In his first public presentation at Portland State University (PSU) since returning to Portland, former U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer spoke with an audience of about fifty students, faculty, and community members on May 17 about transportation funding.
Drawing from years of government experience at all levels, Blumenauer outlined the funding challenges faced by transportation agencies in Oregon and beyond.
He started by referring to a saying that for every problem there is often an elegant solution that is wrong. Raising the gas tax, he said, is such an “elegant solution.” The impact of raising the gas tax is less significant now than it was 30 years ago.
“Paying by gallons is no longer rational with electrification,” he pointed out, instead advocating for a road user charge. Road user charges, he argues, are more elegant, more fair, and can dramatically improve the driving experience.
Blumenauer reminded the crowd that Oregon was the first state to adopt a gas tax, in 1919. Our state has been a pioneer in transportation innovation, and it may be time for us to once again lead by example.
Acknowledging that some road users have concerns about the privacy of their location data, Blumenauer emphasized the importance of letting people have control over their personal information and providing options for how to pay the user charges. Giving people information to make informed decisions is crucial, he said, so that members of the public understand why there is a need for an updated way to pay for infrastructure and what the options are.
A question-and-answer session with audience members followed the talk. Topics discussed included vehicle design, the costs and benefits of vehicle electrification, how freight factors into the funding discussion, and ways to support local roads.
Now that he's back in Portland, Blumenauer is serving as a Senior Fellow and Special Advisor to the Portland State University President and as a Presidential Fellow of the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies. He intends to bring his dedication and experience to bear on addressing the local and regional issues he cares passionately about, including transportation finance. IMS and TREC will be working together on the topic throughout the next academic year.
Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research. To get updates about what's happening at TREC, sign up for our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media.