Transparency... Can it Exist in ODOT's Future...

The public's greatest concern is trust... and we know no one that trusts ODOT...

One of the hardest critiques anyone can hear is, I don’t trust you. It cuts to the core and it can take time to gain back ones trust… if ever. To be clear, you have to care if a lack of trust is to hurt… but if you are a person with a cold heart… well…

Transparency is an open door which lets other see clearly who you are… or in ODOT’s case, an organization. All government is public, from The President to the the local Mayor in Podunk County… they all are to answer to We The People. So why is it so difficult to get clear, concise financial information on any of ODOT’s projects?

At times, we wonder if transparency is the least of ODOT’s issues… but we are not allowed to know.

In Short

Article 1 - The Reason Foundation outlines the way in which VMT fees are collected and some of the States that have trialed VMT programs. Note that VMT is defined differently in different States but always a fee/tax that is based on miles traveled.

In this article, “Scale of Economy” would lead us to believe that administrative fees will go down. But when those fees are not outlined by ODOT how can we even know what is a discount.

Article 2 - The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) is a GO as far as Oregon and Washington State Legislators are concerned. Although the design is still in question, which means more money is being spent, the concept is going forward.

Funded by Bonds and a toll that varies from $1.50 to $3.55, we would like to see how that pencils out to ever pay for the project.

Article 3 - If you are a business owner or a land developer, take note. Lancaster, California is looking to pass a law which makes any new mitigation in the city the responsibility of said business or developer.

Another words, if you create a desire for people to come to your business then you will have to pay to make them not drive to your business but rather take other forms of transportation to your business. Or maybe they just go somewhere else. Ummm….

Weekly Articles

The Reason Foundation brings Oregon directly into the conversation

OR and WA lawmakers get excited about the IBR Project, but at what cost?

Lancaster, California is considering implementing a VMT Fee on businesses