The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will hold a public meeting Tuesday, Jan. 30, to provide an opportunity for public review and comment on the agency’s Value Pricing Feasibility Study process. The study analyzes value pricing on I-5 and I-205 from the Washington/Oregon state line to the interstates’ junction just south of Tualatin, Oregon.

The meeting is being held at the Vancouver Community Library Columbia Room from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The library is located at 901 C Street in Vancouver. ODOT is also holding an online open house for those who cannot attend in person.

What’s value pricing?
Much like tolling, value pricing is a user fee that can be used to manage traffic congestion. A fee is charged for some or all lanes during the more congested hours of the day, encouraging drivers to consider other travel options, such as alternate drive times, alternate routes, carpooling and transit.

Attendees at the Jan. 30 open house will learn about value pricing options, including priced lanes and priced roadways. Priced lanes require drivers to pay a variable fee in select lanes depending on the level of congestion; drivers can also choose to continue traveling in a free lane. Priced roadways charge a fee for all travel lanes during congested hours of the day.

Project background
In 2017 the Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) to develop a proposal for value pricing on I-5 and I-205. The Jan. 30 open house and ODOT feasibility study are part of the process for the OTC to seek approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to implement value pricing.

An extensive public process will follow if FHWA approves value pricing on I-5 and I-205 in the Portland metro area. Steps include an environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and approval from the US Secretary of Transportation before value pricing could be implemented.

Find more information and answers to frequently asked questions at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/KOM/VP_FAQs.pdf.