The Oregon Department of Transportation is seeking public input regarding a tolling system that would level a higher fee on the trucks that deliver more than 70 percent of Portland’s goods and materials.
Jana Jarvis, president and CEO of Oregon Trucking Associations, recently objected to the proposed tolling system that is biased against men and women who haul freight. She also went on the record indicating that Oregon already places too high a burden on trucking operations and owner-operators.
“We are without a doubt the most expensive state in the nation with trucking taxes and fees. We’re at $30,000 and change for a Class A 80,000-pound truck, when the national average is closer to $15,000, and the second-highest state is California at $24,000 and change. So, there’s a big spread between first and second place,” Jarvis reportedly said.
According to Mandy Putney, director of Oregon DOT’s Urban Mobility Office Strategic Initiatives, proposed tolls would be geared toward congestion pricing, to reduce peak drive times. Although truckers do not necessarily need to cross I-205 or I-5 during rush-hour traffic, paying more than passenger vehicles appears to be a foregone conclusion.
“Congestion pricing, which is a type of tolling that aims to improve mobility, travel times and reliability by charging a higher price during peak traffic periods of the day. This concept, also known as variable rate tolling, encourages drivers to consider using other travel options such as carpools or transit, or change their travel time to other, less congested times of the day, or not make the trip at all,” Putney reportedly said. “From 2015 to 2017, the Portland metro region’s population grew by approximately 80,000, and drivers experienced a 13 percent increase in hours of traffic congestion.”
Admittedly, other considerations would involve revenue. The Oregon DOT reportedly requires $510 to maintain its infrastructure and currently suffers a shortfall. It’s also not lost on the Oregon DOT official that the highways in question would maximize tolling on semi-trucks.
“I-5 and I-205 carry most of the freight traffic in the region. These major freight routes experience the highest levels of congestion and unreliable travel times,” Putney reportedly said. “Our planning models currently assume large trucks would be charged a higher toll rate, similar to other toll systems nationwide. Toll rates for all vehicle classes will be decided by the Oregon Transportation Commission about six months prior to the start of tolling.”
Truckers can expect the unevenly priced tolling system to begin as soon as 2024 on I-205 near the Abernethy and Tualatin River bridges in Clackamas County. Other I-205 areas are not expected to cost money until 2025. That’s also when tolls could start on I-5 as well.
Truckers and passenger vehicle drivers are urged to contact the Oregon DOT and oppose the tolling proposal. Over-taxing trucks will result in freight carriers and retailers passing along the cost to consumers. That will likely exacerbate inflation and leave less spending money for working families. Written comments are reportedly being accepted through Sept. 15.
Sources:
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/oregon-seeking-toll-portland-regions-interstates
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