1. 2013 National Rural Transportation
Conference
Greensville, South Carolina
2011-2012

2. History
- The Fund is part of what is known as
the ConnectOregon program,
providing grants and loans to non-
highway transportation projects that
promote economic development in
Oregon.
- 2005 Oregon Legislature created
the Multimodal Transportation
Fund to invest in air, marine,
rail, and public transit
infrastructure improvements.

3. History
- Grants and loans may not be made for
transportation projects that could constitutionally
be funded by revenues described in section 3a,
Article IX of the Oregon Constitution. (Highway
projects)

4. Each round of ConnectOregon approved
separately by the Oregon Legislature.
History

5. History
Funds Leveraged: $499 Million
Funds Awarded: $335 Million
Applications Funded: 146
Applications Received: 348

6. Funding
Funding derived from Oregon lottery backed
taxable and tax-exempt bond financing.

7. Funding Breakdown
By Mode Analysis

8. Funding Breakdown
By Public/Private Sector Analysis

9. Selection Considerations
e. Project is ready for
construction
a. Project reduces transportation costs Oregon businesses or
improves access to jobs and sources of labor
b. Project results in an economic benefit to the state.
c. Project is a critical link connecting elements of Oregon’s
transportation system that will measurably improve
utilization and efficiency of the system
d. How much of the cost
of a proposed transportation
project can be
borne by the applicant.

10. Applications
- Solicit information that addresses 5 statutory
consideration.
- Allow broad cross-section of applicants to apply
without requiring involvement of consultant or
extensive data gathering.
- Involved participation of modal, economic,
regional, and technical staff.
- Allowed staff to assign a tier score to each project
for subsequent reviewer consideration.

11. Review

12. Staff Review
- Eligibility and completeness:
Program staff
- Feasibility: Rail, marine,
aviation and transit staff
- Economic Benefits: ODOT
economist and Oregon
Business Development
Department staff
- Projects assigned tiers based
on ability to meet legislative
considerations.

13. Staff Review
Tier 1 – The application demonstrates the project meets all
five considerations thoroughly.
Tier 2 – The application demonstrates the project meets
most considerations thoroughly.
Tier 3 – The application demonstrates the project meets
some considerations thoroughly.
Tier 4 – The application fails to demonstrate the project
meets any of the considerations thoroughly.
To thoroughly meet a consideration, projects need to
demonstrate through application responses, and through
independent verification, that the project would accomplish the
intent.
Tiering

14. - 5 modal committees
Aviation, Marine, Rail, Transit, Freight
- 5 regional committees
ODOT’s administrative regions
- 1 Final Review Committee
Representatives of each modal and
regional committee
- Final approval by Oregon Transportation
Commission
Review Committees

15. Port of Portland: Post-Panamax Crane
Construct a Post-Panamax Container Crane at
Terminal 6 of the port’s marine facilities. Terminal 6
is vital to Oregon’s transportation system in that it is
Oregon’s only international container terminal.
Installation of the crane allowed for faster loading
and unloading of vessels at the facility.
Reduces transportation costs
for Oregon businesses
Benefits

16. Benefits
Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport
The projects improved freight, logistical support, utility,
security and accessory infrastructure to support small
parcel freight deliveries, as well as, constructed a year-
round regional transit hub to connect surface and
aeronautical modes.
Economic benefits

17. City of Portland: Portland
Streetcar Lowell Extension
Project
ConnectOregon monies helped
fund the design and construction
of rail-related facilities needed to
extend streetcar service into
Portland’s South Waterfront
District.
Improves access to jobs and sources of labor
Benefits

18. City of Prineville: Railroad/Freight Depot
The City of Prineville used ConnectOregon funds to
provide a rail link for area businesses that enabled rail
access to national and international markets with a link
to Oregon’s Class I railroads. The Prineville Freight
Depot is a multi-modal trans-load, warehouse and
distribution center offering truck to rail, rail to truck, rail
to rail and truck to truck services.
Critical transportation
linkages
Benefits

19. Program has evolved over the course of 4
funding cycles:
- Increased active management of projects.
- reporting requirements for performance
achievement.
- Enhanced utilization and effectiveness
reporting requirements
- Improved communications
Lessons learned

20. Chris Cummings
Interim Freight Planning Program Manager
Oregon Department of Transportation
Christopher.j.cummings@odot.state.or.us
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP/Pages/Freight.aspx
503-986-3703