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| ODOT delivering transportation projects statewide |
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| OTIA project along I-5 near Salem. |
In September, ODOT Director Matt Garrett told the House Interim Committee on Transportation 100 percent of the projects funded by Oregon Transportation Investment Acts I and II were completed, under construction or in design. Across the state, communities, residents and businesses are experiencing the positive the results of ODOT delivering on its projects. To date, nearly $2.7 billion worth of projects, along with funding for county and city maintenance and operations, are being provided through OTIA I, II and III.
“Through a collaborative and effective effort, ODOT and its partners have been able to move OTIA projects to this point in five years,” Garrett said.
In 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Oregon Legislature took several major steps to improve Oregon’s highways and bridges. The Oregon Transportation Investment Act, also known as OTIA I, II and III, is the largest investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure in more than 50 years.
The major portion of third phase of legislation, called the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program, involves the replacement and repair of more than 350 state and local bridges. Director Garrett reported that 60 percent of those bridges were completed, under construction or in design. In keeping with legislative direction, through September 2006, more than 96 percent of the OTIA III expenditures are going to Oregon firms, and nearly $28.8 million in program expenditures have gone to small and minority businesses.
Forecasts show the number of jobs associated with the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program will rapidly accelerate in 2007 to just fewer than 4,000 and will hold at that level for nearly four years before tapering off to around 3,000 in 2011. In its September report, the Bridge Delivery Unit showed the program generated slightly more than $8 million in total income and just over $713,000 in tax revenue for the state and local governments.
The OTIA program is making a significant contribution to Oregon jobs and the Oregon economy. Studies show every $1 million invested in transportation construction sustains about 17 family-wage jobs. Once the entire program is complete, a revitalized transportation infrastructure will continue its positive, long-term affects on the state’s economy and livability, with major freight routes free of restrictions.
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| Other programs benefit from focus on delivery |
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While ODOT staff and construction companies are keeping busy with OTIA projects, thousands of other workers from both the public and private sectors are helping the agency deliver its other programs.
The 2008 – 2011 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the state’s main mechanism for scheduling and funding transportation projects around the state, is in full swing accepting public input and local and regional guidance from transportation stakeholders. Every two years, ODOT reviews and updates its plan for future transportation projects in the STIP by working with metropolitan planning organizations, regional and local governments, and the public.
In addition, the ConnectOregon program, providing $100 million for transportation projects around the state, is making progress toward funding its 43 approved air, rail, marine and transit projects. The first $25 million in bonds was issued in September.
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| Warm rains and wind present challenges and opportunities |
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| Debris covers the White River Bridge. |
After days of nonstop warm, soaking rain, an estimated two million cubic yards of material — mud, trees and boulders — washed down the eastern flanks of Mt. Hood in early November. A 2.5 mile stretch of Oregon 35 was washed out or covered by mud, trees and massive boulders.
Across the state on the northern Oregon coast, high waters and mudslides closed several parts of U.S. Highway 101. Multiple slides on Oregon 53 forced a temporary closure. Oregon 6 was also closed because of standing water, debris on the road and fallen trees. In Lincoln County, Oregon 229 was closed 10 miles north of Siletz because of high water.
ODOT crews worked long days and from multiple locations to clear debris, unclog culverts and assess damage to the roadways. Specialists were brought in to help with a 21-mile section of Oregon 18 on the north coast, where more than 100 trees fell across the highway.
Back at Mt. Hood, as soon as the weather let up, ODOT hired Tri-State Construction to clear and repair Oregon 35. It was supposed to take six weeks, but after 11,000 man-hours and 400,000 cubic yards of cleared debris, the road opened a week early, on Dec. 8.
It took teamwork and innovation to get roads open so traffic could resume safely. Initial estimates to clean up the damage that occurred through Nov. 8 alone came to more than $8 million. Gov. Kulongoski called on the federal government for financial assistance. In the meantime, ODOT and its partners remain ready to respond to more winter challenges…and opportunities.
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| "Ask ODOT" customer response reaches 100 percent goal |
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In September, ODOT employees responded to customer requests, referred to them by the agency’s Citizens’ Representative office, within five business days — in every single case.
Becky Thoreson, program coordinator, was thrilled.
“It’s great to see ODOT employees responding quickly and to our customers’ satisfaction,” Thoreson said. More than 330 cases were taken care of within the required five business days. But most of Thoreson’s calls don’t have to go to ODOT specialists: Thoreson and her staff are able to resolve most of them right away.
ODOT’s Citizens’ Representative office serves as a first point of contact for Oregonians and visitors seeking information, services or problem solving. The office, with two full-time employees and one part-time employee, took a total of 1,082 calls, e-mails and letters in September. Some 750 were resolved without having to refer them to individuals.
“We’re able to get information out to customers faster,” said Thoreson, which is a good thing, since customer contact numbers are going up due to increased awareness of the program. For example, Ask ODOT took 765 requests in September 2005 compared to this year’s 1,082.
One of the reasons ODOT employees are able to help customers more efficiently is that more information is available on the agency web site. Ask ODOT staff recently created a “frequently asked questions” page on the site, and a search index is now available to locate previously hard-to-find information.
“It’s great to see the accountability ODOT employees are showing with their response to customer questions,” Thoreson said. “People are becoming more pro-active and paying attention to customer needs, and it shows!”
For more information about ODOT’s Citizens’ Representative office, visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/CRO.
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| Teamwork and planning solves challenge |
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| The Wild Horse site near Ellensburg, Wash. |
When Vestas Wind Systems, a company specializing in the siting and construction of wind energy farms, sought to capitalize on the winds of the Northwest, it faced a logistical challenge. Vestas needed to transport more than 100 wind turbines from the Port of Vancouver, Wash. to the Wild Horse Wind Power Project near Ellensburg, Wash. The safest and most efficient route for the project involved traveling a combination of roads in both states including 150 miles on Interstate 84 through Oregon. ODOT was ready and willing to assist.
The physical dimensions of a single wind turbine are awe-inspiring. Each turbine is 255 feet tall with three 132-foot wide blades and can weigh as much as 450,000 pounds. It took 1,071 loads to transport the turbine pieces and supporting equipment; 1,021 of those loads required an over-dimension permit. TTThe team organizing the shipment, made up of employees from Motor Carrier, Region 1, the Bridge Delivery Unit and others, also had to take into consideration bridge and highway load restrictions, tunnel and overpass height clearance, and highway and road traffic management.
“The project was completed ahead of schedule and all turbines were transported and assembled safely,” said Duane Downs, vice president and general manager of Wilhelm Trucking & Rigging Co., in charge of shipping the turbines. Vestas Wind Systems plans to open a manufacturing facility on the West Coast, and the state hopes it will site the facility in Oregon.
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| By the numbers... |
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Motor Carrier
Motor Carrier Transportation Division staff kept busy in 2nd and 3rd quarters 2006, generating the following:
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2nd Quarter
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3rd Quarter
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Registration fees collected
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$ 2,063,350
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$993,071
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Weight mile taxes collected
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$60,194,497
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$61,4045,653
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Weight mile tax audits performed
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167
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160
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Unpaid taxes assessed
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$702,647
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$1,020,128
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Total truck and driver inspections
By MCTD staff
By law enforcement officers
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10,274
4,990
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9,783
6,035
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Total trucks placed out-of-service
By MCTD staff
By law enforcement officers
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2,903
485
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2,690
492
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Total drivers placed out-of-service
By MCTD staff
By law enforcement officers
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982
500
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832
538
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Trucks weighed on static scales
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599,201
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551,028
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Trucks precleared by Green Light weigh-in-motion
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332,178
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335,214
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Citations issued
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6,083
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6,243
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Warnings issued
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5,794
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5,232
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Trucks required to correct size and/or weight
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1,107
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1,094
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Driver and Motor Vehicles
DMV staff performed the following activities during 2nd 3rd quarters 2006:
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2nd Quarter
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3rd Quarter
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Noncommercial driver licenses
Issued
Renewed
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34,402
79,002
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40,556
80,759
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Commercial driver licenses
Issued
Renewed
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2,172
4,184
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2,473
4,233
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Vehicle titles issued
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301,266
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289,872
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On-the-road skills test (Class C)
Noncommercial
Commercial
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23,202
551
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27,457
512
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Class C knowledge tests
Noncommercial
Commercial
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67,601
2,720
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73,581
3,046
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Driver record requests processed
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581,078
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563,389
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Vehicle record requests
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191,069
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188,127
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Suspension packet requests from law enforcement processed
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1,844
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1,883
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Dealer inspections conducted
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291
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303
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Consumer complaints investigated
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116
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129
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Passenger Rail & Rail Freight
During the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2006, ODOT’s Rail Safety Section conducted the following inspections:
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2nd Quarter
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3rd Quarter
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Locomotives and rail cars
Defects found
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1,177
275
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1,940
446
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Miles of track
Turnouts
Defects found
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201
155
264
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263
161
405
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Grade crossing records
Grade crossing signals
Defects found
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95
43
237
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146
78
123
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Hazardous materials
Defects found
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121
30
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195
41
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Operating practices observations
Deviations found
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91
24
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41
8
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Railroad facilities
Defects found
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45
91
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51
161
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Rail-served industries
Defects found
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179
36
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203
43
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Crossing safety
Defects found
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638
241
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364
197
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Highway Maintenance
Here's how Maintenance crews cared for Oregon's state roads during 2nd and 3rd quarters 2006:
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2nd Quarter
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3rd Quarter
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Tons asphalt laid
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8,547
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54,897
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Miles paved
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3.29
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21.11
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# Highway miles striped
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4,525
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6,391
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# Feet guardrail installed/repaired
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20,851
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5,364
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Spent on emergency maintenance
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$9,625,140
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$604,807
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Spent on snow plowing
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$ 512,106
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$42,593
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Spent on sanding
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$ 199,045
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$32,492
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Spent on bridge maintenance/repair
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$ 709,350
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$580,940
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| New driving guide aids parents and teens |
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| A new ODOT publication to help parents and teen drivers. |
Many parents wish their teenage children came with instruction manuals — but they don’t.
ODOT may have the next best thing. In a joint project between DMV and the Transportation Safety Division, ODOT has published a new manual that helps parents coach their teens in learning to drive and getting an Oregon driver license.
The “Oregon Parent Guide to Teen Driving” reached Oregon DMV field offices throughout the state in early October. It is the first parent-teen driving manual published by the department since the “Tuning Up” manual printed six years ago.
The new guide is for parents of teenagers who are getting their first instruction permit. DMV field offices can offer the guide to parents when their teens obtain instruction permits. Parents also can get the guide online at www.OregonDMV.com.
“The guide is helpful for parents because they are usually the co-pilots for teenagers with instruction permits who are gaining the required behind-the-wheel practice before applying for a driver license,” said John Harvey, Driver Education program coordinator at Transportation Safety.
ODOT developed the booklet with the assistance of driver education instructors, traffic safety experts and a human behaviorist. Since Oregon launched its graduated driver licensing in 2000, fatalities from crashes by drivers under 18 have declined in the state. Research has shown that teens who take driver education have fewer traffic tickets and crashes than those who don’t. With this new guide, parents have yet another tool to use in educating their young drivers.
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