Oregon is blessed in the area of transportation. We have an excellent river, the Columbia, a coast line, we are a good stopping point for International flights, and we are a land transportation hub.

With the Columbia River we have a means to cheaply transport goods long distances. Our highway system makes us the logical choice for Washington goods headed to the South and the South East, and Californian goods headed North.

So why are we squandering this opportunity?

A Semi-Truck has a maximum of 11 hours in a working day. Distance is how we commonly get paid. Not only that but our turn-around time determines how much freight can reach a region, affecting their prices. Our 55 mph (for truckers) speed increases waste in the system.Jjust using I-5 for an example it takes 5.5 hours straightline... Add an extra half hour for our southern passes. Increase this to 60 and you literally save 30 minutes. Surprisingly 65mph would save 54 minutes. A 60mph speed limit would make runs between Medford and Portland (roundtrip) a one drive period affair. A 65mph speed could make Portland to Ontario (Oregon) a one drive period affair. Using my driving pattern we could see an increase in how many hours I could drive increase by as much as twenty a week! Averaged it would be a 15% increase in travel time a week. This is more freight, less lost time, and more driver pay.

Did you know Tina Kotek supports a 4.5 Billion dollar bridge replacing the I-5 bridge to Washington? Did you know that a noted architect came up with a 500 million dollar alternative? His proposal is so cheap it wont require the tolls the more expensive bridge requires. Yes I said TOLLS. There is no greater way to hurt the poor and small businesses than making the only two bridges (They need the I-205 bridge to have tolls also under their plan) in the Portland region into toll bridges. SHAME on those wanting this monstrosity!

Unlike my opponent I drive the roads of America, Rural and Urban both, and I know what works and what does not work. I see it first hand. With me above the Department of Transportation deciding their funding and auditing them, you can be assured of positive changes in the department.