[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6605507,"mediaKeyId","2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab","parentId",2986170,"title","Committee advances several transportation studies and administrative bills; amendments adopted","audioSeconds",1063,"startMs",4081000,"endMs",5144000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab&start=4081&end=5144","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab/thumbnail_4081000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605507/Oregon/Committee-advances-several-transportation-studies-and-administrative-bills-amendments-adopted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605507-c5bf297a58e4ca70a8f3b0bb1124e82a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447868&Signature=fR5dBwe9oAJ1xV~HPGpCbkLOd7cdvJBUVFBtWJvvhMBsUUHbpZgCQtMGOp~xjvaIE811hCmSGGcOe~zqgAVC2~lIUgUT7evjO1z0~-J2SsWoEIE7KzMA6f8NcgMdy54uQwVUeDTbtMHtUCzXfWOUEiWNLGlrTEgI0oUMU6-syigbQ6Yh~wQnBh3isdADS6ZbeLz61f1YcK7GkpIru-fg59MDZgVJ1UNfYyxRx3LzABaoXP86Uby21gmI9PjU1MMvH5-WzwK0TZzsVZHfZwDYXHEf1CKx7vpmvsTLUbQW0aGoOZhK1QPJOz6hvUGwZV-svbDK2Ags9zMVZpvm-KNQvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","During a series of work sessions on April 14 the Joint Committee on Transportation adopted amendments and moved three measures forward with due‑pass recommendations or referrals.

Senate Bill 458 (study of US‑30 slide‑prone segment): The committee adopted a dash‑1 amendment that expanded the study area by one mile (from mile marker 94 to 95) after staff and map review identified additional slide‑susceptible locations. The motion to adopt the amendment carried without recorded objection, and the committee referred SB 458, as amended, to Ways and Means for funding of the study. The bill, as described to the committee, directs ODOT to review a specified portion of US‑30 and report findings by September 2026; the study will require a subsequent appropriation by Ways and Means.

House Bill 2660 (recreational vehicle trip permits): The committee approved a dash‑1 amendment to allow dealers to issue a single 30‑day trip permit for out‑of‑state RV purchasers who will not title the vehicle in Oregon; the amendment reduced the prior proposal’s number of permits and adjusted the fee (noted in testimony as preserving the per‑day cost compared to the existing 10‑day permits). The committee moved HB 2660, as amended, to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.

House Bill 3453 (Westside Rail Express public corporation structure): The committee adopted a dash‑2 amendment creating a public corporation entity to pursue business planning, negotiations and potential federal funding for expanded passenger rail service. Sponsors emphasized that the amendment creates the corporate structure but does not implement operations; any operational changes would require negotiated agreements with Portland & Western Railroad, TriMet and affected right‑of‑way owners and likely additional funding through Ways and Means. The committee moved HB 3453, as amended, to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation and referred it to Ways and Means by prior reference. Several members voiced support for advancing planning while noting past cost and ridership challenges with WES and urging careful business planning and guardrails.

All three motions were resolved by voice or unanimous consent in committee; the transcript records no roll‑call tallies. Committee members requested additional budget and scope details for proposals that would require new appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee On Transportation 04/14/2025 5:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","In work sessions the Joint Committee on Transportation adopted amendments and advanced three measures — a US‑30 safety study, an RV trip permit change, and a public‑corporation structure for an expanded Westside Rail Express planning authority — sending them toward Ways and Means or the floor as appropriate.","taxTitle","Transportation, Joint, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",18412,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605511,"Bill would create ODOT language translation office and grants for non-English driver education",752,3317000,4069000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab&start=3317&end=4069","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab/thumbnail_3317000.jpg","/articles/6605511/Oregon/Bill-would-create-ODOT-language-translation-office-and-grants-for-non-English-driver-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605511-789035bcae172be2c261efba37da98db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447868&Signature=QZ5npwXQ8nzdLxrHKpW5xXgbArraj~oxm0fKUSB5kIXTOq6D9kGbPrPyWgxWmTu2TGXtp~CUYDqI5iBqswdPmKjmq9W1pHwmg~CUW18r9sXvMTcxXPeNnnvwgTPgPcLnhg4of2gN6qVcJnMaY-HsKD51eGBLTYMVVdvayqNCHp3mO487h8mJENKrWKr9ywWXAFYXxADAMbFwUsIpF201md3g2cGQMcBRBlHlC2F7J2mbK2W7mAebvO9hJCwKCXCKtdUlFdiB79tXbgmTYI8dHdR~phC-DP~nb4l~bugWOn9mNmv5jR8yc-R7O~L1P2WeR1G1z1RqPvxuREGjj9LUSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers, advocates and the Oregon Department of Transportation’s driver services administrator told the Joint Committee on Transportation on April 14 that inconsistent translations of Department of Motor Vehicles materials contribute to disproportionately low pass rates for the Class C driver knowledge test among limited‑English speakers.

Representative Travis Nelson and Representative Leslie Munoz described evidence that Spanish speakers fail the knowledge test at much higher rates than English speakers: testimony said the statewide overall pass rate is roughly 40 percent, while the pass rate for Spanish‑language test takers was reported at about 21 percent in 2024. Nelson said more than 75,000 Spanish tests were administered in 2024.

The dash‑2 amendment to HB 2,990, as described in the hearing, would establish an Office of Language Translation within the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to coordinate translations of written public materials and contract with a single translation vendor. The office would consult community language experts and produce consistent, plain‑language translations for the five most commonly spoken non‑English languages in Oregon. The bill would also create a grant program for traffic‑safety education courses delivered in languages other than English and require reporting to the Legislature on implementation progress and pass rates by language.

Amy Joyce, administrator of Oregon’s DMV, told the committee the agency has tried multiple approaches—different vendors and bilingual staff reviews—but inconsistent procurement work orders have resulted in variant translations and mismatches between test materials and study guides. Joyce described the bill as “loosely modeled” on the Secretary of State’s translation approach for voter materials and said a single contracted vendor and a glossary of standard terms would improve consistency.

Representative Munoz emphasized the human impact: ability to drive affects work, health care access and daily life, especially in rural areas. Committee members asked about dialect choices (for example, variants of Spanish) and implementation timelines; DMV and sponsors said implementation would be iterative and that the dash‑2 package would require additional funding beyond the governor’s 2025‑27 budget to support a new office and the grant program.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 2,990 after testimony from representatives, DMV leadership and advocates; sponsors said they are working on a small dash‑3 amendment to tighten language.

Ending: The bill’s proponents described a data‑driven equity problem and a practical administrative fix: centralize translation work, consult community experts, and fund education grants. The committee did not take a floor vote on the measure in this hearing.","House Bill 2,990 would establish an Office of Language Translation within ODOT to standardize translations of driver materials and create a grant program for traffic-safety education in non-English languages; lawmakers and DMV officials said inconsistent translations contribute to very low pass rates among Spanish-language test takers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605514,"Committee hears bill to stop pre‑estimate storage fees at auto repair shops",417,295000,712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab&start=295&end=712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab/thumbnail_295000.jpg","/articles/6605514/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-stop-preestimate-storage-fees-at-auto-repair-shops","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605514-84c7793273b1edacba9e6d79fae3510c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447868&Signature=a38MYy0mK8OLquW5M1hOgs1r8Z5gki3kjHzZ3reRDrnjN3QZZcvHGdbXDceMYbYLAx~ReeP-6l4F6IuY4Xg~eUeJFPKAjQpiinMq2odhPalk4Hbx2Ez4C-MkQ~UeVyP67eUZFOBWdpjLQXEF1VgBQTVDJ5kqf0mOj0hoDlHLJqRzXED5GnKQ3Q3vd0--CbtF-Pd0Vi9K4flotJa5tCKmkhQpIMPAbmYwgsQdD8B8FtMGnGa0R8kYW7~bEooxZXHWv64LgSeOTkaKyERfyylLWh38kYW~9NRS-GWD8qVWN2QM22V~dKS~SOGnRk6jAlsbakeR4c8LKamAOkCWhpJrHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Joint Committee on Transportation reviewed House Bill 27 39 on April 14, which would prohibit auto repair shops from charging a storage fee for vehicles kept on shop property until the shop delivers a written estimate for the cost of work.

Senator Starr, introducing the bill, said it arose from a constituent’s complaint that a vehicle owner faced a $200-per-day storage charge while waiting for an estimate. The dash‑1 replacement proposal would make the storage fee chargeable beginning the first business day after delivery of the estimate; it also ties the maximum fee to local towing fee rates established under Oregon statute (ORS 90.885 million cited in testimony).

Supporters framed the measure as consumer protection for people whose cars have been towed or otherwise left at repair shops after collisions. “It’s a relatively simple, elegant solution,” Starr said, describing a case where the insurance company refused to pay a pre‑estimate storage charge.

Committee members probed timing and incentives. Representative Gamba asked whether the bill could create an incentive for shops to delay repairs after delivering an estimate and then charge storage on top of the estimate. Senator Starr and other supporters said the intent is to prevent pre‑estimate fees; once an estimate is delivered, vehicle owners and insurers can negotiate repairs, which may create scheduling delays but are not the same problem. Representative Mannix suggested refining the bill so that, after delivery of an estimate, the owner would have a defined period (for example, 24 hours) to accept or reject the estimate and, if accepted, no storage charge would apply during the repair period.

No public testimony was recorded on the bill in the hearing. The committee closed the hearing on HB 27 39 and resumed other business; no committee vote to pass the bill was recorded in the transcript.","Lawmakers discussed a bill that would bar repair shops from charging storage fees until after they deliver a repair estimate; sponsors said the change protects vehicle owners from unexpected daily charges while awaiting an estimate.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605519,"Lawmakers hear pleas to fund design of resilient Columbia Boulevard bridge to protect North Portland",3251,57000,3308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab&start=57&end=3308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2986170-96cb8729837a03afca308b2fcd1665ab/thumbnail_57000.jpg","/articles/6605519/Oregon/Lawmakers-hear-pleas-to-fund-design-of-resilient-Columbia-Boulevard-bridge-to-protect-North-Portland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605519-fa1de59e3c874a988023f77c18bebe4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447868&Signature=ZeHSd20AbXVJhXQehiWnVXskfEOaeb8DYQux0mX~IUDv7INg7DROwV3oUa4KkC-~eqexd-aSYkqRmxNDYjIi6jOOgrsgcS-gBiqtGkx6Nlw8Vc7N9w6-vc7Y0wzzds9Fq9Z78uPuk3~gifw~HhFxBp03TDzpn4JnuuXI0PksleCcWoPEoZ7GFnrlusmFGQRn0FTGlFRlM0yav3LqKEVeby-huKRJsZOU~bbz1420vDpULncxbs6oygP9mGEkwmpbnlg4lqJ82ox5Tr03qJWcmYO9NaYxrdifu9LPRXiOFvzM2uPNDi9JBNdaLJV1YHX8TYr-haAt9ZRnf-Dxix5RKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland and state elected officials and neighborhood leaders told the Joint Committee on Transportation on April 14 that House Bill 2,749 would fund early design work for a new Columbia Boulevard bridge intended to preserve emergency access to the North Portland peninsula.

Advocates said the bill would provide $5 million to the Oregon Department of Transportation to support the City of Portland’s effort to reach 30% design, which they said is a critical threshold for applying for federal bridge-replacement grants.

Representative Travis Nelson (House District 44, North and Northeast Portland) said the project is about “more than infrastructure” and described a risk that a large Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake could sever emergency access for more than 30,000 people on the North Portland peninsula. “These bridges are projected to collapse,” Nelson said, adding that the peninsula includes St. John’s, Cathedral Park and Rivergate neighborhoods and that liquefaction and potential damage at a nearby fuel-storage “CEI hub” could worsen the emergency.

Elena Pertleguine, Portland City Council President (representing District 2, North and Northeast Portland), told the committee she supports HB 2,749 and said the two parallel Columbia Boulevard structures (one built in 1909, the other in 1968) are “well past the end of their design lives and are seismically vulnerable.” Pertleguine said the $5 million request would unlock the 30% design needed to compete for federal funding and noted the full reconstruction cost is currently estimated at about $58,000,000.

Community leaders and neighborhood association representatives gave two-minute public comments in support of the bill. RJ Dimelo, chair of the St. John’s Neighborhood Association, said the area’s population and the industrial Columbia Corridor give the state a stake in the work: “If we were here talking about any one of those cities or towns being completely cut off after a disaster, would that be a state issue? I think it would be easily yes,” he said. Joseph Perkey, a St. John’s resident and local business owner, called the funding “the first step in a public infrastructure improvement process.”

Portland City Councilor Sameer Kanal and a string of neighborhood activists and pastors described personal reasons for supporting the bill: family separation risk, lack of hospitals on the peninsula, and the likelihood that emergency supplies and response would be blocked if bridges fail.

Committee members pressed technical questions about seismic performance and scope. Representative Gamba asked whether a new bridge could be expected to remain usable immediately after a major quake or only protect people who happen to be on it during shaking; witnesses and lawmakers repeatedly clarified that HB 2,749 funds design work, not final construction specifications. A PBOT feasibility study and rough concept designs were described as complete, committee members said, but PBOT needs a 30% design package to competitively pursue federal grants.

Senator Lou Frederick (District 22) and others emphasized redundancy in emergency routes and said the Lumbar Bridge (owned by BNSF) and Columbia Boulevard are the two designated emergency routes; three of the four crossings over the railroad cut are railroad-owned, which is why proponents focused on Columbia Boulevard, a publicly owned route.

Representative Nelson and multiple witnesses said more than 100 written testimonies supported the bill. Several legislators signaled support for the concept but some asked for “guardrails,” such as budget or design parameters, before approving a $5 million design appropriation.

The committee did not take a final vote on HB 2,749 during the hearing; the public hearing record closed and the committee proceeded to other items.

As next steps, proponents asked the committee to advance the bill to ways and means or to include the design funding in an upcoming transportation package so Portland can pursue the required federal match later.

Ending: The committee’s public hearing on HB 2,749 provided extended local testimony urging the state to fund preliminary engineering work for a new Columbia Boulevard crossing. Committee members and agency representatives emphasized that the request is for design work (30% design) to make the project competitive for federal grants rather than for immediate construction funds.","Supporters told the Joint Committee on Transportation that House Bill 2,749 would fund 30% design for a new Columbia Boulevard bridge — a step they say is needed to unlock federal matching grants and keep roughly 30,000 North Portland residents and workers from being cut off after a major earthquake.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances several transportation studies and administrative bills; amendments adopted

Bill would create ODOT language translation office and grants for non-English driver education

Committee hears bill to stop pre‑estimate storage fees at auto repair shops

Lawmakers hear pleas to fund design of resilient Columbia Boulevard bridge to protect North Portland