Infrastructure

Portland City Council tentatively approved a plan Wednesday to spur sidewalk construction and maintenance in Portland’s east and southwest neighborhoods.

A package unveiled by the party would include deep cuts to state funding on public transportation and other areas.

With federal money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency now uncertain, Grants Pass, Medford and Port Orford officials are all facing potential budget shortfalls for water systems projects.

Years of neglect has left Portland roads, buildings, parks facilities, water systems, technology and other types of infrastructure deteriorating at an unsafe — and expensive —pace.

Under ideal conditions, the agency says it would be able to replace 27 bridges per year. But with its current resources, it’s only on pace to replace three.

With significant cost increases on highway and bridge projects in recent years, lawmakers are facing a price tag ranging from $5 billion to $7.5 billion in order to fund the project to replace the I-5 bridge across the Columbia River. To help with the cost, Washington state is increasing the amount of toll revenue and is looking to the House Transportation Committee to get a funding bill through Congress.

A framework released Thursday includes a major gas tax hike, several entirely new taxes and a lot more.

Jails in rural Oregon are often older and in need of upgrades, but new tax money can be hard to come by.

They are lobbying for a five-fold increase to a tax paid by Oregon workers.

Portlanders have long lobbied City Hall to address a lack of sidewalks in areas of the city with a high rate of traffic-related deaths. Now, the city’s recently elected officials are trying to take action.