Portland committee reviews four funding options as PBOT urges durable revenue to fix streets

The Portland Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Dec. 12 heard a PBOT report presenting four short‑ and mid‑term revenue options to address an eroding transportation budget and growing maintenance backlog. Millicent Williams, director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, said the city’s General Transportation Revenue is ‘‘not keeping up with costs’’ and that ‘‘we will struggle to meet the public’s expectations without more sustainable and predictable transportation funding.’'

The report, framed as an options document rather than a staff recommendation, narrowed more than 20 potential tools to four approaches staff called most ready for further exploration: a transportation utility fee (TUF), a street‑damage restoration fee to charge utilities/contractors for trenching impacts, and two delivery‑related fees (a retail delivery fee and a third‑party prepared‑food delivery fee). Mark Lehr, PBOT policy resources and partnerships manager, told…