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Transit funds may become a ballot issue

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jun 1, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (35 Reader comments)

TriMet knows that frequency is the key to increasing bus ridership.

Since 2002, the regional mass transit agency has seen almost all of its bus ridership increase on its frequent-service lines that run every 15 minutes.

Despite that, TriMet cannot substantially increase bus service for at least another five years because of commitments to help fund new rail lines and increases in senior and disabled citizen services.

TriMet has committed to helping fund the Portland Mall/Interstate 205 MAX project, the Washington County commuter rail project and Portland streetcar extensions in the South Waterfront area.

It also anticipates that, as the population ages, the cost of its Lift Paratransit program, which provides service to seniors and the disabled, will increase from around $27 million this year to almost $47 million by 2014.

Although the 2005 Oregon Legislature authorized a one-tenth of 1 percent increase in TriMet’s payroll tax over the next 10 years, it will not produce enough excess revenue to expand bus service until 2012.

This is the case even though TriMet already has identified the first five lines for increased service, including popular routes to downtown from Beaverton, Tualatin, Gresham and Southeast Portland.

The dilemma is just one Portland-area problem that may prompt Metro to place a transportation funding package on the November 2008 ballot. Although discussions still are in the early stages, elected officials from throughout the region recently met at Metro for a briefing on the funding problems facing all transportation agencies that serve the area, including the Oregon Department of Transportation.

During the May 16 briefing, officials from throughout the region talked about unfunded transportation projects needed to serve their growing communities.

Road projects include the so-called Sunrise Highway connecting I-205 to Damascus; a connection between Interstate 84 and U.S. Highway 26 to serve Pleasant Valley; and additional lanes on Oregon Highway 217.

Unfunded transit projects include the long-planned light-rail lines connecting Portland to Milwaukie and Forest Grove.

“The big question is, how do we get out of the mode we’re stuck in of just talking about these projects, and taking action?” asked Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler, who cited fixing the aging Sellwood Bridge as one of his priorities.

The answer is not going to be easy. Part of it depends on whether the 2007 Oregon Legislature substantially increases transportation funding before it adjourns this summer. The state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax has not increased since 1991. Legislative leaders still are debating whether to raise it this session or study the issue further.

Cash may come from all over

“If the Legislature does something ambitious before the end of the session, then we might not have to do anything ourselves,” said Metro Councilor Brian Newman, who is leading the regional discussions about the potential ballot measure.

If the Legislature does not act, however, Metro staffers already have identified several regional funding sources for discussion. As outlined in a memo distributed at the May 16 meeting, they include:

• A regional gas tax collected in most of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.

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