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Public commenters urge commission to limit new debt amid HB 3991 uncertainty
Summary
Stakeholders from transit, environmental and civic groups urged ODOT to avoid new long-term borrowing or major project commitments while revenues tied to HB 3991 face referral risk, and called for shifting funds to smaller regional bridge and preservation projects.
Multiple public commenters at the Nov. 13 meeting urged the commission to avoid new long-term borrowing and to protect flexible funding amid uncertainty over House Bill 3991 revenue.
Doug Allen (S11), Portland-area vice president of AORTA, said petitioners could delay revenues until after the 2026 general election and urged ODOT not to incur additional construction obligations. Indi Namcoong (S12), transportation justice coordinator for Verde, asked the commission to limit highway-user-tax revenue or commercial paper bond authorizations to $300,000,000 this week to protect funding for smaller bridges, seismic projects and preservation—citing an annual $20,000,000 opportunity cost tied to Abernathy borrowing.
Cassie Wilson (S13) of 1000 Friends of Oregon criticized late agenda changes and requested finalized materials be posted at least a week before meetings; Joe Cortright (S14) of City Observatory called ODOT’s approach “piecemeal,” detailing projects whose costs he said have grown several-fold and urging a comprehensive decade-long plan. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and discussed prioritization trade-offs in later panels.
