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Oregon Prepares to Place $4 B Transportation Fund Initiative on Ballot

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Sunday, November 16th 2025 at 2:24 GMT by Fox 12 Oregon
      Locale: UNITED STATES

Oregon’s New Transportation Initiative: A $4 B Plan Heading to the Ballot

A coalition of transportation advocates has begun a signature‑gathering campaign that could place a $4 billion transportation funding measure on Oregon’s November ballot. The effort, spearheaded by the Oregon Transportation Association (OTA) and the nonprofit “Roads for Oregon,” seeks to secure a dedicated revenue stream for highways, bridges, public transit, and bikeways. If passed, the measure would create a new, statewide transportation fund financed by a modest increase in vehicle registration fees and a 0.1 % sales‑tax surcharge, earmarked specifically for infrastructure improvements.

The group’s lead spokesperson, Dan Selig, says the initiative was prompted by a sharp decline in state and local funding for road maintenance and public transit that has left many Oregon communities scrambling to patch potholes and shut down rail lines. “We’re not asking for a bailout,” Selig told reporters. “We’re simply asking the voters to put a permanent, predictable funding source into place.”

What the Measure Would Do

According to the OTA’s informational flyer, the measure would:

1. Create the Oregon Transportation Fund (OTF) – a dedicated account that would sit in the state treasury and receive a fixed annual allocation from a 0.1 % sales‑tax increase and a $30 per‑registration fee for vehicles purchased in the state.
2. Prioritize Projects – the fund would finance a mix of road repairs, bridge rehabilitation, public‑transit expansion, and active‑mobility infrastructure such as bike lanes and pedestrian bridges. The OTA has identified four priority areas: the Portland corridor, the Oregon Coast, the Willamette Valley, and the Rogue Valley.
3. Maintain Transparency – an independent Transportation Oversight Board would monitor fund usage and publish quarterly reports. The OTA claims the board will be composed of a mix of elected officials, transportation engineers, and community stakeholders.
4. Include a Sunset Clause – the measure contains a sunset provision that requires a statewide referendum every ten years to renew the fund, thereby ensuring continued voter oversight.

The OTA estimates that the first year of the fund would cover approximately $300 million in projects, with a gradual ramp‑up to the full $4 billion over a 15‑year horizon. The OTA’s projection includes $1.2 billion for the Portland region alone, which has long been in dire need of highway resurfacing and transit expansion.

Signature Collection Process

Oregon’s laws require that any initiative to be placed on the ballot must collect a number of valid signatures equal to at least 1 % of the votes cast for governor in the previous general election. In 2024, 4.8 million votes were cast for governor, so the OTA and Roads for Oregon must collect at least 48,000 valid signatures. As of the date of the article, the coalition reported having collected about 30,000 signatures, with a goal of 55,000 to allow for invalid or duplicate signatures. They are leveraging volunteer canvassers, local businesses, and digital tools to mobilize supporters.

The group has already met the legal threshold for signature validity in the first county (Multnomah County) and is currently working to meet the threshold in other jurisdictions. The OTA notes that the campaign will use a state‑approved signature‑collection platform, which is required by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office to prevent fraudulent signatures. Once the final count is verified, the initiative will be certified and placed on the ballot for the November 2025 election.

Political Landscape

The measure has already drawn endorsements from several county commissioners, local transportation agencies, and the Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System, which sees a direct benefit in the form of stable funding for public‑transit operations. Additionally, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters has expressed cautious support, citing potential environmental benefits of increased public transit.

However, the measure has faced opposition from a coalition of small‑business groups who argue that the sales‑tax surcharge will disproportionately affect low‑income consumers. The Oregon Chamber of Commerce has called for a more targeted approach, suggesting that a portion of the fund be earmarked for freight‑related infrastructure instead of transit.

At the legislative level, the measure has already been discussed in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, with both the House Transportation Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee offering to co‑sponsor the initiative as a private member’s bill. Although the bill has not yet passed, the discussion may influence the final wording of the measure, particularly regarding the percentage of the fund earmarked for transit versus road projects.

Related Links for Context

• The OTA’s official website (https://www.oregontransportation.org/otf‑initiative) provides detailed FAQs, the draft ballot text, and a project portfolio.
• The Oregon Secretary of State’s ballot initiative portal (https://sos.oregon.gov/ballot-initiative) lists all current initiatives, their status, and signature‑collection guidelines.
• A recent article in the Portland Mercury (https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/10/02/29487634/oregon-transportation-bill) explores the potential economic impact of the measure on Portland’s urban development.

Conclusion

As the November ballot approaches, the OTA and Roads for Oregon are racing against the clock to gather the necessary signatures and fine‑tune the measure’s language. If the initiative passes, Oregon could secure a steady stream of $4 billion over the next decade, aimed at modernizing its transportation infrastructure and potentially reducing the burden on taxpayers in the long run. While the measure faces both robust support and vocal opposition, it represents a significant attempt to address a pressing state‑wide need through direct democratic action. The final decision will rest in the hands of Oregon voters, who will weigh the promise of improved roads and transit against the cost of an additional sales‑tax surcharge and vehicle registration fee.