State and federal agencies have already begun formulating distribution strategies for resources allocated through the federal bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law on November 15, 2021.

Most recently, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) presented its draft investment strategy to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) at their January 20 meeting. 

The IIJA provides Oregon with approximately $1.2 billion in additional federal formula funding for road and public transportation programs over the course of the next five years. Of this investment, approximately $412 million has been made available to the state as flexible highway program funds that can be used for a variety of purposes, including fix-It projects to preserve the system, safety, congestion relief, and public and active transportation. In addition, ODOT estimates new funding counties will have access to includes:

  • $200 million for local governments;
  • $268 million to repair and replace aging bridges; 
  • $52 million to construct new electric vehicle charging stations across the state; 
  • $82 million to invest in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
  • $94 million to increase the transportation system’s resilience to earthquakes, natural disasters, and climate change; 
  • $45 million to invest in improving transportation safety for all users; and 
  • $30 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects. 

The commission will need to update the 2021-2024 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and the 2024- 2027 STIP to incorporate these funds. 

Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) County Road Program Director, Brian Worley and president-elect Tom Fellows of AOC affiliate, Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES) submitted testimony to the OTC advocating for a balanced approach to distribution of funding across Oregon’s transportation system. Counties are responsible for the largest share of Oregon’s road system (41 percent), with over 32,000 miles of road and over 3,400 bridges. 

In their testimony, Worley and Fellows noted the critical role counties play in overall management of Oregon’s road system and the key partnership counties play in meeting the strategic transportation goals of the state, “Direct federal funding to local governments not only supports needed operations and maintenance deficits, but it also supports strategic priorities and local community priorities in the most flexible and efficient way.”

In their testimony AOC and OACES advocated for:

  • Direct funding to local governments;
  • Maintaining a cost-effective State Fund Exchange Program through Surface Transportation Block Grant funding;
  • Adequate funding for the Bridge Formula Program;
  • Investment in All Road Transportation Safety;
  • Prioritization of funding for the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation program; and 
  • Emissions reduction funding that benefits urban and rural counties.

Click here to read AOC and OACES testimony.

The OTC will ultimately decide how to invest much of the new transportation money coming to Oregon from the IIJA. Many stakeholders including counties have already weighed in, and the OTC is accepting letters and comments through its online public comment form. The OTC will continue to take public comment at its February 17, March 10, and March 30 meetings, with final funding allocation decisions expected by the March 30 meeting. More information is available on ODOT’s website for IIJA implementation, including how to provide public comment to the OTC.

A full analysis of IIJA from the National Association of Counties (NACo) can be found here.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate