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Gas tax boost passes Patridge leads way as bill to aid roads rises from dead By PETER WONG of the Mail Tribune SALEM -- A gasoline tax increase that could bring millions for highway projects in Medford cleared the Oregon Legislature Friday night, barely 12 hours after it appeared to have died in the House. On a series of parliamentary maneuvers by Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, the House revived the 5-cent increase and passed it on its third try in two days, 36-23. House Bill 2082 fell short of the required 36 votes earlier in the day, and with the legislative session winding down today, many supporters had given up on its chances. But Patridge and three other representatives -- two Republicans and a Democrat -- put together the strategy to revive it and secured the votes to pass it. "This is the most important issue for Medford," Patridge, a first-term member, said after the dramatic turnaround. "It means the economic future of our community. Along with schools, one of my primary goals was to focus on transportation." Community leaders expressed elation at Friday night's turnaround. "I felt it was going to go down, so I was surprised and excited," said Medford Mayor Lindsay Berryman. "Medford and the region will benefit tremendously. It gives the city an inkling of hope that we will be able to cement partnerships with business and the Oregon Department of Transportation." A spokesman said Gov. John Kitzhaber would sign the bill, which the Senate linked with a repeal of the weight-mile tax for truckers and its replacement with a 29-cent diesel-fuel tax and higher registration fees in mid-2000. If opponents fail within 90 days to gather signatures to refer it to voters, the 24-cent-per-gallon tax would increase by 2 cents Nov. 1 and 3 cents Jan. 1. The two-year vehicle registration fee, now $30, would go up by $10 Jan. 1. Counties could increase the fee another $10 after a public hearing. Part of the new money would support $600 million in bonds for state highway projects, including a potential $62 million for Medford. They include the north and south interchanges with Interstate 5, and a linkage of Highway 62 and Highway 238 in west Medford. Berryman's reference to a partnership was to the coalition working to relieve congestion at the south interchange, possibly the city's worst bottleneck. More than 33,000 cars and trucks drive through it daily, pushing the interchange past its capacity and threatening to curb development of the area. Traffic engineers have estimated it will cost about $30 million for major fixes of the interchange and surrounding streets. An informal agreement was worked out under which the state would pay $15 million, and the city, Medford Urban Renewal Agency and businesses $5 million each. But without the gas tax increase, the state would be unable to contribute to what is known as the "15-5-5-5 plan." "I think tonight's action reinforces the notion that regardless of your persuasion or an agency's interest, working together is the best way of doing things," said Mike Montero of KOGAP Enterprises, who heads a group of developers seeking to solve the interchange problem. "This will provide us an opportunity for a novel approach to do this." It looked a lot different just 12 hours earlier, when the House appeared to have passed the tax measure after a Republican and a Democrat switched their votes. But then Rep. Bob Jenson of Pendleton, the House's lone independent, switched his vote from yes to no, and the Democrat switched again. House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass, R-Boring, then hit her gavel, leaving the count at 34-26. No Southern Oregon legislators changed on the morning and evening votes. In addition to Patridge, those voting yes included Reps. Judy Uherbelau, D-Ashland, and Ken Messerle, R-Coos Bay. Voting no were Reps. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville; Mike Lehman, D-Coos Bay; Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek; and Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass. Other components of the Legislature's transportation package cleared the House Friday night: House Bill 3344, which would restore the weight-mile tax after six years unless it is changed by a future session. The Senate still must act on this bill. Senate Joint Resolution 44, which proposes a constitutional amendment to require the Legislature to ensure that motorists and truckers bear their share of costs for road repairs. It goes to voters Nov. 2. Senate Bill 1284, which provides $5 million for expansion of special transportation for elderly and disabled passengers, and $10 million for high-speed rail between Portland and Eugene and bus connections to Medford and other outlying areas. They will match federal grants. Gasoline tax increases had failed three straight sessions before Friday. John Watt of Medford, a former state representative who now is a lobbyist for 10 Medford businesses and Jackson County government, said he returned home after the initial vote failed Thursday. "We started to work on what I was going to tell my clients and what our strategy was going to be for next session," Watt said after the turnaround. "But I guess you can never give up hope in this process." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA