10 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER October 2022
ODOT outlines tolling plan for the region
Charbonneau residents are still left with many questions after presentation from department
BY STEVE SWITZER
CHARBONNEAU COUNTRY CLUB
On Thursday , Sept . 8 , Oregon Department of Transportation representatives presented the department ’ s tolling plan to approximately 100 Charbonneau residents who had gathered at the clubhouse banquet room . What they thought would be an informative presentation providing answers to their many questions instead was a very disappointing hour leaving many residents with the belief that the tolling plan is already a done deal . And , according to ODOT ’ s own documents , they are correct . As early as January 2021 , the department has stated that “ tolling is part of ODOT ’ s long-term strategy to manage congestion and sustainably raise revenue for roadway and multimodal investments .”
The tolls will run electronically , with sensors reading a small transponder attached to the windshield and bill a pre-paid account . If a vehicle doesn ’ t have a transponder , a camera will capture the car ’ s license plate , and the registered owner will receive an invoice in the mail .
How did we get here ?
House Bill 3055 became law in 2021 ( ORS 383 ) which allowed ODOT to continue work on tolling and expand the project beyond just the I-205 and Abernathy Bridge .
Garet Prior , toll program policy manager , led the presentation . ODOT staff members Zoie Wesenberg and Elizabeth Kennedy were also part of the team . They outlined how low-income residents would receive an exemption or reduction in fees , but they failed to discuss what those fees would be . Also , the threshold for the definition of “ low income ” has yet to be determined . When asked about exemptions for
COURTESY PHOTO
This map outlines the Oregon Department of Transportation ’ s plan for tolling Oregon freeways along with other projects .
Charbonneau residents to travel across the bridge to downtown Wilsonville , Prior said he did not know .
This became a recurring theme for the department ’ s representative as many of the questions were answered with “ not sure , not yet determined , and don ’ t know .” When asked about administrative costs in collecting the toll , he was “ not sure .” When residents pointed out that the town would be cut in half , there was no informative answer . Mr . Prior was asked about how much ODOT is looking to replace . He said that there is a $ 500 million a year short fall .
When would this start ?
Tolling on the I-205 is scheduled to begin in late 2024 . Tolling on I-5 would begin the following year . According to other ODOT documents , work on the Boone Bridge would begin sometime in 2027 with a completion date sometime in 2030 . There is no discussion about widening the bridge , only replacing the existing three lanes and perhaps adding a fourth “ exit only ” lane from Wilsonville Road to the Canby / Hubbard exit at OR 551 .
In the past two months , Charbonneau residents have sent over 200 emails and letters to the Oregon Transportation Commission . We have received no response other than “ Thank you for your comments .” The city of Wilsonville has also voiced its many concerns about the project and has offered many alternatives . Clackamas County has joined with Wilsonville , West Linn , Oregon City , Gladstone , Lake Oswego , Tualatin , Happy Valley , Canby , Sandy , Estacada and Molalla in voicing their concern about the impacts in their communities . Wilsonville Mayor Julie Fitzgerald has testified a number of times to the commission and has received no assurances that ODOT is even looking at mitigating any of our concerns .
When pressed after the meeting about the commission not responding to our issues , staff expressed sympathy , but little else . The next step , according to Prior , is the completion of an “ environmental assessment ,” scheduled for later in the year . They assured us that there would be a public comment period after the assessment was completed .
The Niners
By MARY FIEWEGER
Kudos to our club champions
Congratulations to the Niners 2022 Club Golf Co-Champions Rose Mills and Kim Warram !
And Kudos to the following champions :
Flight 1 : Low FIEWEGER gross , Linda Shields Flight 1 : Low net , Vicky Klingerman and Ellen Newbore Flight 2 : Low gross , Larayne
Hutchins Flight 2 : Low net , Melanie Payton Flight 3 : Low gross , Angela Greene Flight 3 : Low net , Terri Layton Awards will be presented at our Sept . 20 scramble . Look for pictures in the November issue .
Our arranged tour at Oregon Health and Sciences University was so interesting . We were met at OHSU by Lisa Nolen , director of community involvement , and Dr . Adam Krieg . Adam was born and raised in Molalla and was pleased to learn we were all from Charbonneau ! He is one of the leading researchers of Ovarian Cancer in the country . Dr . Krieg said : “ How would all of you like to go into the lab ?” We actually got to see donated cancer cells under a microscope and learned about normal cells versus cancer cells and what labels a cancer “ rare ”! Scientists have learned more about cancer in the last two decades than had been learned in all the centuries preceding . He so enjoyed our group and at the end said , “ Let ’ s do this again .” I will be scheduling another tour so let me know if you are interested . Lisa Nolen remarked that our Niners have raised over $ 600,000 through the Pink Ball Golf Tournament over the last 18 years for cancer research . By the time you read this , we will have a NEW total .
The November Villager issue will also include the announcements of the Niners 2023 officers , and photos of our Niners Performance Dance and Skits .