Catching up on Two 2013 State Reports

These reports have been out for a while, but with the Legislature seemingly fumbling the special session - at least the State government's not just simply "shut down" - it seemed like a good time for the ODOT summary of transportation-related legislation and for a quick hit quote from the Global Warming Commission.

ODOT 2013 Legislative Summary

The Legislative Summary reports on some 42 bills from the House and 35 bills from the Senate that became law. And some other stuff.

Oregon Global Warming Commission 2013 Report

Not good news from the Global Warming Commission report:

Oregon is not on track. “On track” would mean a GHG reduction trajectory that reduced emissions some 20 percent between 2010 and 2020 (only seven years away)....Only in transportation do we see downward‐trending emissions curves that look sustainable, and these are still not dropping sharply enough to track Oregon’s goals....Improving transit, bike, pedestrian and car‐share modes are essential to our region’s economic and equity goals as well as our environmental ones...

If anything, the brand-new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is even grimmer.

Warming in the climate system is unequivocal and since 1950 many changes have been observed throughout the climate system that are unprecedented over decades to millennia. Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850.

(More from IPCC here.)

Capitol's 75th Anniversary Hoopla Yields Interesting History; 1938, as Now, Transitional

You might not think much of the "bowling trophy" on the 1938 Capitol, but when you consider its competition, the art-deco-y modernism of the winning classical facade actually looks pretty great.

Which design do you prefer?
(75th anniversary site)

Consider how chunky and out of proportion is the central element in one of its modernist competitors!  It's so top-heavy!

By comparison the winning design is refined, balanced, and harmonious. It really is a graceful modernist interpretation of a classical dome with symmetrical wings.  I think it will only continue to look better and better the farther away we get from its design and construction.  

Yesterday some of the history was presented in a lecture at the State Library by architectural historian Lee Roth.  Anybody go?

In honor of its 75th birthday, the State has set up a mini-site with links to lots of archival images and newspaper articles.

There's tons of great stuff!

Did you know that one plan was to expand south of State Street?  This required buying the site of Willamette University and relocating the university to the Bush property - so no Bush Park!  Negotiations on this, it seems, were pretty serious for a while.

Hillsides were also popular.  Fry Hill, right by the library was one site discussed.  Proposals for view lots in Candalaria, Morningside, and on Ben Lomond near McKinley were also floated.  The Grabenhorst development in Candalaria was so interested they offered to donate the land!

In the end, the choice to build at the same site and to expand northwards may well have been the best choice - but it was hardly free of consequences.

Cooke-Patton House Demolition, 1939
Current site of State Library
Salem Library Historic Photos

Indeed it was in some ways tragic.  For the expansion of the Capitol Mall north led to the demolition of one of Salem's premier residential neighborhoods, so-called "Piety Hill."  

Legislative Update, Sine Die - The Final Recking!

Buy a lottery ticket,
Support bikeways!

The Legislature adjourned on Monday, and a few weeks ago it was looking like nothing significant for people who bike would become law.

In a surprising dark horse win, one of the ConnectOregon bills came through with language making bike/ped projects eligible to compete for lottery funds.

A couple of other odds-n-ends passed as well.

Bills that Passed:

• ConnectOregon V reform - While House Bill 2310 to fund "ConnectOregon" stalled, in a separate effort aided it seems by the BTA, Senate Bill 260 emerged from the back room and passed both houses.  Back in April it seemed dead in committee, but July 7th, it was resurrected and the bike/ped language added.  As introduced SB 260 did not contain the bike/ped language.  BikePortland has more on the bill that makes lottery funds available on a competitive basis for non-highway multi-modal projects.  Bike/Ped projects will compete against rail, air, transit - big projects and big interests.  It might be a step in the direction of "least cost planning."  Here's the BTA's statement.  (But see below for inconsistency with the bill that as I understand it actually authorizes the monies.)
• Celphones, texting, and distracted driving - Senate Bill 294 creates an exception in existing law for taxi-cab drivers to use a hand-held celphone while driving.  Like SB 260, in a last-minute win, Senate Bill 9 filed by Senator Courtney increases the penalty for using a cel phone while driving from a Class D violation to a Class C violation, which means the maximum fine would increase from $250 to $500.
• HB 3047 doubles the length of a motor vehicle license suspension from 10 to 20 years under certain conditions. 
• While bills to enact a carbon tax failed, Senate Bill 306 to study a carbon tax did pass.



It's over!  And I'm thinking of
no more parking garages.

• Bonds and Budgets and Earmarks and Pork:  In bills not followed here previously, HB 5507 allocates $35 million from bonds for a "Capitol Master Plan."  There are rumors that because of - wait for it! - the high cost of parking, DAS has realized they don't want to build more parking garages and instead wants to invest aggressively in alternatives to drive-alone commute trips!  Look for more on this later in the month. It'll be interesting to learn more about the scope of the $35M.  (Update - it's just for the Capitol Building itself; the Capitol Mall Plan will be something else, and it is not nearly so far along.)  The Salem River Crossing planning process has blown $7M, the Columbia River Crossing $170M - so this would seem to be a midpoint in expected scope.  A companion bill, HB 5533, also allocates $42 million for ConnectOregon (see above) - but interestingly does not include the bike/ped language in SB 260.  Will the inconsistency be an issue?  HB 5533 also sends $3.5 million to Cherriots for the Keizer Transit Station.

(Interestingly, HB 2322 contains pork for Multnomah and Washington County transportation projects. Why not other counties, hmmm?)

I think that's it.  The scrapheap of failed bills after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 17 - Dead, dead, dead!

Ha ha ha!  All your good ideas
are but dung to me!

Just like Game of Thrones, practically everything died last week.

See week 12 for longer list of bills that died in committee after the first winnowing - all the rest of 'em died in the second winnowing. Maybe a select few might find a second life in a gut-n-stuff resurrection, but that seems highly unlikely.

Only three bills look remotely active and it's hard to muster much enthusiasm for them.  Click through for hearing information if you find yourself with a sudden passion.

Paying for the Roads

Gambled and Lost!

• Studded tires.  House Bill 2277 is the survivor! In committee, though, it was watered down from genuine action to a call for the proverbial "further study" on the "impact" of studded tire use. It may have died in committee.
• House Bill 2453 - "Requires persons operating certain high-mileage motor vehicles to pay per-mile road usage charge or flat annual road usage charge." It's possible this died in committee...anyone know for sure?  

Road Safety

• HB 3047 would double the length of a motor vehicle license suspension from 10 to 20 years.  

All of this year's legislative updates are tagged 2013 Legislative Session.

If you know of something of interest, or if through inattention and indifference I've missed something, please add it in the comments!

Legislative Update, Week 15

Getting There!

Skipped last week.  Future updates may be haphazard and random as there just isn't that much of interest for bikes and transportation generally.  See week 12 for longer list of bills that died in committee and other bills that looked certain to die in committee.

Hearings:

Two hearings, one on Monday, May 20th on a study of studded tires; the other also on Thursday the23rd on length of license suspensions.  See below for links to the hearings agenda.  Neither seem like key legislation.

Only three bills really remain active on the watch list here.

Paying for the Roads

• Studded tires.  House Bill 2277 is the survivor! In committee, though, it was watered down from genuine action to a call for the proverbial "further study" on the "impact" of studded tire use.  There's a hearing on the 20th.
• House Bill 2453 - "Requires persons operating certain high-mileage motor vehicles to pay per-mile road usage charge or flat annual road usage charge." It continues to get hearings and at least to give the appearance of movement. Work Session held on the 14th.

Road Safety

• HB 3047 would double the length of a motor vehicle license suspension from 10 to 20 years.  In Senate Judiciary.  Work Session for the 23rd.

Bills Moribund in Committee, looking doubtful

• ConnectOregon V reform - House Bill 2310 to fund "ConnectOregon" has moved out of committee and picked up amendments to include bike/ped projects, but there has been no movement for a month now and it looks increasingly dead.   
• Celphones, texting, and distracted driving - Senate Bill 9 filed by Senator Courtney would "increase the penalty [for using a cel phone while driving] from a Class D violation to a Class B violation, which means the maximum fine would increase from $250 to $1,000. The minimum fine would increase from $60 to $130."  (The amendments are still baffling.  Hopefully folks will chime in with some clarification.  I have no idea what this bill really means.)  It also looks stalled in committee. Senate Bill 294 would create an exception in existing law for taxi-cab drivers to use a hand-held celphone while driving. It passed the Senate and is in the House.  Hearing held on the 8th, but no movement it seems.
• House Bill 2115 would broaden the definition of intoxicating substances for the purposes of DUI citations.   It has picked up amendments, and went to the floor, but it was re-routed back to committee last month.  Could be death by procedural shuffling.

House Bill 2500 on school transportation funding and Senate Bill 756 donations to Parks and Rec for bike path funding look more than moribund.

All of this year's legislative updates are tagged 2013 Legislative Session.

If you know of something of interest, please add it in the comments!

Legislative Update, Week 13

Is it over yet?

Things are really slowing down for people who bike and more general transportation matters.

See week 12 for longer list of bills that died in committee and other bills that looked certain to die in committee.

There are several other bills left that look likely to die in committee, and we'll follow them for a bit longer.  But things don't look real promising for meaningful legislation in our little corner.

Hearings:

Two hearings, one on Wednesday, May 8th on a mileage tax; the other also on Wednesday the 8th on the celphone exemption for taxicab operators.  See below for links to the hearings agenda.

The different piles after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 12 - First Winnowing

Is it over yet?

So a week or two ago the first deadline passed, and bills that did not have worksessions or hearings scheduled officially died in committee.

(Sausage, it's like sausage making!  Even with the new "Oregon Legislative Information System," deadlines like this aren't posted in obvious places, and to non-experts such deadlines remain "secret voodoo" known only to initiates.  Sometimes it doesn't seem very democratic or accessible to ordinary citizens.)

Down at the end of the post is the scrap heap and dead pile.

At this point it's hard to see that any significant legislation will pass on behalf of people who bike.  Even transportation-related bills of a more general type seem to suffer from an enthusiasm gap.

Once the session ends, it's possible that the bill for which there was the most enthusiasm will be the exception from the cel phone ban for those paragons of careful and virtuous driving, the taxicab operators.

Hearings:

Two hearings, one on Wednesday, May 1st on a mileage tax; the other on Wednesday the 8th on the celphone exemption for taxicab operators.  See below for links to the hearings agenda.

The different piles after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 11 - Active Transportation Summit

Wednesday and Thursday bring the Active Transportation Summit to the Conference Center.

As with years past, the event has a strong Portland flavor. Moreover, with the way things are going in the Legislature, the Thursday lobby day may be too little, too late.

Several of the BTA focus bills, or otherwise bills of interest, look stalled or dead:

House Bill 3320 would create a new residential speed limit of 20 mph.

House Bill 2500 looks to expand the "types of costs that qualify as approved transportation costs for purposes of State School Fund distributions."  These would include "Expenditures made to improve  safety for students traveling to school by means that are not provided by the school district and that:
(i) Include walking or using a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or similar device..."

ConnectOregon V reform -  House Bill 2310 to fund "ConnectOregon" has moved out of committee and picked up amendments to include bike/ped projects, but there has been no movement for a month now. Senate Bill 247 and House Bill 3348 looks to be dead.

Maybe insiders will have more to say, but on the surface it doesn't look like there's much interest in any of these. The Legislature is preoccupied with other matters, and there just doesn't seem to be much activity on transportation.

Hearings:

Didn't turn up any significant hearings for this next week.  (Have you seen any?)

More updates (and tedium at this point) after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 9

Contemplating the gas tax

Super abbreviated this week. Too much going on with the Salem River Crossing and other stuff.

Bullet points only!

• Studded tires.  House Bill 2277 has a work session on Friday, April 12th.  Progress!
• School transport. House Bill 2500 looks to expand the "types of costs that qualify as approved transportation costs for purposes of State School Fund distributions."  These would include "Expenditures made to improve  safety for students traveling to school by means that are not provided by the school district and that: (i) Include walking or using a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or similar device..."  For a long time it looked stalled, but there's a work session on Monday, April 15th.
• Helmets. Senate Bill 741 would require persons "of any age to wear helmet when using bicycle, skateboard, scooter, in-line skates or roller skates when participating in organized exhibition, competition or contest."  It has a work session on Tuesday, April 9th.  The companion bill, raising the age from 16 to 18 for helmet use, is not in this work session and may be dead.
• Suspended Licenses. HB 3047 would double the length of a motor vehicle license suspension from 10 to 20 years.  Hearing and work session held, but no action or amendments yet. There is another work session scheduled for Wednesday, April 10th.

Everything else looks pretty much the same, so see notes on week 8 for more detail and more bills.

All of this year's legislative updates are tagged 2013 Legislative Session.

Legislative Update, Week 8 - conversations about the gas tax

Contemplating the gas tax

Monday brings a hearing on changing the gax tax to "allow revenue from taxes on motor vehicle fuel and ownership, operation or use of motor vehicles to be used for transportation projects that will prevent or reduce pollution and congestion created by use of motor vehicles." This would require a amendment to the Oregon Constitution and commensurately higher voting totals.

An Oregonian headline writer showed the systemic bias against which the proposal will struggle: "How can Oregon cyclists help pay their way?" as if they don't already, and missing all the ways that people on bike and other non-drivers and non-driving activity actually subsidize people driving cars - free parking, using property taxes and other non-gas tax revenue to fund roads, and so on. A better question is how can Oregon drivers better pay for the roads?  And maybe the best question of all is, how can we create a better system to fund the total transportation system.

Active transport
and smoking
at ODOT HQ

But as we see with the studded tire debate, the question for drivers runs into the wall and gets a flat tire! It is question on which the optics wholly trump truth and reality.  We aren't yet ready to look at the legacy of a mid-century monoculture that subsidized and built out a transportation system based on the drive-alone auto trip.  The drive-alone trip and the system behind it is the clear-cutting solution to the forest and thickets of a transportation ecosystem.  Monoculture is easier to grasp and looks more efficient, but it's not.

BikePortland has more on Representative Jules Bailey and House Joint Resolution 9 and the uphill struggle. KATU also filed a story:

“We’re opposed to any further dilution of the state highway fund,” said Mike McArthur, the executive director of the Association of Oregon Counties.

McArthur argues highway funding is thin to being with as gas tax revenues decline.

“We’d have more deterioration of the roads we have now,” he said. “We’re not keeping up with what we’ve got.”

McArthur said he supports bicyclists and owns three bikes himself, but argues more bikes do not necessarily take cars off the roads.

Hearings:
The House Committee On Transportation and Economic Development will talk about the gax tax (House Joint Resolution 9) and hold a public hearing on Monday, April 1st at 3pm in Hearing room E.

The Joint SubCommittee On Transportation and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 9, on cell phone use in cars, on April 1st at 1pm in Hearing room 174. I still find this bill as amended very confusing and it takes too much brainpower on a sunny Saturday morning to parse it out. (Maybe someone can help?)

More updates after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 7 - Video Poker, Treadmills, and Drones?

The big news for people who bike was moving the ConnectOregon bill, HB 2310, out of committee and securing an amendment to include bike/ped projects.  ConnectOregon is a "Multimodal Transportation Fund to invest in air, marine, rail, and public transit infrastructure improvements."  The omission of "small-m-modes" biking and walking infrastructure is a serious one and
a rectified bill is a priority for the Portland Bicycle Transportation Alliance.  About the move out of committee they said:

After months of conversations with partners, stakeholders, and lawmakers and tons of public input from grassroots supporters and community leaders we are thrilled to see this program move one step closer to expanding to include biking and walking.

We are grateful for the unanimous support of Committee members and look forward to continuing this important conversation as the bill now moves to Ways and Means.

One important note, this amendment does not dedicate any specific dollar amount to biking and walking. The amendment does open up the door to funds that we hope to grow to $100 million. The BTA will continue to work to ensure that the 2013 Oregon Legislature does commit dedicated funding to bicycle projects to help meet this growing community need.

Gazing towards the Video Poker

Left unstated is the source of funding:  video poker and other lottery games "for entertainment purposes only."  That we rely on this, that this is apparently the only available source of funding at the moment should make us all a little queasy, even if it is the only pragmatic solution just now.  According to the State, the "Big-M-Modes" of air, marine, rail, and transit have enjoyed

$100 million in lottery-backed revenue bonds to fund the program in each of the 2005-07, 2007-09, and 2009-11 biennia. An additional $40 million was authorized in 2011 for the 2011-13 biennium.

And biking and walking shouldn't be left out.

But relying on lottery dollars isn't probably very good policy.

The CRC has worked its way out of the system and into law, and since the action is now on the Washington side, short of big developments, there will be no more to say here on Bridge Mania.

Hearings:

Monday, March 25th, the Senate Committee On Business and Transportation will hold a public hearing on SB 756, which would permit specific donations to state Parks and Recreation for bike/ped trails. It will be at 3:00 PM in hearing room B.  At the same hearing will be SB 741, which requires helmet use during organized events, and SB 742, which raises the upper age for mandatory helmet use from 16 to 18.

Wednesday, March 27th, at 3pm in hearing room E, the House Committee On Transportation and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on HB 2453, which is a mileage tax on electric car and other gas-misers.

More updates after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 6 - Roll the Dice!

Does he ever weep or laugh?

Not much to report this past week.  Bridge mania crested and has passed. Bills on helmets, voluntary check-box funding, and sortof voluntary lottery funding will get hearings.

Hearings:

Outside of strictly bike stuff, in related issues, today, the 18th, the House Committee On Transportation and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on HB 2338 on extending Westside Express Rail from Wilsonville to Salem.  It will be at 3:00 PM in hearing room E.  On Thursday, March 21st, the House Committee On Judiciary will hold a public hearing on HB 2115 on intoxicants that warrant a DUI.  It will be at 1:00 PM in hearing room 343.  The House Committee on Transportation and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on Friday, March 22nd at 3:00 PM in hearing room E, to look at HB 2310 and ConnectOregon, funded by lottery dollars.  See below for more. 

Monday, March 25th, the Senate Committee On Business and Transportation will hold a public hearing on SB 756, which would permit specific donations to state Parks and Recreation for bike/ped trails. It will be at 3:00 PM in hearing room B.

Also on Monday, March 25th, the Senate Committee On Business and Transportation will hold a public hearing on SB 741, which requires helmet use during organized events, and SB 742, which raises the upper age for mandatory helmet use from 16 to 18. It will be at 3:00 PM in hearing room B

More updates after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 5

In the shadow of the CRC

Today the Legislature is going to dig into re-thinking the way we fund school transportation! It will hold a committee hearing on a bill that would permit forward-thinking (and backwards-thinking!) school districts to shift monies that had been restricted to yellow bus service to fund safe walking and biking facilities for kids getting to school on their own.  Let's have more of this retrograde thought!

Other than that, there's not much to report. 

Hearings:

Today, Monday, March 11th, at 1pm, the House Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on HB 2500 on school transportation funding. It will be in hearing room D.

Thursday, March 14th, the House Committee On Judiciary will hold a public hearing on HB 3047, which would lengthen the period of a suspended license. It will be at 1:00 PM, in hearing room 343.

Monday, March 25th, the Senate Committee On Business and Transportation will hold a public hearing on SB 756, which would permit specific donations to state Parks and Recreation for bike/ped trails. It will be at 3:00 PM in hearing room B.

Also on Monday, March 25th, the Senate Committee On Business and Transportation will hold a public hearing on SB 741, which requires helmet use during organized events, and SB 742, which raises the upper age for mandatory helmet use from 16 to 18. It will be at 3:00 PM in hearing room B

What's new?

Didn't see this bill for a carbon tax earlier.  House Bill 2792  "Imposes tax on each fuel supplier and utility based on amount of carbon in carbon-based fuel that is sold by fuel supplier to consumers in state or that is used to produce carbon-generated electricity supplied by utility to consumers in state."  It was sad to see the "Sustainable" City of Salem oppose this in its legislative positions.  I guess we'll see how the California cap-and-trade thing goes.  It's difficult to see Oregon jumping out to lead on this or something like it.

Didn't see anything else new...did you?

More updates after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 4 - CRC Smash!

Clouds and Shadow

The CRC Tsunami continues to inundate and smash, and it will have a Senate vote today.   But there's really nothing new to say on it, so that'll be after the jump.

Instead, let's talk about studded tires! The three bills that look to make a start on recovering some of the costs of road damage created by studded tires will get a hearing. That's something to cheer!

Another thing to boo? A bike registration bill.

Hearings:

On Tuesday, March 5th, at 9am, the Senate Committe on Judiciary will hold a work session on SB 9 on driving distracted with communication devices.

On Wednesday, March 6th, at 3pm, the House Committee on Transportation and Economic Development will hold a public hearing on HB 2277, HB 2278, and HB 2397 on fees for studded tires. It will be in hearing room E.

Next Monday, March 11th, at 1pm, the House Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on HB 2500 on school transportation funding. It will be in hearing room D.

What's new

Senate Bill 741 would require persons "of any age to wear helmet when using bicycle, skateboard, scooter, in-line skates or roller skates when participating in organized exhibition, competition or contest." Senate Bill 742 would require kids "under 18 years of age to wear protective headgear while operating or riding on bicycle, riding on skateboard or scooter or using in-line skates or roller skates, on public or private land."

Senate Bill 756 would allow "Department of Transportation to accept donations to State Parks and Recreation Department Fund for purpose of improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Permits registered owner of vehicle to make donation to fund when registration is renewed."

Senate Bill 769 "Requires registration of bicycles. Imposes $10 registration fee. Creates offense of failure to register bicycle. Punishes by presumptive fine of $25. Provides exemptions. Creates offense of failure to ensure bicycle registration. Punishes by presumptive fine of $25. Provides exemptions. Creates offense of failure to report change of ownership or change of address to Department of Transportation. Punishes by presumptive fine of $25. Establishes Bicycle Transportation Improvement Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to Department of Transportation for bicycle related transportation improvement projects."

House Bill 3320 would create a new residential speed limit of 20 mph.   This might be the BTA bill, but it doesn't have a chief sponsor yet.

House Bill 3348 approaches the matter of the apparently stalled SB 247 and would expand ConnectOregon. "Requires that 18 percent of net proceeds from Oregon State Lottery be deposited in Multimodal Transportation Fund. Expands use of fund. Directs Department of Transportation, after consultation with Oregon Department of Aviation, to administer aeronautic and airport transportation projects selected from projects to be funded with moneys in Multimodal Transportation Fund."

More updates after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 3 - CRC Tsunami Swamps Opposition

Last Monday the bill for the Columbia River Crossing, Portland's $4 Billion Bridge and Highway proposal, moved out of Committee and will have a vote on the House floor tomorrow, on Monday the 25th.

Standard Oil Monopoly, 1904. Detail:   Library of Congress
This really is going to be the theme image for the session

Clouds and Shadow

There's nothing new to say other than, "wow."  Pick your metaphor and image:  tentatacular, steamrollery, blitzkriegy...Whether it looks like cthulhu or nike, it's the goddess of greenhouse gas, corporate victory and pave, pave, pave.

Here are some links.  (So many of the arguments map directly to our third bridge mess.)  BikePortland on the committee vote and on Monday's floor vote - below check out the awesome animated gif of the bridge from the post!  Willamette Week on the fictions behind the financing "plan." A separate post has a long quote from Senate President Courtney in it.  Former BTA-Director Evan Manvel has a piece on the flip-flops of politicians, including Governor Kitzhaber who once said "It's time we challenged the idea that says we can build our way out of congestion by adding more freeway lanes."  And economist Joe Cortright offers an analysis of the funding plan in HB 2800. 

More interesting perhaps, at least because it is different, is the Portland BTA update on its legislative agenda.  As for the CRC, they say, "The BTA does not support HB 2800 and we are not working on the bill."  They posted their position paper on it, and while it says

We cannot support a project that will lock up state, federal, and other transportation money for the next two decades, increase congestion, and increase global warming pollution from cars and trucks.

They also don't say they oppose HB 2800. I don't see how they can remain on the sidelines for this.

As for their priorities, they cite SB 247 and HB 2310, and also two bills that don't have a number yet.  The deadline for bills - something of a soft deadline, it's true, since a very small number of "priority" bills can still be introduced - was on Thursday, and it is concerning that they weren't able to line up details to get the bills introduced earlier.  Maybe they'll be able to pull out a rabbit with a gut-and-stuff, but overall it looks like a legislative agenda of diminished expectations and nibbling around the edges.  Not very inspiring.

Two of the bike-relevant bills have Salem-area origins.  As the BTA has cut loose advocates downstate, and retrenched for the Portland area alone, they may have hampered their ability to forge a broader statewide consensus on multi-modal transportation issues.  Portland-area legislators by themselves may not be able to carry out the BTA agenda, even as modest as it is.  A Salem-area legislator, Representative Kevin Cameron, has introduced a bill that would toll people who bike on the bridge.  (BikePortland reaction here and more on co-sponsor and person who bikes Rep. Tobias Read here.)  Senator Winters' bill for a task force on bicycle safety could frame the debate in negative terms.  The BTA's decision to go at things alone with a Portland-centric focus has possibly made it more likely that unexpected and potentially unhelpful developments will arise from legislators and attract significant support outside the Portland area.

The Active Transportation Summit agenda has finally been released, and it will be interesting to see how the lobby day goes in late April at the legislature.  It's looking like the important action will all be wrapped up by then. 

In committee meetings and hearings, the House Committee on Transportation and Economic Development will hold a hearing on HB 2453, which will move road funding towards a mileage tax rather than gas tax. Details and agenda below.

Other bills remain in committee. More detailed updates - and the gif! - after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 2 - Bridge Mania Unabated

Standard Oil Monopoly, 1904. Detail:   Library of Congress

Yes, there likely tentacles here too!

Monday brings the second big committee meeting on the Columbia River Crossing, Portland's $4 Billion Bridge and Highway proposal.

The "Joint Committee on Interstate-5 Bridge Replacement Project" meets again at 3pm on Monday the 18th in Hearing Room F for a public hearing and possible work session on HB 2800.  

If you're interested in following along, the hashtag #crc as well as reporter Andrea Damewood from Willamette Week and House Republican Deputy Leader Julie Parrish were active with useful and interesting updates on Twitter. 

If you're interested in going, here's the Portland facebook page for CRC opponents and organizing attendance on "round II." 

Questions and opposition from Clark County here and here and here. The "green tea" alliance here.  Economist Joe Cortright's testimony in opposition here.  BikePortland here.  From the libertarian and conservative side, Americans for Prosperity weigh in on the "boondoggle."  And from the left, former BTA director and current Cascade Bicycling Club advocate Evan Manvel summarizes.

And much, much more out there! There's more now than is convenient to link to comprehensively.  (Sorry for so much coverage of a Portland thing, but the implications for statewide funding and debt are huge, and the issues map in so many ways to the issues on our own third bridge boondoggle.  Don't forget about Tuesday's work session for Salem City Council at Broadway Commons.)

Senate Bill 247, which would create an alternative transportation fund with lottery dollars has a hearing on Tuesday the 19th at 3pm in hearing room B.

Senate Bill 9 has a hearing ("possible reconsideration and work session") on Monday the 18th at 8:30am in HR 343.

Other bills are mostly sitting chill in committee. More detailed updates after the jump.

Legislative Update, Week 1 - Bridge Mania

Standard Oil Monopoly, 1904. Detail:   Library of Congress

Are there tentacles here too?

Monday brings a big committee meeting on the Columbia River Crossing, Portland's $4 Billion Bridge and Highway proposal - the Dr. Evil up north to Salem's Mini-Me SRC?  Is it the start of the showdown?

The "Joint Committee on Interstate-5 Bridge Replacement Project" meets at 3pm on Monday in Hearing Room F.  Here's a facebook page for CRC opponents and organizing attendance.  As Willamette Week points out, the committee is stacked with newbies who seem less likely to buck legislative leaders.  The deck looks pretty stacked.  It will consider HB 2800.

On the other hand, both Clark County and Clackamas County are seriously considering resolutions in opposition to the CRC.  Folks are beginning to see that these mega projects also threaten to suck up all the monies for transportation statewide - and are coming around to the common-sense notion that the ability to carry out several smaller projects might very well be preferable, more effective and more nimble, to one ginormous charliefoxtrot.

Things are heating up.

There's also a Tuesday hearing on Senator Courtney's bill to increase the penalties for driving while talking/texting.

Other bills are mostly sitting chill in committee. More detailed updates after the jump.

Legislative Update Presession 3 - The CRC Octopus

This week House bills got referred to committee, but otherwise there was no meaningful activity. (Points to Senate President Courtney for earliest referrals!)

Here are the bullets.  Below them is a longer bit on the giant Columbia River Crossing bill.

•  House Joint Resolution 9 -"Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to allow revenue from taxes on motor vehicle fuel and ownership, operation or use of motor vehicles to be used for transportation projects that will prevent or reduce pollution and congestion created by use of motor vehicles." Referred to Transportation and Economic Development committee.
• House Bill 2453 - "Requires persons operating certain high-mileage motor vehicles to pay per-mile road usage charge or flat annual road usage charge." It's a hot potato! Referred to Transportation and Economic Development with subsequent referral to Revenue, then Ways and Means.
• House Bill 2500 looks to expand the "types of costs that qualify as approved transportation costs for purposes of State School Fund distributions."  These would include "Expenditures made to improve  safety for students traveling to school by means that are not provided by the school district and that:
  (i) Include walking or using a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or similar device..." Referred to Education with subsequent referral to Revenue, then Ways and Means.
• Senate Bill 9 filed by Senator Courtney would "increase the penalty [for using a cel phone while driving] from a Class D violation to a Class B violation, which means the maximum fine would increase from $250 to $1,000. The minimum fine would increase from $60 to $130." After first reading it was assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
• Senate Bill 247 would use lottery funds and creates an "Alternative Mode Transportation Fund. Requires that nine percent of net proceeds from Oregon State Lottery be deposited in Multimodal Transportation Fund, and that nine percent of net proceeds be deposited in Alternative Mode Transportation Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in Alternative Mode Transportation Fund to Department of Transportation. Provides that moneys may only be used for capital improvements and operational costs of mass transit, passenger rail, bicycle and pedestrian projects."  After first reading it was referred to Business and Transportation, then Ways and Means Committee.
• Senate Bill 332 would establish a "Task  Force  on  Bicycle  Safety."  Senator Jackie Winters proposed this, and the bill as introduced is mostly procedural and otherwise content-free at the moment.  After first reading it was referred to Business and Transportation, then Ways and Means Committee.

Standard Oil Monopoly, 1904. Detail:   Library of Congress

Naturally enough there's starting to be some chatter about the CRC bill, House Bill 2260.

At the Legislature: Bills in Week 2 of the Presession

There was actually some movement at the Legislature last week.  A few bills were even referred to committee, all on the Senate side.  And commenters on last week's note pointed out a few new bills to follow.

Here's an update on the first group of bike- and relevant tranportation-related bills:

•  House Joint Resolution 9 -"Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to allow revenue from taxes on motor vehicle fuel and ownership, operation or use of motor vehicles to be used for transportation projects that will prevent or reduce pollution and congestion created by use of motor vehicles."  Already had first reading on the 14th, and it awaits a referral to committee.
• The first CRC bill, House Bill 2260 would declare "that it is in state’s interest to undertake Interstate 5 bridge replacement program. Enacts provisions relating to tolls for program. Specifies borrowing authority of Department of Transportation for program." This isn't specifically about bikes, of course, but the CRC has tremendous implications for the Salem River Crossing and all state transportation projects, as its budget would have cascading effects on the budget for other projects.  First reading on the 14th and  awaits a referral to committee.
• House Bill 2453 - "Requires persons operating certain high-mileage motor vehicles to pay per-mile road usage charge or flat annual road usage charge."  First reading on the 14th and  awaits a referral to committee.
• House Bill 2500 looks to expand the "types of costs that qualify as approved transportation costs for purposes of State School Fund distributions."  These would include "Expenditures made to improve  safety for students traveling to school by means that are not provided by the school district and that:
  (i) Include walking or using a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or similar device..."  First reading on the 14th and  awaits a referral to committee.
• Senate Bill 9 filed by Senator Courtney would "increase the penalty [for using a cel phone while driving] from a Class D violation to a Class B violation, which means the maximum fine would increase from $250 to $1,000. The minimum fine would increase from $60 to $130." After first reading it was assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
• Senate Bill 247 would use lottery funds and creates an "Alternative Mode Transportation Fund. Requires that nine percent of net proceeds from Oregon State Lottery be deposited in Multimodal Transportation Fund, and that nine percent of net proceeds be deposited in Alternative Mode Transportation Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in Alternative Mode Transportation Fund to Department of Transportation. Provides that moneys may only be used for capital improvements and operational costs of mass transit, passenger rail, bicycle and pedestrian projects."  After first reading it was referred to Business and Transportation, then Ways and Means Committee.
• Senate Bill 332 would establish a "Task  Force  on  Bicycle  Safety."  Senator Jackie Winters proposed this, and the bill as introduced is mostly procedural and otherwise content-free at the moment.  After first reading it was referred to Business and Transportation, then Ways and Means Committee.

And again, do you know of other transportation and especially bicycle-related bills to follow?

The regular session kicks off on February 4th and all of this year's legislative updates are tagged 2013 Legislative Session.

The Bills are Here! Presession Filings: The First Legislative Update for 2013

Whoo-hoo! We got ourselves some bills!

The presession filings are finally posted to the website of the Legislature, and here's the first group of bike-related bills:

• The first CRC bill, House Bill 2260 would declare "that it is in state’s interest to undertake Interstate 5 bridge replacement program. Enacts provisions relating to tolls for program. Specifies borrowing authority of Department of Transportation for program." This isn't specifically about bikes, of course, but the CRC has tremendous implications for the Salem River Crossing and all state transportation projects, as its budget would have cascading effects on the budget for other projects.
• House Bill 2500 looks to expand the "types of costs that qualify as approved transportation costs for purposes of State School Fund distributions."  These would include "Expenditures made to improve  safety for students traveling to school by means that are not provided by the school district and that:
  (i) Include walking or using a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or similar device..."  This looks good!
• Senate Bill 247 would use lottery funds and creates an "Alternative Mode Transportation Fund. Requires that nine percent of net proceeds from Oregon State Lottery be deposited in Multimodal Transportation Fund, and that nine percent of net proceeds be deposited in Alternative Mode Transportation Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in Alternative Mode Transportation Fund to Department of Transportation. Provides that moneys may only be used for capital improvements and operational costs of mass transit, passenger rail, bicycle and pedestrian projects."
• Senate Bill 332 would establish a "Task  Force  on  Bicycle  Safety."  Senator Jackie Winters proposed this, and the bill as introduced is mostly procedural and otherwise content-free at the moment.  It could be good or it could be bad. You may recall the attempt to ban babies on bikes from the last session.  It's not clear whether this means making bicycling more difficult under the guise of "safety" or whether this is offered as a sincere investigation into bicycle safety.

Do you know of other transportation and especially bicycle-related bills to follow? There may be more to say, too, as folks have time to read the bills more closely and figure out both what they mean, in both intended and unintended ways, and who's behind them. 

Depending on how the session goes, I'll look to have one update a week each Monday or so.  In past sessions BikePortland has generally had more specific analysis of the legislation driven by Portland, and so it has not been necessary to duplicate Jonathan's terrific coverage.  At the same time, sometimes there's stuff that is easier to cover from Salem, or has a less Portland-centric focus, and I'll try to fill in the gaps there.

Though there's preliminary activity this week, the session really kicks off on February 4th.