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We're studying how congestion pricing can improve the transportation system in the Portland metro area

Our region is growing and more people are on our roads than ever before. As a result, highway traffic has increased, drive times are inconsistent, and rush hour can last most of the day. Unless we do something about it, increasing hours of congestion will continue to cause delays, frustration and reduced quality of life.

The Portland Metro Area Value Pricing Feasibility Analysis is studying how and where congestion pricing, also called value pricing, could be applied on I-5 and I-205 in our area. Congestion pricing is one tool among many actions ODOT is taking to improve our transportation system. Other current and upcoming work on I-5 and I-205 includes several major projects to reduce bottlenecks and add capacity, improve ramps and interchanges, maintain facilities, and improve signage.

Your input is essential

We’re learning how congestion pricing can work for the Portland region. Since ODOT began this phase of congestion pricing analysis in 2017, staff has conducted extensive public outreach, including open houses and an online survey that generated thousands of comments in January and February 2018.

This online open house provides information from the technical analysis and gathers feedback on five congestion pricing concepts. Participants can also share their thoughts on ways to broaden benefits for our unique region. After 2018, ODOT and the OTC will conduct additional public input and technical analysis.

The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) is the pricing authority in Oregon. The OTC will use the feasibility analysis to develop a proposal for value pricing for the Federal Highway Administration in late 2018.

Many details about congestion pricing, including the locations and prices of tolls, are yet to be determined.

To learn more, select a station below or click the buttons at the top of the page.

Stations

Priced lanes and roadways are tools that give people the option to pay a fee for more reliable travel times and make the whole transportation system work better
Learn more and share your thoughts on congestion pricing concepts for I-5 and I-205
Broadening the benefits of congestion pricing to fit our region
Find out what's coming up next and learn about how you can keep up with project updates

How does congestion pricing work?

ODOT and our partners are working to make improvements to the transportation system through transit, bike and pedestrian investments, and improvements to state and local roads.  However, research shows significant congestion will exist on I-5 and I-205 in the future, even when planned projects are constructed. Congestion pricing is one of the most promising options for reducing traffic jams on our highways.

  • Metro's Regional Transportation Plan guides transportation investments throughout the Portland metro area.

  • House Bill 2017, known as Keep Oregon Moving, invests billions of dollars in transit, bicycle and pedestrian highway projects that will improve the transportation system in the region and statewide.

In Oregon, the benefit of paying a toll will be a faster, more reliable trip. When drivers pay the toll, they receive the benefit—a faster trip—immediately.

In short: Our goal is to allow more people to travel when and where they need to travel.

How does it work?

Congestion pricing works by placing a cost on the use of the highway during rush hour and other periods of heavy traffic, allowing people to choose between paying a fee for faster highway travel, or choosing to take their trip at a different time with a lower fee, carpool, travel using a different mode of transportation, take a different route, or not make the trip at all. 

No toll booths: Congestion pricing would not require people to stop at toll booths. Technology that identifies cars with transponders or reads license plates in a manner that does not compromise privacy would allow drivers to pay tolls without slowing or stopping.

Variable rates: The cost of the toll will vary depending on how much traffic is on the highway. During periods of high traffic, the toll will go up. When traffic is light, the toll will go down. 

Better travel options when you need it: Congestion pricing will give people the choice for a faster highway trip when they really need it—like when they need to get to work, a medical appointment, or pick up their child from school or daycare. Pricing is typically combined with transit improvements to provide additional travel choices.

The primary goal is to improve travel: Any funds raised from tolling will go first to pay for implementing the tolling system. If there is additional revenue left over, it must be used for roadway improvements, as mandated by Oregon state law.

Effective: Numerous examples from the U.S and around the world show congestion pricing can work to improve traffic conditions. Seattle drivers saved an average of 26 minutes every day in 2016 with their express toll lanes on I-405

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  • Modern tolling systems are streamlined and flexible

    Modern tolling systems are streamlined and flexible

  • Washington Department of Transportation transponder system

    Washington Department of Transportation transponder system

  • Seattle area congestion pricing

    Seattle area congestion pricing

  • Example of congestion pricing

    Example of congestion pricing


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Share your thoughts on five concepts

Tolling concepts under review

Technical analysis, public input, and experience from congestion pricing systems throughout the U.S. were used to identify five tolling concepts for further evaluation. The concepts include tolling new or existing lanes, or the entire roadway, for different portions of I-5 and I-205.

Click or tap here to open the survey in a new window.

Finding the best fit for our region

In the past few months, ODOT has heard from people that any congestion pricing program implemented in Oregon needs to be fair and equitable. With congestion pricing systems, payment is directly tied to highway use; those who choose to drive at congested times pay a fee. In turn, those drivers benefit from reduced traffic and faster, more reliable trips. Under some pricing scenarios future analysis may show benefits to unpriced lanes as well.

Any road pricing program will include strategies to promote equity for lower-income households and adjacent communities.

Over the past several months, the community has identified concerns and potential solutions, including:

  • Design the project to minimize the impact on people of low income or otherwise disadvantaged

  • Set performance measures to ensure traffic congestion is reduced

  • Minimize traffic diversion to local streets

  • Make the pricing system easy to understand and use

  • Provide alternative driving routes

  • Provide more transit, bike and walking options

  • Make sure revenue is used fairly

The Portland Metro area is known for finding unique solutions to urban and regional issues. Tailored policies can address challenges and better distribute the benefits of congestion pricing. See the gallery for some example policies used elsewhere in the U.S., or download the PDF.

Let us know what you think

What strategies, policies or decisions should be considered to make congestion pricing work for the Portland metro area?

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  • Example strategies to address potential impacts

    Example strategies to address potential impacts

  • Incentives and discounts

    Incentives and discounts

  • Enhanced multimodal investments

    Enhanced multimodal investments

  • Special access programs

    Special access programs


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What happens next?

Thank you for participating and providing your input! ODOT will continue to engage with community members across the Portland-Vancouver Metro area through 2018. We encourage everyone to learn more about congestion pricing, ask questions, share opinions, and be part of the solution. 

There will be additional opportunities to share your opinions before any pricing system is implemented.

Schedule

A region-wide public conversation about value pricing will continue throughout 2018. The five concepts for congestion pricing will be further analyzed for how they would work for the Portland metro area. The Oregon Transportation Commission will submit a report and proposal to the federal government by the end of 2018 for review.

Timline of Congestion Pricing

Opportunities to speak one-on-one with project staff and ask questions are available at four open house events in April 2018. These drop-in events will share the same information as this online open house, but in an in-person setting.

Thursday, April 12
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Museum of Oregon Territory
211 Tumwater Drive, Oregon City

Saturday, April 14, 10 am - 12 pm
Ron Russell Middle School - Commons
3955 SE 112th Avenue, Portland

Wednesday, April 18, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Tigard Public Works - Auditorium
8777 SW Burnham Street, Tigard

Saturday, April 21, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Embassy Suites Airport - Pine Room
7900 NE 82nd Avenue, Portland

Monday, April 30, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Marshall Community Center/Leupke Center
1009 E McLoughlin Blvd.

Policy Advisory Committee

To help make sure that a variety of perspecties are represented in the final proposal, the Oregon Transportation Commission established a Value Pricing Policy Advisory Committee to guide ODOT through the Value Pricing Feasibility Analysis. This committee consists of more than 20 representatives from local governments from Oregon and Washington, environmental, business, social justice and equity advocates, and other highway users. Meeting dates and materials are posted online.

Stay informed and make your voice heard

Continued public review and input on value pricing is essential to help us fully evaluate congestion pricing and determine how best to implement it.

More information is available on the project website.

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