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Washington County asks Metro to seek full $30 million for TV Highway transit project
Summary
Washington County commissioners reviewed a draft letter asking Metro's regional flexible fund allocation process to restore the original $30 million request for the TV Highway transit project, while noting a verbal $2 million backfill from ODOT and a desire to remain a cooperative regional partner.
Washington County commissioners on April 15 discussed sending a letter to Metro and JPAC urging full regional flexible fund allocation (RFFA) support for the TV Highway transit project and related regional priorities.
The request reflects the county's original $30 million funding ask; the current proposal under consideration would fund $28 million with a verbal $2 million commitment from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to help backfill remaining costs. Staff asked the board for direction on a draft letter and to authorize public testimony to Metro's JPAC meeting this week.
County staff explained that the initial RFFA request was $30 million and that the funding proposal being considered had reduced that to $28 million while ODOT verbally committed to a $2 million contribution tied to state transportation work in the Cornelius area. Staff recommended the county press for the full $30 million allocation and asked for the board's feedback on sending the letter and testimony.
Chair Catherine Harrington moved to move the item from the consent agenda to the action section so the board could consider the letter before public hearings. "I'll move that," Chair Harrington said; the board discussed timing and agreed to allow staff to send the letter and provide testimony to JPAC. Staff noted JPAC will consider public testimony at its meeting later this week and that the regional public comment period closes April 28.
Commissioners discussed balancing the county's request with regional priorities, noting that Clackamas County and others are also advocating for their projects and that the RFFA process requires distributing limited funds across multiple jurisdictions. Several commissioners said they supported asking for the full $30 million while also remaining a regional partner.
Staff also said that TV Highway and the 80th/Second projects are not easily scalable and therefore are high priorities in the regional portfolio. The board did not record a formal roll-call vote on the letter during the discussion; staff were directed to proceed with submitting the letter and testimony for JPAC consideration.
The board's direction preserves the county's formal position in the record while staff continue coordination with Metro, JPAC and ODOT on final allocations.
