Oregon Strapped For Transportation Cash

"'There is a lot of concern about costs and who's going to pay,' said Commissioner Sam Adams, the city's representative on the task force that is trying to reduce congestion and increase safety on and around the Interstate Bridge."

"But even though the crossing project is potentially the most expensive transportation effort in the region's history, the same question of who will pay can be asked of major future road projects."

"The largest single source of state and local transportation funds is the 24-cents-a-gallon state gas tax, which has not increased since 1993. Motor vehicle fees were increased in recent legislative sessions, but only to fund bridge repairs."

"As a result, though the Oregon Department of Transportation has identified more than $9 billion in critical highway projects around the state, it will have only about half of that money over the next 25 years."