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Oregon Lawmakers Hit The Road To Examine Roads

Oregon lawmakers will study several traffic congestion points in the Portland area, including along Interstates 5.
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Oregon lawmakers will study several traffic congestion points in the Portland area, including along Interstates 5.

Oregon lawmakers are hitting the road Monday to get a first-hand look at the state's traffic chokepoints. It's part of an effort to develop a transportation funding package for a vote in next year's legislative session.

This summer, a 14-member legislative panel will hold public hearings and tour locations of potential bridge and highway improvements across the state.

This is the second attempt in recent years to pass a comprehensive transportation package in Salem. In 2015, lawmakers reached an impasse when Republicans said they wouldn't vote to hike gas taxes. That came after Democrats passed an unrelated bill that regulates the carbon content of vehicle fuel sold in Oregon. Republicans called it a hidden gas tax as it's expected to increase the price at the pump by as much as 19 cents per gallon, according to state estimates.

Some Republicans say they'll continue to hold out against a tax-funded road construction bill as long as the low carbon fuel standard remains in effect.

Monday's tour will take lawmakers to several traffic congestion points in the Portland area, including along Interstates 5, 84, and 205. After the tour, the panel will hear public testimony at the Southeast campus of Portland Community College.

Future hearings will be held in Ontario, Hermiston, Eugene, Medford, Newport, Hillsboro and Salem.

Hearing schedule:

June 13, 5 p.m.

Great Hall, Mount Tabor Building

Portland Community College SE Campus

2305 SE 82nd Ave, Portland

June 28, 5 p.m.

Four Rivers Cultural Center Theater

Treasure Valley Community College

676 College Blvd, Ontario

June 29, 2 p.m.

Auditorium

Hermiston High School

600 South First Street, Hermiston

July 20, 5 p.m.

Prince Lucien Campbell Hall Room 180

University of Oregon

1415 Kincaid Street, Eugene

August 18, 5:30 p.m.

Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center

Central Oregon Community College

2600 NW College Way, Bend

August 31, 5 p.m.

Jackson County Library

Medford Branch

205 S. Central Avenue, Medford

September 15, 5 p.m.

Ballroom

Embarcadero Hotel

1000 SE Bay Blvd, Newport

September 19, 5 p.m.

Shirley Huffman Auditorium

Hillsboro Civic Center

150 E. Main Street, Hillsboro

September Legislative Days

To Be Determined

Oregon State Capitol

900 Court Street NE, Salem

Copyright 2016 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.
Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.