Senate panel hears testimony on bills to tie transportation spending to safety and tighten debt oversight

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing Feb. 2 on two companion bills that would remake how the state prioritizes transportation projects and how it manages borrowing.

Advocates said SB 15 42, called "Measure What We Drive," would codify a performance-based capital investment process so projects are scored and funded according to clearly stated safety and maintenance goals. SB 15 43 would create a transportation-specific debt-management policy that requires greater oversight and public disclosure before ODOT takes on new borrowing. The committee did not act on either bill during the informational session.

"We want to really focus on nuts-and-bolts mechanics of how the different entities in transportation interact," said Brett Morgan, transportation policy director at Climate Solutions, describing the companion bills as a low- or no-new-fiscal way to align planning and budgeting.

Indi Namkung, transportation justice coordinator for Verde, summarized the debt argument: "It's gone up by more than 400%," she said of ODOT's debt burden since 2007, adding that rising interest costs have crowded out funds for bridge preservation and safety projects. Namkung said SB 15 43 would clarify that ODOT must get Oregon Transportation Commission approval — not just the treasurer — before new borrowing and would require fuller public reporting of the "total price tag" for projects.

Zachary Lauritzen, executive director of Oregon Walks, urged stronger prioritization of projects that demonstrably reduce injuries and deaths and warned against what he called "safety washing," where projects are labeled safety improvements without meaningfully reducing serious injuries.

Several witnesses framed the bills as a response to large, uncertain projects and a need for clearer accountability. State Rep. Thuy Tran (House District 45) told the committee a draft basis of estimate for the Interstate Bridge Replacement more than doubled in recent months, saying the figure rose from about $6,000,000,000 to $13,600,000,000 and that documents showed an additional $1,500,000,000 for staff and consultant work. "This situation should never have been allowed to happen," Tran said, arguing for more frequent, transparent cost updates.

Family members and regional advocates urged the panel to ensure maintenance and safety are not sacrificed for large-scale projects. "I lost my 18 year old son, Henry, in a 2 vehicle crash on a rural road," said Sarah Risser of Families for Safe Streets, who cited Oregon's high rural-road fatality rate as reason to prioritize safety in scoring and funding.

Witnesses from rural and Central Oregon emphasized operational needs such as winter plowing and the severe effects of flooding on coastal Highway 101, and urged that a public dashboard and reporting requirements make trade-offs visible to communities.

Committee staff described the Feb. 2 session as informational; they said a public hearing and work session could be scheduled for the coming week and that written testimony and sign-up will be available when the agenda posts. Earlier in the meeting the committee adopted its organizational rules by motion and roll call.

The informational hearing did not include committee votes on SB 15 42 or SB 15 43. Sponsors and advocates said they were working on amendments, including a dash-1 amendment to ease implementation and one to codify bipartisan, ex officio legislative representation on the Oregon Transportation Commission. Proponents said some proposed changes to voting or regional representation on the commission require more work and may be deferred.

The committee adjourned after closing remarks; staff said an amended bill and a potential Feb. 9 follow-up (public hearing/work session) were possible next steps.