The truest comment is on the lines of "if tolls won't pay for a bypass, maybe it's not needed."

I am surprised the Oregonian is so ignorant of the financial realities of this state, including ODOT.

1) There is very little money available for capital improvements: ODOT figures a $500 Million annual shortfall. Maybe because there's been no gas tax increase since 1993.

2) It is a zero sum game. Building a $500 million bypass will take the next 20 years of available funding for the whole state. Is the Oregonian advocating doing nothing everywhere else in the state to deal with a minor roadway's problems?

3) The OTIA projects are being built mostly with borrowed money financed by mortgaging the next 20 years of federal and state gas tax revenues.

Shameful for the big O to fall for the "free lunch" false solution. Tolling is a good measure of whether there really is a market for a transportation product. There doesn't seem to one in this case. So, why do we want to build a bypass?

Rex Bikeholder:1) There is very little money available for capital improvements: ODOT figures a $500 Million annual shortfall. Maybe because there's been no gas tax increase since 1993.
JK: Or maybe it is because, as I have been told, ODOT has 5000 employees and quit building roads years ago. Rex, why is it that you guys could come up with a billion to build toy trains, but can’t seem to milk the Federal teat for roads? Is it because you still believe we are running out of oil as Russia recently surpassed Saudi Arabia for oil production (a blip, not YET sustained), the US made one of the biggest finds in history and Mexico made a big find and as the price of gas is falling towards $2.00 per gallon (and is still cheaper than water?)

Rex Bikeholder:2) It is a zero sum game. Building a $500 million bypass will take the next 20 years of available funding for the whole state. Is the Oregonian advocating doing nothing everywhere else in the state to deal with a minor roadway's problems?
JK: I keep hearing that there is cheaper route ($100 mil??). But you guys chose the most expensive. (Sorta like choosing the most expensive option for Division street out near Gresham - the county standard would have cost much less (1/3 or ½ of what you guys went for).

Rex Bikeholder: Tolling is a good measure of whether there really is a market for a transportation product.
JK: Interesting idea - let the users pay the full cost. You should apply this principal to mass transit too.

PS: Rex , did you notice, if you read the details, the hockey stick got broken by the recent NAS report on climate change (bristle cone pines should not be used. But they are the foundation of the hockey stick - without them you get a straight line with ups and downs.)

Thanks
JK