PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Portland officials are weighing new fees on residents and businesses as the city’s transportation bureau faces a growing funding crisis and a multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation has a maintenance project backlog that has grown to $6.6 billion. More than 64% of city roads are in poor or very poor condition.
PBOT has depleted its cash reserves and has borrowed millions of dollars to maintain its existing operations. At the same time, the gas tax — once a primary revenue source — has been dwindling for more than a decade…