This is a tough issue. The focus of much of the budget is on maintenence of infrastructure that is used by regional and inter-state traffic, rather than Portlanders. Ideally, federal and state funds would pay for an appropriate fraction of those costs, instead, those funds are "too little" AND worse, earmarked for "bridges to nowhere" at the federal level and rural roads reflecting the over-representation of rural to urban legislators in Oregon. Once again, Portlanders are forced to pick up the bill for "free riders," as we are for education, etc.

Obviously, some of this investment is required, regardless the funding source, but the City needs to make the point to the Legislature and Governor that it is subsizing roadways whereas the State budget is NOT significantly supporting Portland's other transit options. (And some of the readers of this blog need to realize this as well.)

Given there is a shortage of funding for roadways and all other transit, and that this situation is unlikely to change, Portland should look "outside the box" at the "demand" side of the equation. If it had fewer lane miles of roads to maintain, it would be easier to keep up. The vast majority of Portland's roads are local access streets. ALL of these do not need to have 2 travel lanes and 2 parking lanes to service area residents. I recommend the City take a look at essentially
"abandoning" the unneeded lanes to local residents. This "look" should NOT be done by PDOT, but by Planning or some other agency less vested in the outcome. Without prejudging the results, it seems reasonable to me that the rights of way could be deeded back to adjacent land owners via a revokable easement with the City reserving sub-surface rights. The easments would spell out what could and could not be placed on the land (no stuctures or "hard scape" for example as that would restrict City access to subsurface systems, but bio swales, gardens, etc., should be allowed).