Applicants sought for Portland congestion pricing task force

The deadline for applying has been extended until Oct. 9 by the Portland Bureau of Transportation

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has extended the application deadline for the citizen committee that will advise the city on congestion pricing policies.

The deadline for applying to serve on the Pricing for Equitable Mobility Community Task Force. is now 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9. The original deadline had been Friday, Oct. 4.

Congestion pricing means charges to drive on public roads that vary by time and traffic congestions. The charges are intended to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, and to generate revenue for transportation-related projects. Issue to be addressed include how to reduce the cost for low-income households.

"As Portland faces growing challenges related to congestion, inequities in our transportation system and a rapidly changing climate, we are considering new strategies to solve these problems. Cities around the world have demonstrated that pricing policies can help reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and can support more efficient, sustainable and equitable transportation modes," PBOT said about the task force, which will advise it and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

PBOT is looking for up to 20 community members with a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise to serve on the task force, which will meet monthly in the evenings for approximately two-hours between October 2019 and March 2021. Pricing strategies to be considered may include, but are not limited to: parking pricing, area and time-based fees, fleet charges, road user charges, cordons, freeway pricing and more.

People who live, work, play, worship, conduct business or attend school in the City of Portland are invited to apply. More information and the application form are available here.

You can read a previous Portland Tribune story on the issue here.