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South interchange dollars found By Jessica Smith State transportation officials have identified $10 million for a planned overhaul of the south Medford freeway interchange, though they�re still short of the project�s total cost. According to Frank Stevens, project manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, the state estimates it will need $35 million to move the freeway interchange from Barnett Road to a point farther south. Local funding will provide $15 million of the total. A $2 million federal grant and an $8 million commitment in state money from a regional transportation group has put the state halfway to its commitment of $20 million, Stevens said. The City Council on Thursday approved a "letter of agreement" with ODOT that outlines the funding strategy for the interchange project, despite concerns from Councilman Jim Key, who cast the sole dissenting vote. Key said concerns over how ODOT will pay its share of the interchange cost prevented him from supporting the letter of agreement. Until the state identifies all the funds needed for the project, Key said, "I just can�t agree to commit our taxpayers� dollars." For years, the state and city have been working from an informal agreement that Medford would pay $15 million toward the project while the state would pay the remaining $20 million. The city last year increased fees charged to new development to cover its commitment to the state. According to Stevens, the state is making gains on its half of the funding problem. "I think we�ve demonstrated ... that we are serious about getting this project built," he said. In November, the state won a $2 million grant that will speed up the development of construction plans for the interchange fix. Transportation officials have two options: moving the Interstate 5 on- and off-ramps to a new interchange, either at Ellendale Drive or Highland Drive. Also late last year, the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation, a regional transportation group, identified the interchange fix as its first priority for the 2003-2005 statewide road improvement plan. The group also approved awarding the project $8 million in state transportation funds, the whole pot allotted to southern Oregon for 2003-2005. To come up with the other $10 million it needs for the interchange project, the state is expected to lobby Congress, Stevens said. It�s unclear when the state would actually begin construction on the interchange project. Transportation officials have said it could take 10 years to secure all the money needed for the work. Also at Thursday�s meeting, the council: Approved the first reading of an ordinance to hire former congressman Bob Smith�s company to serve as the city�s lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Smith�s firm, Smith West Co., will be paid $72,000 a year to lobby Congress for funding for city programs and projects. Approved a resolution to donate a house at 540 S. Fir St. to the Rogue Valley Community Development Corp. The house was slated for demolition to make way for a new road between Grape and Fir streets, but a Washington woman whose grandfather built the residence asked that it be donated to RVCDC�s rehabilitation program. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.