Transportation Update – July 3

House Bill (HB) 2017-10 moved out of the Joint Committee on Transportation & Modernization (JCTPM) on Saturday, July 1.  Here are changes relating to counties:

• The program duration is seven years.  The Maintenance & Preservation program is financed by a gradual increase in fuels tax and a one-time increase in registration & title fees.
• Registration fees will increase $13 in 2018; title fees, $16 in 2018.  Registration & title fees will be tiered starting in 2020, higher fees for higher mpg vehicles
• Fuel tax will increase .04 in January 2018, then .02 in January of 2020, 2022, and 2024
• Taken off the top, before the 50/30/20 split are funding for Safe Routes to Schools ($10 million/year increasing to $15/year after 2022), and after 2021 $30 million/year (equivalent to .01 gas tax) for bond debt service on the Rose Quarter congestion relief project.
• Section 11 – Infrastructure conditions – (Substantially the same) Reference to street and bridge condition is gone, so language is more open ended.
• Section 12 – Website – (same) The financial report required from counties is what is already statutorily required.  It’s based on the Local Streets & Roads Report.  Infrastructure reporting protocols will be worked out in a workgroup with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)/cities/counties.
• Section 45 – Conditional increases in fuel tax after 2020 – Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) must certify that uniform infrastructure reporting and financial accountability are established and followed. Also, counties that are not conforming will have their highway funds withheld in 2022.
• Section 73 – Small County Program – Confusing wording.  The language successfully implements the high road mile/low registration proposal just as AOC/OACES submitted it.