LOC News
Joint Transportation Committee Tour Coming Up in Albany and Eugene
The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation (JCT) completed stops in Portland and Tillamook earlier this month and will continue the statewide tour next week in Albany on July 16 and Eugene on July 17.
Albany
July 16, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Russell Tripp Performance Center
Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany
Eugene
July 17, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lane Events Center
796 W 13th Ave., Eugene
Preceding both public hearings, committee members will take guided trips of transportation facilities in the region and hold a roundtable discussion to better understand the transportation needs in the Mid-Willamette Valley through local partners' and officials' expertise and lived experience. A roundtable discussion in the afternoon with local leaders typically focused on the local members from the Area Commissions on Transportation (ACT), and an evening session starting with a 5-7 p.m. hearing for the public and interested parties.
If you are not part of the local tour or afternoon roundtable, the LOC is recommending you sign up for the public comment session from 5-7 p.m. Committee members need to hear from you and learn more about your local interests and what the transportation package needs to look like. The hearings will be available via live stream on olis.oregonlegislature.gov. The LOC is asking cities to take the time to provide testimony during the public hearing. You can sign up to testify in person 30 minutes before the hearing. If you can't attend, you can email your comments to the committee at JCT.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov. The LOC has prepared core messages based on input and recommendations from its Transportation Policy Committee. These messages can be found here.
The 2025 transportation package will require considerable effort and advocacy from all local governments. The 2017 package created a historic level of investment, with more than $5.3 billion towards transportation infrastructure, funding for transit expansion, and critical safety programs in communities. For example, the Small City Allotment program emerged during the 2017 session, along with a historic commitment funding the expansion of local public transit.
For the 2025 legislative session, city leaders can influence the scale of the next transportation package with a strong showing at roadshow events. The LOC is asking those communities within the Cascades West and Mid-Willamette ACT to participate in Albany, and those in the Lane ACT to participate in Eugene. Local governments need to show up to support a robust transportation investment. There are 8 additional stops in Oregon for other regions to participate in later this summer.
Remember, you have proven that local government grassroots works! It’s now time to push for a robust transportation package in 2025.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 7/12/24