GOVERNOR TED Kulongoski has been trying to re-fund the
Columbia River Crossing (CRC) as part of last-minute negotiations to
pass a car-focused transportation budget.

Two weeks ago the Mercury reported that funding for the CRC
was in doubt after state legislators pulled $30 million for its ongoing
design from Kulongoski’s transportation plan [“Twelve Lanes of Hot
Air,” News, April 30]. The governor subsequently threatened to veto the
plan if the House of Representatives tried to earmark specific
projects: Earmarking would nix his ability to re-fund the CRC later
using surplus money in an Oregon Department of Transportation slush
fund, because all of that money would be pre-allocated.

But Kulongoski called a last-minute meeting of the Oregon
Transportation Commission last Thursday, May 7, calling on it to
approve a 35-page list of transportation projects for state funding
over the next five years, including the CRC. Sources are describing the
move as Kulongoski’s attempt to do an “end-run” around the
legislature’s resistance to the 12-lane bridge by creating a priority
list of his own. Meanwhile, Kulongoski’s office did not respond to the
Mercury’s inquiries.

Another controversial part of the transportation package is its lack
of increased bike funding. Right now, all bikes and pedestrian projects
(like sidewalks and bike lanes) get only one percent of the state’s
entire transportation budget. The original idea for the 2009
transportation bill upped that funding from one percent to 1.5 percent,
which would have meant $3 million extra based on last year’s
numbers.

As legislators tore apart the transportation plan, the funding got
sliced. Now as Salem winds down the session, the Bicycle Transportation
Alliance (BTA) is scrambling to get more money for bikes back into the
bill—but their chances are not looking good.

“Non-motorized transportation funding is something that the
legislature doesn’t have a history of funding. It’s an uphill battle to
get any kind of new funding,” says BTA Executive Director Scott
Bricker. “It’s really been behind closed doors, behind-the-scenes
negotiations.”

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

Matt Davis was news editor of the Mercury from 2009 to May 2010.

One reply on “Driving Miss Lazy”

  1. Salem’s’ Statesman plans to run my Op Ed, re-Passenger Rail……the bottom line: Oregon is not applying for the Bailout money…… Rail friends in Illinois will happily take our share !!!
    Opportunity is NOW: Putting people to WORK to transform our rail system, from Eugene to Portland, into a modern on-time, frequent, convenient way to move people can be achieved. Fast-tracking the application, then quickly implementing The President’s strategic plan and moneys is doable. Oregon’s work would be achieved in partnership with existing private owners and operators who serve passengers, gives us speedy implementation, and thereby also impacts freight shipments, doable quickly to help in turning around our economic recovery statewide.
    Passenger Rail Improvements would provide a sizable positive dollar impact on our economy, federal moneys,opportunity for statewide
    Jobs, and improved quality of life.
    Unfortunately, tragically, ODOT is Rail silent, we won’t know until it’s too late, and the opportunity is gone., lethargy and auto propoganda will have won.
    Its worth wider inverstigative reporting.Just DO it.

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