The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is working on a solution for those who will not be able to afford the tolls that are coming to the Portland area.
ODOT is proposing a toll discount for drivers who have a household income equal to or below 200% of the federal poverty line. That's approximately $55,500 annual income for a family of four.
“Our plan is to do an extensive amount of research and outreach before we bring tolling online, and we're looking at tolling at the end of 2024, so we still have a lot of time to make sure people understand how they can register for an account and what the process will be for payment. And there'll be many options they can pay with,” said Mandy Putney, the Director of Strategic Initiatives with ODOT’s Urban Mobility.
According to ODOT, tolling is part of the state's long-term strategy to combat traffic congestion, pay for bottleneck-relief projects, reduce carbon emissions, and bring in revenue for other future transportation investments.
The Oregon toll program is planning to administer three state-operated toll projects:
- The I-205 toll project (at the Abernethy and Tualatin River bridges)
- The Regional Mobility Pricing Project including the rest of I-205 and I-5
- The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
For more information on the proposition, click here.
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Source: Kval.com
