What is the Road User Fee Task Force?
The Oregon Legislature created the Road User Fee Task Force in 2001 to identify a long-term, sustainable approach to funding Oregon’s transportation system as vehicles became more fuel-efficient and generated less fuel tax revenue.
Over the past two decades, the task force has evaluated transportation funding options, guided pilot projects, and helped shape OReGO, the nation’s first operational voluntary road usage charge program. Those efforts provided the foundation for Oregon’s mandatory road usage charge, which will launch in 2027.
As required under House Bill 3991, Oregon is implementing a road usage charge in phases for eligible electric and hybrid passenger vehicles beginning in 2027. The Road User Fee Task Force continues to support implementation through the rulemaking process.
Find task force meeting materials and information here.
Interact with the Task Force
Road User Fee Task Force members value information and feedback from the public. If you wish to speak or write to the task force on any topic - including items not on the posted agenda - please sign up to provide testimony by emailing your request to
OfficeInnovation@odot.oregon.gov.
The task force reserves time at the beginning of each meeting for public testimony.
Meetings
Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 - 11 a.m. Agenda and details to come.
In-person & Virtual Testimony
To comment, testify or present information to the task force in person, please follow these steps:
- Email written summaries of information to the task force here: OfficeInnovation@odot.oregon.gov
- Limit oral testimony to three (3) minutes, recognizing that substance, not length, determines the value of testimony or written information.
- Endorse (rather than repeat) the testimony of other witnesses with whom you agree.
- If testimony is provided by a group or organization, designate one spokesperson to provide it.
Written Testimony
To mail in written comments, use this address:
Road User Fee Task Force
Attn: Office of Innovative Funding
Oregon Department of Transportation
355 Capitol Street NE, MS32
Salem, OR 97301
Task Force Members and Terms
The Road User Fee Task Force has 12 voting members. Members are appointed by the Governor, Senate President and House Speaker, with two members appointed by the Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). Generally, members serve four-year terms.
Task Force members (updated July 30, 2026):
- OTC Commissioner Lee Beyer (Chair)
- OTC Commissioner Phil Chang
- City Official Councilor Marilyn Smith, City of Albany
- County Official Commissioner Dan Dorran, Umatilla County
- At-Large Jeff Allen, Forth
- At-Large Marie Dodds, AAA
- At-Large Evan Oneto, FedEx Corporation
- At-Large (Vacant)
- House Member (R) Rep. Rick Lewis
- House Member (D) Rep. John Lively (Vice Chair)
- Senator (R) Sen. Bruce Starr
- Senator (D) Sen. Chris Gorsek
History of the Road User Fee Task Force
The Oregon Legislature created the Road User Fee Task Force in 2001 to analyze long-term transportation funding options as improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency began reducing fuel tax revenue. Because fuel taxes had not kept pace with inflation and vehicles were using less fuel to travel the same distance, legislators recognized that revenue for maintaining and improving Oregon’s transportation system would no longer keep pace with the state’s transportation needs.
The founding members of the Road User Fee Task Force were:
- Representative Bruce Starr
- Representative Joanne Verger
- Senator Gary George
- Senator Susan Castillo
- Mayor Jim Torrey
- Judge Laura Pryor
- John Watt
- John Charles
- Dr. Chris Bell
- Roger Hinshaw
- John Russell
- Randy Pape
Early Road Usage Charge Pilots
The task force studied 28 different transportation funding options before recommending a system that would charge drivers based on the number of miles they drive on Oregon’s public roadways.
To test that concept, Oregon conducted pilot programs in 2006-2007 and 2012-2013, refining both the technology and program administration.
Building on what was learned through those pilots, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 810 in 2013, creating a voluntary road usage charge program. That program, now known as OReGO, allowed up to 5,000 participating vehicles to pay a per-mile road usage charge instead of the state fuel tax.
Oregon Launched the Nation's First Road Usage Charge System
OReGO launched July 1, 2015, becoming the nation’s first operational voluntary road usage charge program.
Participants report the miles they drive on Oregon public roads and pay a road usage charge of two cents per-mile, receiving credit for state fuel taxes paid at the pump. OReGO remains a voluntary program and continues to operate today.
Senate Bill 810 also authorized ODOT to partner with other states, the federal government and Canadian provinces to conduct research, share information and continue advancing road usage charging programs.
Expanding the Voluntary Program
In 2019, House Bill 2881 expanded eligibility for OReGO while continuing to refine the voluntary program. The legislation:
- Removed the enrollment cap of 5,000 vehicles
- Indexed the road usage charge rate to the state fuel tax, meaning the rate automatically adjusts when the fuel tax changes.
- Expanded the waiver of efficiency-based supplemental registration fees for vehicles rated 40 MPG or better that enroll in the program.
- Ended fuel tax refunds for participants who paid more in fuel taxes than they owed through the road usage charge.
These changes encouraged participation while helping Oregon continue learning from the voluntary program.
Transition to a Mandatory Road Usage Charge
As required under House Bill 3991, Oregon is transitioning to a mandatory road usage charge for electric and hybrid passenger vehicles.
Beginning in 2027, implementation will occur in phases as subject vehicle groups transition into the mandatory program.
Today, Oregon is building on more than two decades of research, testing and program development as it implements the mandatory Road Usage Charge Program. In 2025, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3991 to implement a phased, mandatory per-mile road usage charge for electric and hybrid vehicles and allows an annual flat-fee alternative.
Current Work of the Task Force
Please see the RUFTF Member Resources page for the most recent meeting materials and discussion topics.
The Road User Fee Task Force submits a report to the Oregon Legislature in odd-numbered years. Recent reports can be found below.
Task force reports to the Oregon Legislature
2025 Road User Fee Task Force report
2023 Road User Fee Task Force report
2021 Road User Fee Task Force report
2019 Road User Fee Task Force report
2017 Road User Fee Task Force report