it engages with the OTC and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) on investment strategies. Currently, counties are responsible for 65 percent of the total 395 bridges rated in “poor” structural condition in Oregon, however, the draft ODOT proposal presented to the OTC offers a 25 percent investment of new funding for county and city-owned bridges.
Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto highlighted local needs for county investments in bridge funding in his testimony as well and advocated for investment in counties, the state’s partner in its transportation infrastructure system, “Being a beautiful coastal county, our infrastructure must be built and maintained not to handle the 26,000 permanent residents we have, but rather during peak summer travel periods, over 120,000 people.” Yamamoto said Tillamook County has had to heavy-load restrict several bridges over the last winter, which could not allow passage of fire trucks and ambulances putting residents and visitors at risk. “The IIJA is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.”
Coos County Commissioner John Sweet noted the significant role counties play in infrastructure management in the state. In his testimony, Sweet clarified that the proposals provided by ODOT “allocate by far most of IIJA funding to the state.” Sweet concluded his testimony requesting the OTC consider an alternative proposal offered by legislators that supports equitable allocation to Oregon’s local governments.
Following the March 10 meeting, ODOT released a revised investment strategy. ODOT’s most recent Local Bridge Program proposal for the March 30 OTC meeting allocates a total of $110.7 million in additional funding over the course of the IIJA (federal fiscal years 2022-2026), or 36.5 percent of total IIJA bridge funding of $302.9 million.
AOC anticipates the OTC will adopt the updated flexible funding allocation plan at the March 30 meeting. The nonflexible funding programs, including the Local Bridge Program, are expected to be approved at the May 12 meeting. Final public hearing opportunities will be offered leading up to those dates.
AOC will continue to work with ODOT and the OTC on future funding proposals to ensure counties receive adequate resources to support the state infrastructure system.
Commissioner and other testimony can be viewed through the meeting recording here.
The most recent IIJA funding summaries and proposals to be presented at the March 30 OTC meeting can be found here.
Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate