Oregonians ranked maintaining and preserving highways and bridges and improving safety as their top priority in a new survey. The Oregon Department of Transportation is tasked with addressing a $200 million budget gap in the 2027-29 budget cycle. Between August and September, a group led by Gov. Tina Kotek surveyed Oregonians about transportation spending priorities. The Oregon Capital Chronicle obtained the survey responses and an analysis compiled by Department of Transportation staff.
About 8,650 Oregonians from all counties except Wheeler County responded to the survey. More than 60% of respondents live in the Portland metro area, according to the survey analysis. In 2024, nearly half of Oregon’s population lived in the Portland metro area, according to a state economic analysis.
The first question in the survey asked respondents to rank six transportation priorities: improving safety, reliable public transit, easier to bike and walk, better traffic flow, maintaining the system, such as fixing potholes, clearing debris and snow, and preserving key assets, such as bridges and roads needing replacement. Maintaining the transportation system was ranked as the top priority, followed by preserving key assets, improving safety, making it easier to bike and walk, reliable public transit, and better traffic flow.
Nearly 4,600 people included comments in their answers to this question, including hundreds who expressed frustration with cuts to TriMet, Portland’s public transportation system. Many of them said they rely on public transportation because they cannot afford a car or because of health issues. The department did not include commenters’ names in its records release, or any other identifying information aside from each respondent’s zip code.
“I’m an avid public transportation user because my life was altered by a driver hitting me while I was cycling in the bike lane during the day,” a person wrote. “Making the roads safer for all, especially pedestrians and cyclists, is important. Public transit is the greenest and most viable option, especially when coupled with reliability and safety.” Nearly 40 comments said they want the state to focus on increasing wildlife crossings, which wasn’t listed as a priority option in the survey.
Other comments expressed frustration with the department’s financial efficiency, asking that it creates more cost-effective ways to complete projects. “No new taxes,” a person wrote. “There are too many taxes in Oregon. Reduce expenses first. Increase efficiency,” another person wrote.
“I am answering with the entire state in mind. If I were only thinking of Multnomah County, my answer would be different,” – an anonymous survey respondent.
The chart above shows the average percentages survey respondents allocated to each category. (Screenshot from analysis)
The second question in the survey asked Oregonians how they would allocate transportation funding, asking them to put the percentage of funding they think each priority category should receive. The survey analysis shows respondents said the transportation agency should focus its funding on maintaining its infrastructure, followed by focusing on preserving assets and public transit.
The third question asked respondents about what type of transportation service reductions would impact them the most. The answers mirrored responses to the first question, saying not maintaining the system, preserving key assets and improving safety would impact them the most.
The last question was an optional and open-ended question, asking Oregonians what a well-managed transportation system would look like.
