The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive over $1 billion dollars in additional transportation funding as part of the federal infrastructure package.
The money will go toward projects around the state that will benefit drivers, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians, help maintain roads and bridges, and address climate change.
The House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill on Friday which the Senate passed in August and President Joe Biden is expected to sigh.
State officials said they are still analyzing the legislation to determine exactly how much funding ODOT will receive and where it will spend the money. Many projects are ready for construction, and others are in the final stages of planning so ODOT expects to be able to move quickly.
Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Bob Van Brocklin said the bill will address a number of major challenges in the state.
“The Oregon Transportation Commission and ODOT will direct these funds, combined with state funding from the Oregon Legislature, to make real progress on Oregon’s transportation priorities,” Van Brocklin said. Specifically, he said some money will be allocated to Oregon in the next five years for highway and bridge construction and maintenance, safety improvements, mass transit investments, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, and efforts to reduce carbon emissions from transportation sources.
“These resources will help us address congestion, which is increasing in our urban areas as the state’s population continues to grow,” he said. “All of this work will focus on improving our economy, our environment, and the quality of life of all Oregonians. Working together, we can attain this vision.”
