Jackson Commissioners Question $100m Bypass from Transportation Bill

Today's Medford Mail Tribune has a fascinating story about local discord over the plan to spend $100 million from increased gas taxes on a bypass near Highway 62 and White City in Southern Oregon.

The $100 million comes from House Bill 2001, a bill passed in 2009 over the opposition of conservation groups, who argued the process for selecting projects for funding from the bill was deeply flawed. Groups argued earmarking projects in legislation overrode the traditional method of prioritizing projects by the independent Oregon Transportation Commission and running them through various checks.

From the article:

Appeals by legislators and transportation officials failed to sway Jackson County commissioners today as they condemned a $100 million proposal for a Highway 62 bypass as a possible waste of money.

"I don't think it's the best project for the entire community of Jackson County," [Jackson County] Commissioner Jack Walker said.

...Legislators who helped Jackson County get the money in Salem were surprised commissioners didn't endorse the bypass plan...

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