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Highway funds tied to voters Medford projects may see $54 million By PETER WONG A legislative committee has approved how the state plans to spend $600 million for highways, including $54 million for three major projects in Medford. The Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation completed the easy part of the task Thursday in Salem. Now comes the hard part. The legislative Emergency Board, which handles budget matters between sessions, will issue the bonds that pay for the projects. But its action hinges what voters do May 16, when they decide on the increased gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees that the 1999 Legislature approved to pay off the bonds. State Sen. Lenn Hannon, who sits on both panels, said the list of projects endorsed by the state Transportation Commission last week is a good start for Southern Oregon. "This list makes an attempt to catch up with our needs, based on what we generate (in gas taxes) and what we get in return," the Ashland Republican said after Thursday's vote. "Southern Oregon transportation projects are going to have to continue to be funded for quite some time." The three Medford projects, which top the list for a five-county region, are: Revision of the south Medford interchange with Interstate 5, $15 million, to be matched by $15 million by the City of Medford, Medford Urban Renewal Agency and private businesses. Completion of the linkage of Highway 238 and Highway 62 in west Medford, $9 million. Revision of the north Medford interchange with Interstate 5, $30 million for the next two phases. The first phase, which involves work between Highway 99 and Biddle Road, is funded with a federal grant of $19.6 million. Hannon said the joint committee made no changes in the list by the Transportation Commission. Of the $600 million bond issue, 90 percent is earmarked for construction, and the rest for environmental studies, land purchases and engineering required before projects can be built. The bond issue will be repaid from income generated by 1 cent of a proposed 5-cents-per-gallon increase in state gasoline taxes, and part of a $10 increase in the two-year vehicle registration fee of $30. Hannon said the Emergency Board will have to issue the bonds after the May 16 primary election, when voters statewide will decide the fate of Measure 82. Opponents, including the Oregon/Idaho chapter of the American Automobile Association and anti-tax activist Bill Sizemore, obtained enough signatures to refer the increase to voters. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA