Oregon Must Decide: Pay Now or Pay More Later on Roadways

The state’s highways and streets are in trouble. Accident numbers have jumped more than half since 2013, and many lanes clog up every day because big projects were started but never finished. The bridge on Interstate 5 and the road through the Rose Quarter are just two examples of places where promised work stalled. When roads break, people get hurt, trucks waste fuel, and local businesses lose customers. Right now the budget plan on the table is a patchwork that won’t solve anything for long. It tries to fix the worst spots quickly but leaves many other problems untreated. The result is a cycle of more damage and higher costs, forcing cities to step in or taxpayers to pay extra later. Oregon has no toll roads or a broad sales tax on vehicles, so the only way to raise money is through new taxes or fees that people will have to accept.What would a real fix look like? A plan that completes the delayed projects, strengthens bridges, and makes roads safer for kids walking to school. It would also help trucks move goods smoothly, keeping prices lower for shoppers and preventing backlogs that hurt manufacturers. The money would come from a modest increase in taxes or new fees, but the benefit is clear: better roads, fewer crashes, and a more reliable supply chain. The leaders who have the power to make this happen need to talk openly with voters. They must explain what people will get for the extra cost and why not doing anything now is far more expensive. A good proposal will also show how it helps both cities and rural areas, because the road network serves everyone. Politics should not divide users of the system; instead, it should bring them together to agree on a shared future. In short, Oregon faces two choices: keep spending the same and see infrastructure fall apart, or invest now to prevent a bigger crisis later. The decision will shape the state’s safety, economy, and quality of life for years to come.