HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

January 22, 2003 Hearing Room 357

8:30am Tapes 7 - 8

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Alan Brown, Chair

Rep. Terry Beyer, Vice-Chair

Rep. John Mabrey, Vice-Chair

Rep. Jackie Dingfelder

Rep. George Gilman

Rep. Mitch Greenlick

Rep. Cliff Zauner

MEMBER EXCUSED:

STAFF PRESENT: Janet Adkins, Administrator

Ryan Sherlock, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Work Session: HB 2035

Informational meeting – Highway Division Overview

Public Hearing and Work Session: HB 2265

Public Hearing and Work Session: HB 2215

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
Tape 7, A
005	Chair Alan Brown	Brings meeting to order at 8:32 am, and opens work session on HB 2035.
WORK SESSION: HB 2035
010	Janet Adkins	Committee Administrator. Introduces the bill and explains the nature of the amendment.
020	Chair Brown	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT HB 2035-1 amendments dated 01/20/03.
		VOTE: 7-0
	Chair Brown	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
025	Rep. Terry Beyer	MOTION: Moves HB 2035 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation and the SUBSEQUENT REFERRAL to the committee on Ways and Means BE RESCINDED.
025		VOTE: 7-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Brown	The motion CARRIES. CHAIR BROWN will lead discussion on the floor.
045	Chair Brown	Closes work session on HB 2035 and opens informational hearing.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
050	John Rosenberger	Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Executive Deputy Director, Highway Division. Gives presentation outlining the state highway system (EXHIBIT A) with reference to the ODOT Official State Map (EXHIBIT B). Overview of State Highway System How the Highway Division is adapting to change Highway Division Delivery Programs Highway Division Delivery Organization Highway Division Issues
220	Rep. Cliff Zauner	Asks how many years it takes to complete a road project.
225	Rosenberger	Responds that completion times are variable, but averages nationally about 5 years but can go up to 9 years.
235	Rep. Zauner	Asks if there is ability to speed up the process.
240	Rosenberger	Discusses ODOT efforts to speed up the process of highway construction. Continues with presentation, concluding with Highway Division issues.
280	Rep. Mitch Greenlick	Asks Mr. Rosenberger to address the acronyms being used during the presentation, and enquires whether there is any long term planning by the Highway Division regarding technical succession and retirement.
290	Rosenberger	Acknowledges the problem of technical succession and illustrates some of the efforts ODOT is taking in addressing the issue.
310	Chair Brown	Asks whether the private sector contractors can aid the long term employment problem.
315	Rosenberger	Indicates that there are ways in which the private sector could help remedy this problem, and outlines current efforts to work with the private sector addressing the issue.
345	Chair Brown	Asks if there is any effort to keep private sector contracting work going to Oregon firms, rather than others from out-of-state.
350	Rosenberger	Responds that ODOT uses both local and out-of-state firms, but that many of the firms are multi-state firms.
360	Rep. Zauner	Asks about when TV news programs show the highway with cameras labeled ODOT, who pays for this, the state or the news program.
370	Doug Tindall	State Maintenance Engineer for ODOT, states that ODOT does not have the statutory authority to charge for the images from these cameras because it is public information; however ODOT is trying to develop a strategy where the news agencies provide a distribution center for this information instead of getting it directly from the ODOT office.
380	Rep. Zauner	Inquires whether the for mentioned ODOT highway footage could be swapped for airtime for ODOT commercials.
385	Rosenberger	Clarifies that the ODOT public service announcements are aired on donated time. Discusses the restrictions for ODOT in selling advertising.
400	Ann Crook	Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA), Director. Gives written presentation overview (EXHIBIT C) regarding the general purpose and function of the ODA. Overview Issues in 2003 Commercial Airline Service
TAPE 8, A
040	Rep. Greenlick	Asks whether Ms. Crook will mention alternative methods of transportation during the presentation.
045	Crook	Answers affirmatively. Continues with presentation: General Aviation Transportation
070	Chair Brown	Clarifies that the general aviation transportation operates under different regulatory structures.
075	Crook	Answers affirmatively. Continues with presentation: General Aviation Transportation
085	Rep. Greenlick	Asks whether there could be presentations regarding alternative forms of air transportation directly from the communities involved.
090	Chair Brown	Indicates that there might be an opportunity for such presentations.
100	Crook	Observes that some of the communities involved would appreciate the opportunity to share their experiences with alternative air service. Continues with presentation: Air Cargo
105	Chair Brown	Asks whether air cargo primarily affects Portland International Airport (PDX).
110	Crook	Identifies air cargo as affecting airports all over the state, and goes on to mention that cargo is starting to become more important than passenger fares in some cases.
115	Chair Brown	Asks whether increased air cargo traffic would necessitate an increase in ground transport improvements.
120	Crook	Answers affirmatively. Continues with presentation: Oregon’s Aviation Infrastructure
160	Rep. John Mabrey	Mentions constituent complaint regarding maintenance and funding for an airport located in Washington state, but owned by the city of the Dalles.
165	Crook	Identifies the situation, and outlines the efforts to co-fund and co-run the aforementioned airport.
185	Rep. Jackie Dingfelder	Asks about funding for the airports, and what role the jet fuel tax has in funding airports.
195	Crook	Discusses the source of funding for airports, and generally where these funds go.
230	Rep. Dingfelder	Thanks Ms. Crook for this explanation, and discusses her misperception that airports are required to be self funding.
235	Crook	Replies that Oregon airports are attempting to be self funding, but except for the larger airports, are not. Most small airports rely on federal funding for the bulk of their operation, with some subsidies coming from the state, and local sources.
245	Chair Brown	Clarifies that Aurora, Hillsboro, and Troutdale are part of a feeder system for PDX; and asks if they are whether they receive local funding.
250	Crook	Explains that Aurora, Hillsboro, and Troutdale are funded through the airport sponsor. Aurora is owned and funded by the state; Hillsboro and Troutsdale are owned and funded by the Port of Portland.
260	Chair Brown	Asks whether the state tracks any of the activities of these airports.
265	Crook	Explains that they do monitor these airports with technology pioneered by ODOT which uses acoustical counters (or tape recorders) which count the number of takeoffs and landings based on estimations.
275	Chair Brown	Asks how Aurora and Hillsboro rate overall as far as departures and arrivals.
280	Crook	Responds that Hillsboro has the highest number of takeoffs and landings in the state behind PDX, and Aurora is about 5^th or 7^th in the state. Goes on to explain the type of traffic these airports get.
290	Rep. Zauner	Asks how “touch-and-goes” are counted at these airports.
295	Crook	Answers that “touch and goes” are counted as both a landing and a take off. Expresses concerns for local airports receiving state vs. local funding.
320	Chair Brown	Asks whether the Aviation Department gets complaints when residential properties are developed around airports.
325	Crook	Indicates there are complaints such as this, and talks about how these complaints are handled. Continues with presentation: Aviation Security Airport Ownership
TAPE 7, B
010	Bill Wilkins	State Aviation Board, Chair. Gives overview of the State Aviation Board organization, giving board member qualifications, and discusses the activities and function of the board especially its efforts to revise the 20-year old policy on airport management practices.
110	Chair Brown	Commends Mr. Wilkins for the gift of his time, chairing the State Aviation Board.
115	Rep. Zauner	Asks for a brief outline of some of the changes made to the aforementioned 20-year old policy.
120	Wilkins	Discusses several changes initiated by the board regarding the outdated policy.
125	Chair Brown	Closes the informational meeting, and opens the public hearing for HB 2265.
HB 2265 – PUBLIC HEARING
135	Adkins	Committee Administrator. Describes HB 2265.
190	Bruce Warner	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT D) in support of HB 2265.
205	Rep. Greenlick	Asks about the maritime pilots being one of the five areas of concern.
210	Warner	Explains the functions of the pilots and ODOT’s interests in this area.
220	Rep. Greenlick	Expresses surprise that the pilotage is at the same level as the other departments on the list.
225	Warner	Explains why the pilots are on the list.
245	Rep. Beyer	Asks whether the change expressed in the bill would affect budget and funding, or is primarily a policy statement.
250	Warner	Explains that the budgeting process is a part of the policy, however this bill is primarily a policy statement.
255	Rep. Dingfelder	Clarifies that the positions and staff in the motor carrier division are already a part of the organization, and HB 2265 just institutionalizes the change.
260	Warner	Answers affirmatively.
265	Larry Phipps	President of Portland & Western Railroad, offers written testimony (EXHIBIT E) in support of HB 2265, including an overview of the short-line rail system in Oregon.
270	Adkins	Offers a follow-up to Rep. Dingfelder’s comments, by pointing out the agency was not limited to the list before, indicating specific wording in the bill.
300	Chair Brown	Closes the public hearing on HB 2265, and opens work session on HB 2265.
HB 2265 – WORK SESSION
305	Rep. Greenlick	MOTION: Moves HB 2265 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 7-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Brown	The motion CARRIES. REP. GREENLICK will lead discussion on the floor.
315	Chair Brown	Closes the work session on HB 2265, and opens public hearing on HB 2215.
HB 2215 – PUBLIC HEARING
350	Kelly Taylor	Department of Transportation, offers written testimony (EXHIBIT F) in support of HB 2215.
395	Rep. Dingfelder	Asks the number of transactions per year, and about online availability DMV registration.
400	Taylor	Discusses improvements in DMV online registration.
410	Rep. Mabrey	Questions whether the bill helps alleviate the specificity currently required by the DMV.
415	Taylor	Affirms the bills intent to take the specificity out of the law.
420	Chair Brown	Asks about security concerns.
425	Taylor	Discusses the safeguards in the system.
450	Chair Brown	Closes the public hearing on HB 2215, and opens a work session on HB 2215.
HB 2215 – WORK SESSION
TAPE 8, B
025	Rep. Dingfelder	MOTION: Moves HB 2215 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 7-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Brown	The motion CARRIES. GILMAN will lead discussion on the floor.
035	Adkins	Discusses the fieldtrip scheduled for the committee on the next Friday.
050	Chair Brown	Closes the meeting 9:58 a.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – Written testimony: ODOT Highway Division Overview, John Rosenberger, 28 pp.

B – ODOT Official Oregon State Map, John Rosenberger, OVERSIZED

C – Written testimony: Aviation in Oregon; an Overview of the Oregon Department of Aviation, Ann Crook, 14 pp.

D – HB 2265, written testimony, Bruce Warner, 1 p.

E – HB 2265, written testimony, Larry Phipps, 3 pp.

F – HB 2215, written testimony, Kelly Taylor, 1 p.