Clark County PCOs --
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has submitted a request to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) asking for permission to TOLL all lanes of a portion of I-205. This is but the camel's nose getting into the tent, whereby ODOT will ultimately place variable rate tolls on all lanes of all Portland metro area freeways. The ultimate goal is to toll I-84, I-205, I-5, I-405, OR 26 (the Sunset Highway) and Hwy 217 in Beaverton.
As part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review process, the public must be given the opportunity to make input, which the FHWA will review.
Here is the I-205 TOLLING survey. Please complete & share this with Washington and Oregon friends! We have until 4 PM on April 21st to complete the survey. You only have to enter your name and zip code if you want.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/I205TollEA
Here are a few points you might consider making.
There is an I-205 survey on TOLLING. It is part of the Environmental Impact Statement process.
Because we have over 75,000 Clark County residents who work in Oregon, we should have tens of thousands of Washington residents complete the survey. Our input is legitimate and an opportunity to influence whether or not the FHWA grants or denies Oregon's request.
Federal law PROHIBITS tolling on existing federal interstates. But there is a program granting "exemptions" and Oregon has one of 17 national exemptions for this "test" program.
You can point out the potential $15 each way TOLLS will harm all but the wealthiest families. It will be a regressive tax that most hard working families can't afford. ODOT will truly be creating "roads for the rich".
Tolling doesn't eliminate traffic congestion, it merely changes where it occurs. It will cause tens of thousands of vehicles to DIVERT on to side roads to avoid the tolls. ODOT estimates at total of 130,000 vehicle diversions when all Portland area freeways are tolled. That is equivalent to every vehicle that crosses the Interstate Bridge on an average day, suddenly using side roads and making the neighborhood roads more congested and less safe.
Portland economist Joe Cortright revealed the information (here). There would be DOUBLE, variable rate tolling, one for a bridge and a second "per mile" toll for driving I-5 or I-205. During congested travel times, it could cost $15.80 to use I-205 driving from Vancouver to Wilsonville.
