C4 told to prepare for 2027 transportation package as governor convenes advisory work group
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Summary
Trent Wilson updated C4 on a governor-appointed advisory work group preparing recommendations for a 2027 transportation package; members discussed local representation, project-size bucketing for a jurisdictional mini-project list, and concerns about cost escalation on major bridge projects.
Trent Wilson, Clackamas County staff, briefed the C4 committee on April 2 about a governor-formed advisory work group that will make recommendations to the legislature for a transportation funding package targeted for 2027. He said the group is advisory and will meet through late this year with subgroups focused on topics such as transit and maintenance.
"This is an advisory body that will make a recommendation," Wilson said, noting the legislature will take up any final package in 2027 and that the advisory group's membership and initial meeting dates should be publicized soon.
Members asked whether mayors and local leaders would be on the work group; Wilson said the governor's office is coordinating with associations such as the Association of Oregon Counties and city organizations and that city and county representation is expected but not yet confirmed.
Jamie Lorenzini, C4 staff, sought guidance on creating a short list of local priority projects to ensure jurisdictions are prepared for funding opportunities. Staff proposed jurisdictions submit three projects or fewer and asked whether members preferred bucketing projects by size (small/medium/large) or by jurisdictional ownership, and to provide simple attributes (state facility yes/no, benefits to housing/business).
"Small, medium, and large are all relative sizing," Lorenzini said; members asked CTAC to help establish threshold definitions, and several suggested adding a "mega" bucket for regional-scale projects such as Boone Bridge.
Mayor Joe Buck reported JPAC updates including a public-review draft of the 2027–30 MTIP and a roughly $1.1 billion regional program of primarily federal formula funds, with some projects canceled after federal reductions. He flagged cost escalation on an interstate bridge project with new estimates between $13.5 billion and $15+ billion and said phasing and toll revenue bonding are under discussion.
"The cost estimates are now between, you know, roughly 13 and a half to over 15, billion," Buck said, and noted that $5.5 billion in federal funds and $1 billion from each state are currently part of the committed package, leaving funding and toll-setting questions to be resolved.
Committee members said C4 should plan how to engage in 2027 and use the retreat and CTAC to refine project lists and priorities. Staff will return in May with a final retreat agenda and continue collecting project submissions and simple metadata to inform CTAC and future advocacy.
