Community and labor groups are making their voices heard in Portland, pressing the City Council to approve a third installment of the Fixing Our Streets program, a vital 10-cent gas tax aimed at improving citywide transportation maintenance and safety. Transportation Commissioner Mingus Mapps is advocating for the proposal to be placed on the May 21 ballot, a move that if backed by voters, is expected to fetch approximately $70.5 million over the next four years, according to a Portland government press release.
The request for renewal comes as Portland faces some of the most alarming traffic fatality rates in over four decades, with the underfunded transportation sector highlighted as a critical public safety crisis, particularly affecting pedestrians and the unhoused in East Portland. "In the face of Portland's worst traffic fatality numbers in four decades, and given the disproportionate risks to pedestrians and the unhoused, especially in East Portland, the city's shortfall in transportation funding isn't just a budget issue—it's an urgent public safety emergency calling for immediate action," Sarah Iannarone, Executive Director of The Street Trust, emphasized in a statement obtained by Portland Mercury.
Portland's Fixing Our Streets initiative, which initially passed in 2016 and was again favored in 2020, has seen surging support from Portland's populace, with a renewal possibly securing close to $75 million for the Portland Bureau of Transportation until 2028, as noted by Portland Mercury. The tax revenue would be allocated across a range of services, including street paving, installation of signals and beacons, sidewalk improvements, and a host of community street services.
Mapps expressed optimism about the renewal, stating, "We need Fixing Our Streets to help address critical maintenance needs such as paving our streets and filling potholes," He added, "We need Fixing Our Streets to address safety needs that can save lives... That's why I'm so excited to bring this program to City Council. I am confident and hopeful that they will strongly endorse this and send it to voters for the May election." The success of the program is even more critical as PBOT faces a daunting $32 million budget shortfall, potentially impacting the bureau's ability to maintain its most in-demand services.
Additional endorsement for the gas tax comes from labor organizations, with Paul Cone, President of PROTEC17 Portland Chapter, stressing the importance of the program during challenging times. "Our frontline and professional staff, many of whom have been working 12-hour shifts, are under threat of budget cuts and layoffs. While not all problems can be solved with money, layoffs and staff cuts would set PBOT back immensely as we all try to make our streets a safer place. We hope to see Fixing Our Streets renewed so that we can continue to proudly deliver for the people of Portland." He highlighted the urgent need for renewed funding to avert a massive setback for the bureau's services and its commitment to safety.
