Update on Oregon’s Transportation Package!

HB 2025—the statewide transportation funding package—has been released, and trails have been completely left out. Again. Despite strong advocacy earlier this session that got off-street paths named as a key priority in the bill’s initial framework, the version released this week includes NO NEW FUNDING for Oregon Community Paths. The package does not the change the approximately $2 million/ year generated by OR state bike tax and a tiny percent of vehicle privilege tax combined that goes into the Multimodal Active Transportation Fund for trails, but the omission of new funds in this package is unacceptable. The Oregon Community Paths program was oversubscribed by more than 4 to 1 over its first two cycles and has a need of well over $100 Million per biennium to meet the community demand.

We Can’t Accept a Transportation Package That Ignores Trails

We’re proud to stand with our partners at Move Oregon Forward to support investments in Safe Routes to School, Great Streets, and transit. But the package’s failure to address the trail funding crisis puts lives, safety, and access at risk, especially in rural communities where off-street paths are often the only safe alternative to state highways. We cannot accept a transportation package that puts hundreds of millions of new transportation dollars on the table while making zero attempt to address the funding shortfall for Oregon Community Paths!

Update: Your advocacy is working! An amendment has been submitted that includes funding for Oregon Community Paths!!

1️⃣ Submit Written Testimony

Deadline: Saturday, June 14 at 4 PM📄 Submit your written comments urging lawmakers to amend HB 2025 to include trail funding via the Multimodal Active Transportation Fund.

Share your support for the amendment to HB 2025 that has been filed to dedicate funding from a luxury vehicle tax to electrification and Oregon Community Paths!

We also encourage our members and supporters to celebrate the proposed investments already identified in the package for on-street safety through Safe Routes to School and Great Streets, for transit, and for rail.

2️⃣ Contact Your State Legislators Directly

Call and email your State Senator and Representative.

“Will you share your support for the amendment to HB 2025 that has been filed to dedicate funding from a luxury vehicle tax to electrification and Oregon Community Paths?

📬 Be sure to ask for a call back—personal follow-up makes a difference!

Oregon Community Paths Details, Talking Points, and Sample Testimony:

Oregon Community Paths funds grants for project development, construction, reconstruction, major resurfacing or other improvements of multi-use paths that improve access and safety for people walking and bicycling. This program is used to fund the off-street portions of Safe Routes to School projects as well as access to parks, transit centers, and alternatives to high-speed roadways. It is especially critical in rural communities, where off-street paths are frequently the only alternative to walking, running, or biking on the state highway system. The program was oversubscribed by more than 4:1 in its first two funding cycles.) We are asking that a very small portion of the new funding identified in the transportation package be allocated to this program through the Multimodal Active Transportation Fund which exclusively funds the Oregon Community Paths program.  We celebrate the proposed investments already identified in the package for on-street safety through Safe Routes to School and Great Streets.

Why Funding Trails Matters

• More than 80% of Oregonians report using local trails or off-street paths, and there is broad public support for investing in trails.

• Safety: Off-street paths provide the safest alternatives to walking or riding on high-speed and high-traffic roadways, and ODOT’s Oregon Community Paths program is a critical tool alongside Great Streets and Safe Routes to School, in addressing the epidemic of traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways.

• Economic Impact: In addition to saving lives and healthcare system costs, off-street paths are extremely valuable visitor amenities and support Oregon’s outdoor recreation and tourism economies and the economic vitality of Oregon communities. While we lack Oregon-specific data on trails Return On Investment, the ROI of significant trail investments nationwide is well-documented.

• Leverage Federal Funds: Oregon Community Paths program provides one of the only sources of matching funds for the state and for local governments to leverage federal funding for trail projects in Oregon.

Sample Testimony:

Dear Co-Chairs and Members of the Committee, My name is [Your Name], and I live in [Your City/Community]. I’m submitting testimony today to ask for your support for the submitted amendment to HB 2025 to increase investment in Oregon Community Paths via the Multimodal Active Transportation Fund through a luxury vehicle tax. [Share why trails matter to you personally or to your community.]

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

 Nervous about delivering testimony? We're here to help! Oregon Trails Coalition is a proud steering committee member of the Move Oregon Forward campaign, and together we've developed this testimony toolkit. You can also just reply to this email, and we're happy to share resources or jump on a call.