HB 2017

A toll payment facility in Florida.

Tolling All Lanes

Bay Area transportation planners are studying a radical idea to reduce traffic congestion and fund driving alternatives: tolling all lanes on a freeway. Even more radical, the plan considers tolling parallel roads.

March 21, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

Highway 520

Washington State to Decide on Transition From Gas Tax to Road Usage Charge

Having completed a pilot program last year, the Washington State Transportation Commission will hear a report in October and vote in December on phasing out its 49.4 cents per gallon gas tax, fourth highest in the nation but not indexed to inflation.

August 15, 2019 - Tacoma News Tribune

Port of Morrow

Advocates for Oregon's Carbon Pricing Plan Proceed Cautiously

With the re-election of Gov. Kate Brown and Democrats increasing their majorities in both legislative chambers, Oregon appears poised next year to pass the Clean Energy Jobs bill which caps carbon emissions, but opponents could put it on the ballot.

December 12, 2018 - The Bulletin (Oregon)

Portland Interchange

Interstate Highway Tolling Takes Major Step Forward in Pacific Northwest

The state that implemented the first gas tax and the first bike tax took a huge step on Thursday toward becoming the first, since 1956, to toll all lanes on an interstate highway by approving an application to the Federal Highway Administration.

December 9, 2018 - The Columbian

Spokane, Washington

No West Coast Climate Bloc

Had election results proved favorable in Oregon and Washington, UC Berkley Law Climate Program Director Ethan Elkind suggested that the two states could join California to form a West Coast Climate Bloc. Oregon came through, but not Washington.

November 7, 2018 - Ethan Elkind

Portland Interchange

Portland's Regional Congestion Pricing Program Widens and Advances

It might be the nation's most significant but least known congestion pricing plan. The plan originally recommended tolling all lanes on segments of two interstates. Four more roads were just added to broaden the plan.

August 20, 2018 - KOIN6

Electric Cars

Oregon Supreme Court Rejects Challenge by AAA to Stop Electric Vehicle Rebates

A controversial new sales tax on motor vehicles in a state with no sales taxes survived a court challenge. As a result, Oregon consumers will have another reason to consider purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle: receiving up to a $5,000 rebate.

August 9, 2018 - Utility Dive

Marquam Bridge

Washington's Progressive Governor Becomes Protectionist When it Comes to Portland Tolling

Do residents in Vancouver, Washington need protection from congestion pricing applied to all lanes on two Portland interstates? Gov. Jay Inslee seems to think so, adding that the value pricing pilot project is "going nowhere."

August 4, 2018 - The Columbian

Marquam Bridge

Tolling of Portland Interstates Could Be Decided by Voters in 2020

Should plans to toll Interstates 5 and 205 in Portland get the go-ahead from the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Federal Highway Administration, they would still be subject to a state referendum.

July 26, 2018 - Portland Tribune

Portland Interchange

Advisory Committee Recommends Complete Tolling of Portland Interstates

A Portland regional value pricing committee recommended that the state transportation department operate two pilot programs to toll all the lanes on two interstate highways in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

July 9, 2018 - KGW

Washington, Oregon Border

Priced Lane or Priced Roadway?

The Pacific Northwest's Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area is studying options to add congestion pricing to one or two interstates.

May 17, 2018 - The Oregonian

Mt. Hood and Traffic

Oregon's New Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Litigated

The half-cent sales tax will fund new rebate programs for zero and near zero-emissions vehicles and multimodal transportation. Opponents claim the privilege tax, as it is called, violates the state constitution because revenues aren't used for roads.

November 20, 2017 - The Bulletin (Oregon)

Bay Bridge Toll

Analysis Debunks Equity Criticism of Congestion Pricing

Oregon's recently approved gas tax legislation also calls for tolling of I-205 and I-5 in the Portland metro area, with the application of value or congestion pricing so peak period tolls would be higher, which have raised equity concerns.

October 24, 2017 - City Observatory

Oregon Launches EV Rebates Funded by Auto Sales Tax

Oregon is one of five states that has no sales tax, but that will change on January 1, with Gov. Kate Brown's signature on a landmark transportation funding bill that applies a half-cent sales tax to auto sales and increases gas taxes by 10 cents.

September 1, 2017 - Planetizen

Colorado Bikes

Oregon Bike Tax Attracts Interest of Influential Colorado State Senator

The Colorado legislature has been unable to agree on a transportation funding package, but the recent bill passed by Oregon has prompted one influential Republican senator to suggest that the state tax bicycle sales.

July 20, 2017 - The Gazette (Colorado Springs)

Portland, Oregon

Oregon Legislature Passes Gas Tax, Includes Bike Tax

After Gov. Kate Brown signs the comprehensive funding package, Oregon will be the eighth state this year to approve legislation to increase its gas tax and the first ever to add a bike tax to fund bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

July 12, 2017 - The Oregonian

Mount Hood Clackamas

Oregon's $3 Billion Transportation Funding Legislation Has a Tax for Almost Everyone

The package, which doesn't tax walking and running shoes, went to the legislature on June 30. It includes a ten cents per gallon gas tax, a 0.10 percent payroll tax, a $15 tax on new bikes costing at least $200, and a potential toll on I–205.

July 7, 2017 - KGW

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.