Investing in a Better Transportation Future

Oregon is receiving more than a billion dollars from the federal government through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This money will be allocated to projects around the state by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), under the direction of the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). The OTC is currently considering key decisions about spending this money, with final decisions due in March. 

Oregon Environmental Council, as a core member of the Clean and Just Transportation Network, is calling on the OTC to spend the money on projects that make it easier and safer to walk, bike and take transit in, and between, communities around the state. 

On January 19th, OEC co-hosted a panel discussion on how transportation funding could support thriving communities across the state. Our experts – LeeAnn O’Neill (Bend Bikes), Maria Hinojos Pressey (Cherriots), Lucas Wedeman (Rogue Action Center), and Sam Diaz (1000 Friends of Oregon), with moderator Steph Routh – spoke about how this influx of federal transportation money could be invested to provide more transportation choices, more economic opportunities, and transform people’s lives. The speakers raised the many topics that are entangled in transportation, including housing and access to economic opportunities. They also talked about what the current system costs their communities in lives, isolation, exposure to air toxics, and more. They imagined using federal money to expand transit, create safe, convenient routes for biking and walking, and make communities more resilient.

The OTC met on January 20th to review four scenarios for allocating the flexible federal funds. OEC signed a joint letter with other organizations (The Street Trust, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Climate Solutions, Verde, No More Freeways, and BikeLoud PDX) asking the OTC to consider a fifth scenario which dedicated the bulk of the available funds to walking, biking and public transit investments. At the OTC meeting, commissioners briefly raised this additional scenario and asked staff for an analysis of it. As the conversation moves forward, OEC and our allies will be engaging with OTC members, ODOT staff, and other decision-makers. We will continue to push for the money to be allocated in a way that allows Oregonians more options for getting around in ways that are safer and healthier for us and for our communities. 

 

View the recording here. 

Related Posts
Filter by
Post Page
Water News Stormwater Policy Water Conservation Featured Rural Partnerships Water Stories Water Action OEC News/Updates/Events Transportation Solutions Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Air Quality Climate Protection Agriculture Our Impact Job Opportunities
Sort by
Prineville wetlands project - built ponds of water spread out on the landscape next to the natural path of a river.

A Natural Vision for Water Part 4: Investing in Our Future

By Bobby Cochran, Community Resilience & Innovation Partner for Willamette Partnership and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader. Bobby helped lead the state’s outreach and engagement for the Oregon 100-Year Water Vision, and specializes in water solutions that benefit the environment, health, and community development. In collaboration with Willamette Partnership and the Oregon Association of Clean Water A
June 1, 2021, 8:50 pm
klew

9

Keep investing in rural communities

December 29, 2017, 12:13 am
stacey

9

Values-Based Investing and Your Portfolio: Resources for Individuals

All investments have impact – both positive and negative. With new tools and resources, it is more possible than ever to create a strong alignment between your values and your financial investments. What’s more, it’s possible to engage in values-based investing without sacrificing investment return. Values-based investing can be a comprehensive approach to analyzing your portfolio, uncovering and removing newly recognized risks. Taking action: Impact Investing Che
March 3, 2015, 7:26 am
mcadmin

9

Move Oregon Forward: A Coalition and Vision for Our Transportation Future

There’s a big problem happening in our transportation system today, and it’s been decades in the making. The Oregon Department of Transportation is facing a $1.8 billion deficit. If this is not met, ODOT staff have sai
January 21, 2025, 6:20 pm
kristopherf

0

polaris electric UTV on a hood river farm in summer with blue skies and rolling hills in the background

Are Electric UTVs the Future of Agriculture?

What comes to mind when you hear the word “EV”? Sleek, shiny sedans plugged into charging stations across the urban landscape? Monochromatic motor vehicles whirring down the highway in near silence? The clean future of commuter culture? If “rugged terrain,” “agriculture”, and “farm work” aren’t words that spring to mind, you aren’t alone. But OEC – and plenty of others – envision a future for electric vehicles that
November 7, 2024, 1:10 pm
samp

0

Photo of Oregon mountains with evergreen trees in the foreground, and foggy mountain tops that stretch into the distance with the words "Impact Report 2023-2024".

2023-2024 Impact Report: Mobilizing for the Future

Download OEC’s 2023-2024 Impact Report, or scroll to explore some of our recent achievements.
October 1, 2024, 4:22 pm
mcadmin

0

a red car and a white car both going down a highway with a guardrail surrounded by forest with a mountain in the background

Join Us This Summer at the Transportation Roadshow!

State legislators are hosting a 12-stop statewide listening tour this summer on major transportation issues. We need your voice! Our transportation system should be safer, greener, better maintained, and more affordable for all Oregonians. Your testimony during these public hearings will impact how legislators shape the future of our transportation infrastructure! Your participation will also help OEC deliver stronger climate-smart legislation
June 3, 2024, 12:42 pm
jacqui

0

Stock "We

Transportation Program Director – POSITION FILLED

April 16, 2024, 11:15 am
mcadmin

0

wetland in the malheur national wildlife refuge with dry grass and clouds in the blue sky

Make Your Voice Heard for the Future of Oregon Groundwater!

When you think about water in Oregon, you might think about the Rogue River, Pacific Coast or Malheur Lake. However, some of the most important bodies of water in our state aren’t visible to the naked eye: they’re under our feet.
April 9, 2024, 1:38 pm
klew

0

Front of a schoolbus (above the engine/grill) with clouds above, and reflecting in the windows a bit. The bus is parked among others in the lot.

Oregon’s Report Card: The Urgent Need for Transportation Investment

Everyone deserves the right to safe, accessible, climate-friendly transportation options. And everyone deserves to arrive at their destination safely, regardless of their transportation choice. Yet the need for investments in transportation safety could not be more urgent as this year’s back-to-school season is met with a 40-year peak in pedestrian deaths, nationwide. 
September 21, 2023, 11:42 am
jacqui

0

No Replies to "Investing in a Better Transportation Future"