Safety First

We envision a transportation system that puts safety first. That means eliminating serious injuries and deaths; investing in protections for the most vulnerable road users; reducing our vehicle miles traveled (VMT), air pollution, and other hidden costs to public health; and protecting our environment now and for future generations.

We support legislative action that prioritizes investments in safe networks for walking, biking, and rolling. This includes increased funding for jurisdictional transfer of “orphan highways” and currently oversubscribed safety and mobility programs, such as:

• Safe Routes to School Infrastructure 

• Great Streets

• Oregon Community Paths
  

Climate Forward

We are committed to creating the greenest transportation system possible for Oregon. By expanding access to clean transportation options for every community and context, we will reduce our transportation system’s contribution to climate change, ease congestion, and help non-drivers stay connected—all at the same time, and leaving no one behind.

We support legislative action that:

• Invests in and integrates transportation, housing, and  land use planning initiatives that reduce emissions by providing compact, mixed-use neighborhoods supported by safe and accessible networks for walking, rolling, and transit. 

• Substantially expands funding for affordable, practical public transit and paratransit options across the state.

• Expands incentives and education to make ownership, sharing, charging, and use of electric micro-mobility and electric light/medium/heavy-duty vehicles affordable, accessible, and safe.

  
  

Fair and Sustainable Funding

We must update and diversify how we fund our transportation system as the gas tax declines and major project funding plans remain in limbo. Our funding solutions must be designed to explicitly incentivize and invest in a greener and safer transportation system, deliver real value for our dollars, and share costs equitably.

We support legislative action to develop and advance a revenue strategy that:

• Right-sizes existing revenue streams and/or indexes them to inflation.

• Diversifies our revenue sources to invest in maintenance, safety, and mobility first.

• Better aligns both our future revenue and current spending with Oregon’s climate, housing, equity, employment, and transportation goals and the needs of communities statewide.

Accountability and Transparency

We advocate for accountable and transparent institutions that involve diverse voices in decision-making at every level, where people most impacted by a decision have real power to shape it. We see a disconnect today between our institutions’ stated goals and where they actually put their money. To meet climate and safety targets, and to retain the public’s trust, Oregon must close this gap.

We are pursuing just, equitable, and responsive transportation governance that follows through on its promises. We support legislative action to:

• Enable the Oregon Transportation Commission to be more representative and independently staffed.

• Establish a fix-it-first policy to fund statewide maintenance and safety programs before investing in expanded roads.

• Align investments, planning, and future transportation projects with established safety, climate, and mobility goals, including appropriate Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)-reduction targets.