Posted
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
At its June 28 meeting, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an annual road maintenance work program that includes paving or sealing over 60 miles of roadway. (See work program summary.)
Each year, the Department of Land Use and Transportation prepares a road maintenance work plan for approval by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The plan identifies maintenance activities that preserve the public's investment in the county's transportation infrastructure, providing the highest level of service possible within the resources available.
A draft version of the work program was made available for review and comment by other agencies, utilities, and the public earlier this year. Comments were considered in development of the approved work program.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners guides development of the annual work program through the Road Maintenance Prioritization Policy adopted in Policy 21 of the Transportation Plan. Roads in the major roadway system are the highest general maintenance priority. Maintenance of local roads is a lower priority because they carry less traffic and serve fewer residents.
Road maintenance is funded primarily by gas tax. Washington County receives a portion of the state tax on gasoline, large truck weight-mile fees and vehicle registration fees. The county also collects a local one-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline and other fuels for motorized vehicles.
Increased revenue from HB 2001's higher license and registration fees plus the 6 cent per gallon gas tax increase effective January 1, 2011, is helping fund an expanded Minor Betterment Program. Eight Minor Betterment projects, including four pedestrian path projects, are planned.
The voter-approved Urban Road Maintenance District (URMD) funds maintenance on local neighborhood streets in the urban unincorporated areas of the county. Property owners in the URMD are assessed 25 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation for maintenance of local roads. URMD also helps fund the Neighborhood Streets traffic calming program.
Two citizen advisory committees work with county staff and advise the Board of Commissioners on issues related to road maintenance. The Rural Roads Operations and Maintenance Advisory Committee reviewed the draft 2011 Road Maintenance Work Program at their March 17 meeting. The Urban Road Maintenance District Advisory Committee reviewed the draft URMD surface treatment work program at their January 19 and February 16 meetings.
To view the work program document or to find out if a particular road is scheduled for road maintenance in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, visit the Washington County Roads Web site at www.wc-roads.com and click on Maintenance Projects.
For more information about county road maintenance, please call (503) 846-ROAD (846-7623) or e-mail [email protected].
Related: 2011-2012 Road Maintenance Work Program (PDF)
Washington County is committed to building and maintaining the best transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and to operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
Media Contact:
Victoria Saager, Interim Communications Coordinator503-846-4963
[email protected]