Portland residents and businesses will soon face a new monthly fee, after city councilors adopted the surcharge to bolster the city’s ailing transportation system, a feat that prior local elected leaders tried — and repeatedly failed — to achieve.
The ordinance, approved in a 9-3 vote Wednesday, paves the way for a transportation utility fee to take effect starting in January.
Councilors Dan Ryan, Loretta Smith and Eric Zimmerman voted against the measure…