General Questions
Why are you doing this project?
Is the congestion problem on the bridge due to growth in west Salem or more regional traffic demands?
How is this different from previous studies?
Are you doing a new traffic study?
What is an environmental impact statement (EIS)?
What is the difference between a DEIS and an FEIS?
What is CETAS?
Who will approve the project?
Who’s involved in the project?
How can I get involved?
What is the project schedule?
What needs to happen for a new bridge to be built?
Who do I contact for more information?
What do all these acronyms (like FHWA, ODOT, CETAS, etc.) mean?
Funding Questions
How much will this project cost?
Will the state and federal government pay for this project?
What local funding sources are being considered?
Will the community have enough money to pay for other needs too?
When will funding decisions be made? Who will make them?
Tolling Questions
Why are more and more highways and bridges being tolled?
Are there toll roads or bridges in Oregon?
Won’t toll booths just cause more congestion?
Without toll booths, how are electronic tolls enforced?
Given the high costs of collecting tolls, are they really worth it?
Why would both the existing bridges and the new bridge have to be tolled?
Would everyone pay the same toll?
Can tolls be used to pay for other local needs too?
What is congestion pricing?
The Marion Street and Center Street bridges in Salem are the only crossings of the Willamette River
within the Salem-Keizer urban area. More traffic and continued population growth in the region
are causing congestion that exceeds ODOT standards. Both bridges are operating near capacity and the connecting streets are
over capacity. Without additional transportation capacity across the Willamette River, the levels of congestion on the bridges
and connecting streets in downtown Salem and West Salem are forecast to worsen.
Read more about the project's background.
back to top
Based on 2006 traffic count data, approximately half (46%) of the traffic using the bridges originates from or is destined for
points in western Polk County and beyond. The other half (54%) originates from west Salem.
back to top
The need for a third bridge across the Willamette River in the Salem area has been discussed for many years. Many of the same
issues identified in previous studies (for example, development in West Salem, traffic congestion on the bridges) are still
relevant today. The most recent study of a new river crossing was the General Corridor Evaluation
completed in 2002. The current Salem River Crossing project will use this previous study as a starting point.
The Salem River Crossing project will produce an environmental impact statement (EIS), which is the next step
needed to secure federal funding for identified solutions.
back to top
Yes. One of the first steps in the Salem River Crossing project is to collect current traffic information and to develop
updated forecasts of future traffic growth to the year 2030.
back to top
Whenever a transportation project is planned, there are potential impacts to the human and natural environment. An environmental
impact statement is a document developed under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements that evaluates economic,
social, and environmental effects of a proposed transportation project for which federal funding is being sought. The report is
prepared with public participation for the purpose of informing decision-makers of an array of action alternatives, including doing
nothing.
back to top
A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is a large document that compares different
alternatives (see description above) to help select a preferred alternative. While the word "draft"
makes it sound like the document isn't finished, this document is actually a completed document that
stands on its own. The DEIS is often a long document, considering several subjects. An executive
summary, which explains the details in fewer pages, is also written at this point.
Once the DEIS is published, government agencies and the public can comment on it. A final environmental
impact statement (FEIS) responds to all comments that were made about the DEIS. This might result in
the document being corrected, clarifications made, or additional analysis provided. This is usually a
shorter document that also explains why the preferred alternative was chosen and any changes made to
that alternative since the DEIS.
back to top
CETAS stands for the Collaborative Environmental and Transportation Agreement for Streamlining. In response to federal
directives, CETAS was created as a process to coordinate review of transportation construction projects. The process establishes
a working relationship between the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and ten federal and state transportation,
natural resource, cultural resource, and land-use planning agencies. The agencies include:
• Army Corps of Engineers (ACE),
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ),
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW),
• Oregon State Historic Preservation Office,
• Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), and
• Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL). |
ODOT uses the CETAS process for all environmental impact statements. The goal of this group is to identify and implement
collaborative opportunities to help each participating agency realize its mission through sound environmental stewardship, while
providing for a safe and efficient transportation system. To learn the role of CETAS specific to this project, read
Who's Involved. To read more about CETAS, please visit their Web site.
back to top
Federal, state, and local authorities and the public are involved throughout the environmental impact statement (EIS) process.
The process concludes with a formal “Record of Decision” by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which documents the agency’s
approval of the alternative recommended in the EIS.
back to top
The project will rely on the input of the general public, the Salem River Crossing Task Force, an Oversight Team, a Project
Management Team, Elected Officials, CETAS, ODOT, and FHWA. These groups include representatives of a number of local, state, and federal
agencies in addition to citizens. Read a more detailed description of their roles.
back to top
There are a number of ways to get involved in the Salem River Crossing project. Opportunities will include public meetings,
open houses, and surveys,
among others.
back to top
View major milepoints and a description of the current tasks on the schedule page.
back to top
A number of steps are required before a new bridge could be constructed. First, a decision must be made through the EIS process
that a new bridge is the preferred alternative to solve the identified transportation problems. Second, the FHWA must sign the
Final EIS and approve the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD would not be approved until all local land use actions are complete
and funding and mitigation plans in place. If an approved funding plan is not in place, the FHWA will not approve construction of
a bridge, only the location of a bridge. The current schedule shows the timeframe for the project.
Once the EIS has been approved and permits have been granted, the primary remaining barrier would be funding. It is not known
at this time how much a bridge would cost nor how it would be funded, but the project is beginning to think about the
funding issue. Once funding is in place, construction could begin.
back to top
For technical questions, please use the form on the Contact Us page.
For general questions or concerns, please use the comment form.
back to top
CETAS - Collaborative Environmental and Transportation Agreement for Streamlining. You can read more about CETAS and their role in
this project on this page or the Who's Involved page.
EIS - Environmental Impact Statement. There will be a DEIS that will be reviewed by ODOT, other agencies, and the public. The final environmental impact statement (FEIS) will consider comments from the DEIS and be reviewed by FHWA before the ROD is approved.
FHWA - Federal Highway Administration. You can read more about the FHWA on the Who's Involved page
or their Web site.
MPO - Metropolitan Planning Organization
MWVCOG - Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments. You can read about their role in this project on the
Who's Involved page.
ODOT - Oregon Department of Transportation. You can read about ODOT's role in this project on the
Who's Involved page or on their Web site.
ROD - Record of Decision. If the final EIS is approved by FHWA and the land use actions, funding, and mitigation plans are in place, they will issue a ROD.
SAFETEA-LU - Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users.
Congressional authorization of $286 billion in spending for the five-year period 2005-09 for numerous surface transportation programs, such as highways, transit, freight,
safety, and research. Also sets goals, rules and regulations for that period. Read more on their
Web site.
SKATS - Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study
UGB - Urban Growth Boundary
|
back to top
Estimated costs for the Salem River Crossing project range from $330 to $675 million, depending on which alternative is chosen.
The lower cost alternatives include widening the existing bridges or constructing only a new bridge that connects to the existing
street system. The higher cost alternatives include a new bridge that also has direct connections to Salem Parkway and Highway 22
and other local circulation changes. Actual costs will be better known in 2009 after the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)
is completed and a preferred alternative is chosen.
back to top
No. The federal government will likely pay for only a portion of the project and the state government may not pay for any of it. A
significant amount of local funds will be needed to make up the difference.
Why? Government funds for transportation projects today are very limited. Historically, these funds have come from the collection of
gas taxes. However, the federal and state gas taxes have not been increased since 1993 while at the same time transportation needs
and costs have gone up dramatically. As a result, most states and the federal government are struggling just to maintain existing
roads and bridges. Paying for new facilities is an even greater challenge.
All major transportation projects in this country are facing similar funding challenges. In short, it is a new era in transportation
funding. More information on this topic can be found in the Funding Booklet.
back to top
Four ways to pay the local share of the project costs are being considered: local fuel taxes, vehicle registration taxes, property
taxes, and tolls. Based on input from stakeholders and the project Oversight Team, these four options are the most acceptable sources
from a larger list of funding options initially considered. For more information, see the
Funding Booklet.
back to top
The Salem River Crossing project is a large and expensive project. While the project will address key transportation needs in the
Salem-Keizer area, there will be many competing demands for the same local funds – for transportation, schools, parks, etc. Part of
the decision to move ahead with the project will be for local citizens and elected officials to agree that the project – and the cost
that will be borne by local citizens and road users – is acceptable and worth the tradeoffs against other needs.
back to top
Before the project can be constructed, a funding plan must be developed by the Project Team and approved by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA). The funding plan will specify exactly how much the project will cost and where the money will come from. The
funding plan will not be completed until after the DEIS is published and a preferred alternative is selected.
Once the preferred alternative is selected, community leaders and local elected officials will likely speak with their constituents
before determining which forms of local funding are most agreeable and effective for the costs that need to be paid.
Local elected officials and voters will decide what local funds are used for the project. Some local funding sources, such as property
tax increases, require voter approval. Others, such as tolls, do not necessarily require voter approval but may be referred to voters
through the initiative process. Without strong local support to share in the project costs, the project will be unlikely to go forward.
back to top
Tolling is only one of several alternative funding sources being considered for the Salem River Crossing project. No decisions have
been made to use or not use tolling. However, many people have questions about tolling because it hasn’t been used in Oregon for several
years and because tolling has changed dramatically since the old days of manual toll collection booths.
Why are more and more highways and bridges being tolled?
Tolling is becoming increasingly used as a way to pay for new transportation projects and maintenance of existing facilities both
in the U.S. and around the world. Without enough government funds for needed and wanted projects, tolling is one of a few ways to pay
for expensive projects. Many people also like that costs for the road or bridge are then paid for by the people who use and benefit
from it. Tolling is common in California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, and other states.
back to top
Bridge, both over the Columbia River. There are no toll roads in Oregon at this time. However, transportation officials are
exploring using tolls to pay for many new facilities throughout Oregon. The most publicized is the I-5 Bridge between Oregon
and Washington. The current study for that bridge assumes tolls will be used to either expand the existing bridges or build a
new bridge. Between 1960 and 1966, a 20-cent toll was charged to pay for the current I-5 Bridge.
In Washington, tolls are being used to pay for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The toll is less expensive for cars equipped with electronic
transponders (see next question) than for cars that pay cash (large trucks pay even more).
In addition to paying for road construction and maintenance, tolls are also used to manage congestion (see
What is Congestion Pricing? below).
back to top
No. If tolls are used on this project, almost all tolls will be collected using electronic tolling. This means cars do
not stop to pay the toll but are instead outfitted with an electronic device (transponder) that automatically collects the toll
as the car passes through an electronic “gate” at full speed. The toll is then subtracted from the driver’s account, similar to
a credit or debit card. Almost all new toll roads now use this technology because of the great benefits it has to travel time.
There are also ways to quickly collect tolls from cars that don’t have electronic transponders.
You can watch an animation of electronic toll collection
on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State.
back to top
When a new electronic tolling project is started, there is a lot of publicity to make sure everyone gets a transponder before
the tolls are collected. When cars pass through the electronic toll “gate” without a transponder, an automated system photographs
their license plate which allows a bill to be mailed to them so the toll can be collected. Because non-local drivers likely won’t
have a transponder, this system can be used to collect the toll from them. Fines can also be used this way for repeat offenders.
Decisions such as how to capture non-local users and when to charge fines will not be made until after a preferred alternative
is selected, assuming tolling is chosen as a way to pay for it.
back to top
Collecting tolls costs money, both to purchase and maintain the electronic equipment and for the many people who manage the
system. While these costs can be significant (several million dollars per year or more), initial estimates show that enough
revenue would be generated by tolls to pay for these costs and to pay off the project in about 30 years. For more information,
see the funding tool.
back to top
The purpose of this project is to reduce congestion across the river and on the connecting street system.
Tolling is being explored as a way to pay for the project but it does not work if only one bridge is tolled. If only the new
bridge is tolled, many people would choose to use the existing (non-tolled) bridges instead of the new one. This would result
in little improvement to congestion on the existing bridges. Since so many fewer people would use the new tolled bridge, not
enough money would be generated to pay for it. If both bridges are tolled, traffic is balanced between the new and existing
bridges and tolls are captured for a much larger number of trips across the river.
back to top
Most drivers would pay the same toll. However, with electronic tolling, it is possible to adjust tolls depending on who
is driving. For example, it is possible for people with low incomes to pay less. Deciding how to make the tolls equitable
and fair is something that will be considered in great detail if tolling is selected for the project.
back to top
Typically, tolls can be used only for construction and on-going maintenance of the facility on which they are collected.
Tolls are not typically used for the public transit system or for civic improvements. With legislative changes, however,
some exceptions may be possible and these can be explored later in the process.
back to top
Congestion pricing is a way to use tolls to manage congestion, in addition to generating revenue. The term means that tolls
would be adjusted based on the amount of traffic on the road. Drivers pay more to drive during the most congested parts of the
day. The most advanced systems adjust the price automatically as traffic conditions change throughout the day, keeping traffic
moving more smoothly. While congestion pricing increases costs for drivers in the peak travel hours, it can dramatically reduce
congestion by spreading traffic into the less congested times of day. The SR 167 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane between Renton
and Auburn Washington uses congestion pricing. Watch a video explaining how it works.
back to top
