5/29/03-Truckers and other drivers would pay more under a plan unveiled May 28 to help pay for Oregon’s road and bridge repairs.
The transportation finance plan would raise $2.5 billion over 10 years, mostly from bonds repaid from higher vehicle registration and title fees, higher permit and license fees on drivers and higher weight-mile taxes on truckers.
About two-thirds of the revenue would go toward repairing or replacing bridges on the state’s major highways. The rest of the money would go to cities, counties and the state for road projects.
Other features include a proposed credit against income taxes for purchases of new truck engines.
The financing plan is contained in HB2041, HB2367 and HB2388. The House Transportation Committee is expected to continue consideration of the bills June 1.

4/14/03-Gov. Ted Kulongoski and key state lawmakers are trying to reach agreement on the best way to raise $2.8 billion for bridge and road repairs.
Kulongoski has proposed doubling vehicle registration fees to $60 every two years and title fees to $60 to help raise the kitty to $2.8 billion over 10 years.
Legislative transportation committee leaders are working with smaller fee increases to get to $2.8 billion. They would make up the difference by taking a bigger chunk of funds from other Oregon Transportation Department projects.
Legislators have discussed possibly raising registration fees to $54 every two years and title fees to $50, mainly to limit matching fee increases for truckdrivers.
The governor and key lawmakers have made bridge repair a priority, saying that bottlenecks caused by detours around weakened spans threaten commerce and livability.