Here’s how much funding would come to Oregon as part of the Biden infrastructure bill

More freeways! More bikeways! More busses! More trains!
(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

While the fate of Biden’s two infrastructure spending bills remain very uncertain at this moment, one piece of the puzzle — a $1 trillion piece — passed the Senate earlier this month.

ODOT Asst Director Travis Brouwer.

The piece that passed the Senate August 11th (with 19 Republican votes, including Mitch McConnell) will likely pass the House if and when it comes up for a vote. There’s simply too much interest among D.C. lawmakers to be part of “landmark bipartisan legislation” to let this opportunity pass by.

So what exactly is in the bill for Oregon and the Portland region?

I put that question to Oregon Department of Transportation Assistant Director Travis Brouwer. Brouwer said his team is still analyzing the bill but has already crunched some preliminary numbers.

Here’s how he said the bill would impact Oregon’s transportation system. Keep in mind, the figures below don’t include estimates for the main pot of bicycling and pedestrian-specific projects (Transportation Alternatives fund). Also not included below are estimates on how much Metro will get as part of their suballocation:

  • A total of about $1 billion in additional highway and special program formula funding for Oregon over the next 5 years — a nearly 40% increase in federal investment to preserve and improve the system.
  • More than a quarter-billion dollars funding to preserve and replace our state’s aging bridges. The majority of ODOT’s bridges are over 50 years old — the age at which they should be heading toward retirement — so this investment will help us repair and replace these aging bridges.
  • $52 million in funding for electric vehicle charging stations as well as $82 million for a new Carbon Reduction Program to help achieve our climate commitments.
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  • $94 million for a new program to enhance the transportation system’s resilience to disasters, including adapting to climate change.
  • Significant increases in funding for local governments to invest in community priorities.
  • Nearly $200 million in additional funding for public transportation.
  • Significant investments in passenger rail that will provide opportunities to secure funds to improve service between Eugene and Portland (and on to Seattle and Vancouver, BC).
  • A huge amount of discretionary grant funding that will offer opportunities to apply for key projects like the Rose Quarter, Interstate Bridge, and other priorities across the state. For example, the bill includes $1 billion for a Reconnecting Communities program to rectify historic harms caused by highway construction that could help with reconnecting the Albina neighborhood*. [Note: This program was slated for $50 billion before it was slashed in the amendment process prior to the vote.]
  • And here’s the year-by-year breakdown of transit money that would come to metro Portland:

    And the total state-by-state apportionments from the Senate bill:

    There’s a lot at stake here. If ODOT is responsible for this huge influx of funds, it will be more important than ever to make sure their leadership and governance is set up in a way that doesn’t result in us adding more capacity for fossil fuel-burning vehicles.

    — Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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    Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

    Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

    Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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    Mike Quigley
    Mike Quigley
    3 years ago

    Get this thing passed before republicans re-take control of Congress next year and cancel everything to pay for more tax cuts for the rich!

    Mark in NoPo
    Mark in NoPo
    3 years ago

    The Portland, OR-WA Metro Statistical Area has 0.76% of the country’s population but gets only 0.18% of the funds apportioned in this bill.

    I’d bet that most cities are getting short-changed and that together, we’re again being forced to subsidize the car-centric lifestyles of exurban and rural folks who want roads, roads, roads.

    Mike
    Mike
    3 years ago
    Reply to  Mark in NoPo

    Two counter thoughts for consideration:
    1. Most “local” food is grown outside of Portland city limits and yes, those car-centric farmers do rely upon motor vehicles to get the food to market.
    2. There has been a trend over the past few years (accelerated due to Covid) of people moving out of the cities and into more rural areas.

      
      
    3 years ago
    Reply to  Mike

    Your second point is contradicted by the census data. The exact opposite is actually true: people are moving from rural areas to urban areas. Most predominantly to suburbs, but also to cities themselves. But I do agree with your first point.

    Bread
    Bread
    3 years ago
    Reply to  Mike

    I fail to see how that is a “counter” to the statement that the OR-WA metro contains .76% of the population, but is only receiving .18% of the funds..

    Are you saying that because “we don’t grow our food” we don’t deserve our share of the funds?

    maccoinnich
    3 years ago

    Are the Member Designated Projects that were in the Moving Forward Act passed by the House part of the Senate? Or the upcoming reconciliation bill?

    maccoinnich
    3 years ago
    Reply to  maccoinnich

    *part of the Senate bill

    Stoking
    Stoking
    3 years ago

    The bill looks to be more of the same. Billions for widening freeways, inducing traffic and stoking global warming.

    Rain Waters
    Rain Waters
    3 years ago

    sell your soul to ol Ghina Joe. . .were watching

    Stephan
    Stephan
    3 years ago

    I’d be curious to know what the “Significant investments in passenger rail” means. What we would need is a separate passenger track that provides a frequent (at least every 30 minutes between 8am and 68m) fast, reliable train connection between Eugene, Salem, Portland, Olympia, Seattle, and potentially Vancouver. Anything but that will not draw people away from driving between these places.

    We could do so much with a well-functioning train system that connects these cities, if we were willing to put the money into it.