“Our population is booming, putting more demand on an already aging system.”

Not only more cars, but more bikes and more people using transit that also use parts of the same aging/deteriorating system.

“For one, we are receiving less and less gas tax revenue from the state.”

And still no direct revenues to help pay for infrastructure collected from the bicycling and transit modes of transport which are not taxed, and thereby contribute nothing financially to the system which then unfairly places the financial burden/responsibility on only a portion of users.

“Since we have not raised the gas tax in Oregon for over 10 years, this adds up.”

That unknown and hidden amount of money being spent to pay for specialized bicycle infrastructure also adds up as does the costs of wasting dollars on curb extensions. Both subtract needed resources that could otherwise go towards maintenance

“Clearly, we can't simply keep following the current course and hope that things get better. The status quo is not tenable nor sustainable “

This only demonstrates the need for a bicycle tax and for transit fares to better reflect the costs of providing service including making contributions to the road fund. Clearly we can not expect to continue to have motorists alone financially support the demands of other modes of transport at the same time leaving motorist specific infrastructure unattended to and allowed to decay. Alternative modes of transport at the very least must be taxed for the costs to build and maintain the specialized infrastructure specific to mode, while taxes on motorists, including the gas tax, must be totally redirected and dedicated to roads and bridges, and only roads and bridges that motorists can use.