It’s not just ODOT: Oregon counties predict severe revenue shortfall for roads, bridges, maintenance

Crook County officials join others calling for adequate funding

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Last week, the Association of Oregon Counties presented its 2024 County Road Needs Study to the Legislative Joint Committee on Transportation, forecasting a statewide annual revenue shortfall of 59 percent over the next five years. This will result in an additional $834 million per year needed to maintain and manage the county road system in a safe and adequate condition.

The report included data from Crook County, as part of the Eastern region, highlighting significant deficiencies in funding resources.

Counties partner with the state to support a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects Oregonians and strengthens the economy.

However, Oregon counties, along with the Oregon Department of Transportation and other agencies across the state, are facing structural funding challenges that impact core services, such as road and bridge maintenance. Counties manage the largest share of Oregon’s public road system, maintaining more than 32,000 miles of roads and 4,000 bridges.

Crook County alone is responsible for 472 miles of roads, including 230 miles of paved roads and 242 miles of gravel roads, as well as 111 bridges. Of these, 110 miles of roads and 4 bridges are in poor or fair condition. Additionally, the county maintains 15 weight- restricted bridges for heavy trucks, 1,676 culverts, and 2,634 road signs.

Today, inflation, shrinking fuel consumption, and limited local tax bases, have required counties to defer needed safety improvements and routine maintenance work, resulting in a lower standard of quality and safety for the existing road system. In addition, over the last 30 years, federal partners have significantly reduced funding for Oregon's rural roads.

To bridge the gap, Crook County depends on shared revenues from the long-standing 50-30-20 State Highway Fund distribution formula that supports Oregon's public road system. Funds are distributed 50 percent to the state, 30 percent to counties, and 20 percent to cities. This fund is crucial for safety improvements and maintaining critical infrastructure that all Oregonians depend on — roads, bridges, sidewalks, bike paths, traffic signals, culverts, and fish passages.

"If we don't receive adequate funding from the state, we’re going to see a continued decline in the safety and reliability of our roads and bridges. Every year we defer maintenance, the cost to repair and rebuild increases. Without that support, we can’t make the necessary improvements to ensure our infrastructure can handle the demands of today, let alone tomorrow.” — Brad Haynes, Crook County Road Superintendent.

“It’s not just the residents of Crook County who rely on our roads; visitors, businesses, and travelers from across Oregon depend on safe, well-maintained infrastructure when they pass through. Our county roads are key to connecting communities, supporting local economies, and ensuring everyone can travel safely. Proper funding isn’t just important for us—it’s essential for every Oregonian.” — Susan Hermreck, Crook County Commissioner.

To read the full 2024 study, and learn more about county road, bridge, and transportation priorities and funding, including Crook County, visit oregoncounties.org.