On June 25th, Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill 2592 into law. This omnibus transportation bill amends and clarifies several items from the landmark 2017 transportation funding measure, HB 2017 Keep Oregon Moving, and does carry new implications for trails in Oregon.
In summary the bill:
-Directs Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to allocate $4 million per biennium to bike and pedestrian trails in cooperation with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). This reverses statute from HB 2017 that would have authorized ODOT to require the same amount in reimbursement from OPRD and threatened to drain funding from the beloved Local Government Grant Program used by Oregon communities to fund trails and other parks projects. This directed allocation sunsets in 2025.
-Establishes a Multimodal Active Transportation Fund separate from the Connect Oregon funding program for the purpose of funding bike and pedestrian trails. This replaces eligibility of bike/ped trails to compete for funding in Connect Oregon and will be administered by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The fund will consist of funding generated by the bike tax and 7% of the Connect Oregon fund from lottery bonds and vehicle privilege tax (when there is $75 million or more in fund).
-Changes definition for Class IV ATV, including overall weight and width which will cause some new management and communications challenges for OHV areas and riders.
Thanks to all of the Oregon Trails Coalition members and supporters who shared the importance of preserving trails funding with Oregon legislators this session, and particularly with members of the Joint Transportation Committee, the architects of this bill.
You can read the full bill language and see its history here.
Learn more about the Coalition's advocacy on this bill this session:
The Oregon Trails Coalition will continue to work with the trails community and our state agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for trails and trails users in our state in regards to how HB 2592 is implemented.