The Interstate 5 bridge from the Washington side as seen April 2018.
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, has introduced legislation that would make tolling on Portland metro interstates a bi-state affair, a news release from her office announced last week.
Herrera Beutler is behind an amendment to an appropriations bill that would prohibit funds from the bill to be used “for the establishment or collection of tolls on Interstate Route 5 or Interstate Route 205 in the State of Oregon or Washington,” as per the legislation text.
“The I-5 Corridor Cooperation Act requires a signed agreement by the governors of Oregon and Washington before any tolls can be collected on federal roads I-5 or I-205 between S.R. 500 and U.S. 30,” Herrera Beutler’s release stated. “It also requires that the Federal Highways Administration issue a formal economic impact study covering tolling impacts on Clark and Cowlitz County businesses, residents and tribes before any such agreement can be reached.”
The release noted that despite high-profile lawmakers in Washington in opposition of implementing tolls on the interstates, including Gov. Jay Inslee, the Oregon Transportation Commission was still eyeing to put forth a tolling scheme that eventually would tax the entirety of I-5 and I-205 from the Washington/Oregon state line to their southern junction.
“Despite Oregon transportation officials’ insistence last week to Senator Murray that they are listening to Washington’s concerns, just today they took another step toward implementing their Concept C plan to levy tolls on all Washington commuters who drive to Oregon for work, with no corresponding infrastructure improvements planned for the area. Meanwhile, Oregon’s largest and most politically influential city has issued a formal stance that this maximum-tolling plan should be implemented immediately. Given these developments, you’ll forgive us Washington residents who aren’t ready to buy Oregon’s assurances that they’ve got our best interests at heart,” Herrera Beutler said in a statement. “Until Oregon formally scraps plans to toll I-5 and I-205 at the state line without providing a specific plan to benefit those who will pay, Washington commuters deserve to have a safeguard written into law that will protect them – and that’s what my bill does.”
