Do Oregonians Support Tolling? 🛣️

Survey results are in.

The Street Trust works to achieve a complete, safe, low-carbon, multimodal transportation system that contributes to equity in access, opportunity, health, and prosperity for people and communities across the Portland Metro Region and beyond. That’s why, even though it’s a complex and divisive issue, we believe the tolling/congestion pricing conversation is too important to sit out.

Ultimately, any decisions regarding tolling and transportation funding should consider a wide range of factors and strive to create a more sustainable and equitable transportation system for our region’s residents and beyond. For that to happen, we need to have a public conversation on the issues based on facts, not misinformation.

That’s why we were disappointed by recent survey findings in the Portland Tribune that 90% of Oregonians oppose tolling. The Street Trust spends a lot of time talking to people across the region, and their findings didn't resonate with what we’ve been hearing, so we decided to conduct our own “unscientific” research.

We sent an email out last week with a survey, “Do you support tolling in Oregon” and left it open for 24 hours. Our survey yielded over 400 responses from people reporting from 76 unique zip codes. 

With the survey, we sent out informational links to government (ODOT) websites about two toll projects underway in the Portland metro area – the I-205 Toll Project and the Regional Mobility Pricing Project. 

We were transparent about our organization’s position on tolling in Oregon: we see equitable tolling designed to manage demand as a potentially powerful tool for shifting vehicle trips to less congested times and routes, and to more space-efficient and less-polluting modes. We also encouraged survey participants to review the work of ODOT's Equitable Mobility Advisory Committee. (EMAC's "Shaping an Equitable Toll Program" report was adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission as policy in July 2022.)

Here’s what our survey found:

1. Opposition to tolling is not as unanimous as the Tribune results suggest. While their survey found 90% opposition, our survey yielded a modest majority support tolling with nearly 10% undecided. This distinction seems especially important (and more reflective of reality) given how confusing the language, timelines, and processes across ODOT’s two toll projects can be… for the public and policymakers.
   

2. Across the spectrum of support, survey respondents expressed many caveats and concerns about how tolling in Oregon will be implemented, and how the money from tolling will be spent.

Here are some of the main takeaways from the over 200 respondents who took the extra time to share their in-depth opinions on the topic:

Among our respondents there was general agreement that alternatives to driving are necessary for a sustainable and equitable transportation system. Overall, based on the comments we received, there seems to be a mixed opinion and many caveats and concerns about tolling in Oregon, not near-unanimous opposition as the Tribune suggests. 

Many people expressed support for tolling as a way to reduce GHG pollution and generate revenue for public transportation and active transportation (like walking or bicycling). Some people see it as a necessary tool to reduce congestion and achieve transportation and climate change goals.

“I feel strongly that congestion pricing can be a tool to help us move away from single occupancy vehicle trips. Funds raised should be used for two purposes. First, to enhance orphan highways for the people who live around them, transforming them from danger zones to community assets. Second, to fund transportation modes that further climate goals, prioritizing robust public transit that is fast, frequent, and reliable.”

Some people expressed concern about tolling’s potential regressive effects on low-income families and neighborhoods and its impacts on neighborhood streets as people try to avoid paying tolls (also known as “diversion”). Others were worried about increased costs for workers who do not live near public transportation, but will have to pay more to drive to work, as well as the potential negative impacts tolling could have on workers who may not have the flexibility to shift their drive times in order to arrive at work on time. Still others were concerned that the revenue generated by tolling might not be managed responsibly.

“Having lived in another state where tolling was used to help pay for a road, then it became permanent, I’m opposed. There wasn’t significant improvement in the road way and tolls became more of an industry than an actual assistance to the state.”

Several commenters suggested that toll revenue should be used to fund safety projects and sustainable transportation modes such as pedestrian and bicycle trails, transit, and even automated enforcement technology. Others believe that tolling should only be implemented in areas where there are sufficient public transit options to serve as an alternative to driving. Still others want to see other ways of generating revenue for transportation, such as more widespread adoption of road user charges like OregGo or varying fees by vehicle size or weight. 

Generally, the people who responded to our survey in favor of congestion pricing want to make sure that toll revenue is not used to further harm historically marginalized communities or to facilitate more drive-alone trips or expansion of highways. 

Ultimately, there remain more questions than answers about tolling in Oregon, and along with the confusion a wide variety of positions and opinions on the topic. For these reasons, we recommend continued, fact-based and data-driven, community engagement and conversation on the topic of sustainable, equitable transportation funding in Oregon.

To that end, The Street Trust wants to share three upcoming opportunities to keep you involved in the conversation:

• Tuesday, April 4, 3:00-6:00pm | Tolling public hearing | Join via Zoom

• Wednesday, April 26, 9:00am | “The Future of Transportation Funding” plenary at The Oregon Active Transportation Summit | Get tickets

• Multiple Dates and Times | The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee “Roadshow” | See schedule

Do you appreciate advocacy on the future of funding for transportation in Oregon?