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M/CLOUDY Temp: 56 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Tuesday, April 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 9, 2003 Highway repair plan surfaces $2.8 billion bonding program includes fixing or replacing weakened I-5 bridges By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — A $2.8 billion bonding program to fix Oregon’s deteriorating highway bridges is expected to get its first hearing before the Legislature next week. The package, which allocates $1.3 billion to replace or repair bridges — with the top priority given to spans along Interstates 5 and 84 — has been the subject of negotiations since January. John Watt, a former Medford legislator who now represents Jackson County interests on transportation issues, was a key player in drafting the plan. "We want to sell this as a job stimulus and economic development package to offset some of the doom and gloom around here," Watt said. Legislators who helped develop the proposal include Rep. Alan Brown, R-Newport, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and Brown’s Senate counterpart, Democrat Rick Metsger of Welches. The 10-year bonding program would be financed by a $12 increase in auto registration fees, a $20 increase in title transfer fees and a 9 percent increase in truckers’ fees, raising $101 million annually. Auto registration fees would go from $30 to $54 every two years and the title transfer fee from $30 to $50. If the program is approved, its first priority will be replacement or repair of interstate bridges, the main freight routes for moving goods. Fissured state highway spans also would be repaired or rebuilt from bond proceeds. "Virtually every bridge on the freeway needs fixing," said Paul Mather, southwestern Oregon regional manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation. "If we don’t fix the entire interstate, it doesn’t work." Mather, who is based in Roseburg, was in Medford Tuesday briefing city and Jackson County planners, local business leaders and truckers on the proposal. In Southern Oregon, from the California border to the I-5 junction with Highway 42 south of Roseburg, seven bridges will be repaired and 43 will be replaced at an estimated cost of $247.4 million. In addition to bridges, bond funds will be allocated to city and county roads ($535 million statewide); state highways ($178 million); modernization projects of statewide significance ($500 million); and local projects ($300 million). Watt’s expertise on transportation issues arose in part from the two terms he served as chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on transportation. As a legislator, he saw Southern Oregon cities and counties losing out on funding because they did not speak with one voice. "At one point we were only getting back 68 cents on every $1 of our gas tax money," said Watt. That led to getting stakeholders to set priorities, Watt said. After he was term-limited in 1997, Watt signed on to represent various Jackson County groups on transportation and economic issues. His clients include Jackson County, Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, Burrill Resources, Jackson County Homebuilders and Rogue Valley Medical Center. With the May 15 revenue forecast looming, backers of the transportation plan are eager to get the hearings process started before more economic bad news strikes. The next forecast is expected to show yet another downturn in tax collections. "The only concern I have is if we get tied to the deficit problem," said Watt. Supporters plan to stress jobs and the economic benefits from bridge and road construction, arguing that even with the fee hikes, motorists’ costs still will be among the lowest in the nation. "We feel pretty good about the package. We don’t see any bumps ahead," was Watt’s forecast on gaining legislative approval of the plan. Don Jepsen is a free-lance writer living in Salem. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S