OReGO spreads the wealth

OReGO spreads the wealth

June 12, 2015 | OReGO Communications

It’s no small secret that many of our state roads and bridges need a makeover. As the miles rack up on the old odometer, so do the potholes on our city streets, county roads and state highways.

You’ll find worn out roads in every corner of Oregon.

That’s why fuel taxes are constitutionally dedicated to improving our transportation system through the State Highway Fund (see Oregon Constitution, Article IX, Section 3a).

The Highway Fund also includes other sources such as driver license fees, vehicle registration fees and the weight-mile tax on big rigs.

Now some of you may be thinking, “That’s all well and good, but my community will never see a dime!” But the Highway Fund is actually set up to make sure everyone gets a slice of the pie. The State Highway Fund is distributed 50 percent to the state, 30 percent to counties and 20 percent to cities.

That’s why a program like OReGO is so important. Unlike the gas tax, OReGO could be a more sustainable and stable source of highway funding, and that can help us provide safer and more reliable roads for Oregonians throughout the state.

So whether it’s a state highway bridge that needs earthquake protection, a county road that needs a chip seal or a local street that needs repaving, Highway Funds are here to help. An investment in OReGO is an investment in your community.

Ready to help keep all Oregonians on the move? Visit MyOReGO.org today and sign up for regular program updates and priority access to register your car or truck for OReGO starting July 1.

OReGO: Better roads. Happy drivers.

 

3 thoughts on “OReGO spreads the wealth

  1. I live in Lane County, specifically the city of Eugene. Our roads are terrible. A person cannot drive anywhere in Lane County without encountering a series of huge potholes no matter where you’re going in the county and/or city. If our roads are so awful I can just imagine how bad our bridges must be. Lane County and the City of Eugene need help desperately.
    Thank you!

  2. I live in a neighborhood with roads that are in horrible condition. I would love nothing more than to have them repaved so kids can skateboard and rollerskate. I have severe doubts that OReGO funding will fix my road.

    I would like to see more transparency on how these funds are to be used because I doubt this will have a meaningful impact on our states infrastructure. It will mean the state doesnt have to find money to keep the roads and bridges in good condition.

    Instead of cutting wasteful expenses in the budget to free up that capital, they will turn to drivers so they can keep their pet project.

    Also, will Trimet pay their share of this tax? As their busses abuse the roads quite a lot.

  3. shelley.m.snow says:

    Jerry and Joni – the funds generated in this per-mile fee program will be used exactly the same way funds generated by the gas tax are used; they are constitutionally dedicated to roads and transportation infrastructure, and they will be divided up to cities and counties exactly the same.

    This program is testing out the idea of replacing the gas tax – it’s not an additional tax, it’s one or the other. Thanks for your interest!

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