Salem, OR. – Official Release:
Senate Republican Statement: Senate Republicans are stepping up to fix what Democrats have ignored for years: accountability at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) have tapped Senator Bruce Starr (R-Dundee), a veteran transportation policy leader, to lead the development of accountability recommendations, which he will present to the Joint Committee on Transportation in March.
For years, ODOT has faced ballooning costs, project delays, and budget shortfalls—not just because of fuel efficiency improvements or increased electric vehicle use, as Democrats claim, but because of mismanagement and a lack of oversight. The Statesman Journal recently exposed troubling questions about how funds from the 2017 transportation package were spent, underscoring the need for serious reforms before lawmakers ask taxpayers to foot the bill for another round of funding.
“Turning to Republicans for help fixing this problem is the ultimate admission that Democrats lack the vision, creativity, and resolve to reform an agency riddled with mismanagement and misplaced priorities. But if Democrats are only looking for cover to justify another tax hike, we won’t be their scapegoat. Governor Kotek’s default response to every problem is to raise taxes, but Oregonians shouldn’t be forced to pay more just to subsidize this agency’s failures, especially when they’ve made it clear they can’t afford more taxes,” Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) said.
“Tapping a Republican with decades of transportation policy experience is a wise move, but only if Democrats are serious about solving this problem,” Bonham continued. “A real solution will require a conservative approach: rooting out waste and corruption at ODOT and making a complete 180-degree turn from the status quo. By asking Republicans to step in, Democrats have accepted the reality that ODOT is in a state of abject failure. Now, they have a choice: work with us to implement real reforms or prove they were never serious about accountability in the first place.”
“The recommendations we make will require difficult decisions, but if we don’t get this right, Oregonians will be stuck with mismanaged projects, deteriorating roads, and higher costs—again,” said Senator Starr. “It’s time for real change and the accountability taxpayers deserve.”
Democrat Leadership Statement: Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) announced that Senator Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) will lead the development of recommendations for an accountability proposal as a central component of the Legislature’s 2025 transportation package. “It’s critical for ODOT to get back to its core mission: making sure roads are safe, freight can move, and helping families get where they need to go,”
Sen. Starr said. “Given the serious challenges facing the agency, the Legislature has a real opportunity to make meaningful reforms to how ODOT is doing business. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to identify and implement changes that restore accountability and ensure Oregonians get the most out of their transportation tax dollars.” Oregon taxpayers deserve sound stewardship of their hard-earned dollars and to know that agencies entrusted with those dollars will use them wisely.
While the accountability recommendations will likely require difficult decisions, they will be necessary to restore trust with the public. Additionally, the Oregon Department of Transportation is facing a significant budget shortfall due to increasing electric vehicle use and more fuel-efficient vehicles cutting into fuels tax revenue, which will only worsen in the future. If the Legislature does not act to stabilize ODOT this session, roads across the state won’t be paved or plowed in the winters, hundreds of miles of highways will go without proper maintenance, and DMV offices will be at risk of closure.
Nearly 1,000 ODOT employees will also lose their jobs. “We’ve been clear since this process began that accountability will be a key aspect of the 2025 transportation package; the third leg of the stool, along with creating a stable funding structure and the safety and maintenance operations we’re funding,” Speaker Fahey said. Sen. Starr will put together a team to review current ODOT accountability mechanisms and their effectiveness, while also studying where additional mechanisms should be added.
A draft accountability plan will be presented to the Joint Committee on Transportation in March. Led by co-chairs Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) and Rep. Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro), legislators on the Joint Committee on Transportation will craft a legislative package this session that will provide stable, sustainable funding for ODOT, complete major unfinished projects, and ensure accountability within the agency. This process began last summer with a 12-stop statewide tour where legislators heard directly from local leaders and community members about their transportation needs and funding options.
Public workgroup meetings were held in the fall as the broad strokes of the package began to take shape. “Inaction is not an option. We need a transportation system that supports Oregon’s economy, allows parents to get their kids to school, and ensures the health and safety of our communities,” President Wagner said. “Sen. Starr is a veteran of transportation policy and Sen. Gorsek and I are grateful our Senate colleague agreed to step up and lead this critical accountability work.”
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