The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is hosting the Statewide Transportation Safety and Sustainability Outreach Tour.
The next two stops will be held Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.
The purpose of the tour is to help state legislators understand the challenges of maintaining a safe, accessible, and reliable transportation system as well as Oregon’s unique needs.
Transportation agencies statewide and ODOT are facing structural funding challenges caused by legal restrictions on available funding, declining gas tax revenue, and high inflation. In response, agencies have cut maintenance spending and staff levels.
Lawmakers seek solutions, and ODOT supports that effort.
The public hearing on Aug. 7 will be held at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay while the hearing on Aug. 8 will be held at the Jackson County Expo Center in Medford. Both hearings will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed.
ODOT partnered with local transit agencies, cities and counties to take legislators on a bus tour to see the condition of bridges, roads, and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Residents are encouraged to provide public comment. Those interested in testifying must register in person. Registration starts 30 minutes before the meeting begins. If time allows, remote testimony will be heard.
Written testimony can be submitted via email.