Have you attempted to visit the Oregon capitol during this legislative session? After two years of being closed out of the building during legislative sessions, the public finally has access only to face so much parking construction there are no parking spots. That is because the Department of Administrative Services awarded a contract for the large task of installing electric vehicle charging stations in multiple state parking facilities as well as completing deferred maintenance and improvements to several locations. The project started in November 2022 and will continue to early 2024.

Completion of this large improvement effort has caused varying levels of disruption, temporary closures and movement of assigned parking in affected facilities. Of the 93 charging stations being installed around and under the capitol, 10 are for public use. When the project is completed, there will be 26 public charging stations at state office buildings out of 168 installed. If you are headed to a state office or the capitol, there are nine lots/parking areas that don't have any public access to charging ports.

Installing the 208 Volt, Level 2 EV charging stations is the first phase in building the infrastructure needed for supporting state-owned Zero Emission Vehicles and providing employee-only access charging along with limited public access. This project, and others like it across state government, are part of the long-range efforts needed to meet statewide transportation electrification goals set out in Executive Orders 17-21, 20-04, and the accompanying legislation in ORS 283.337.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The disruption has been minimized, unless you want to visit a legislative hearing. The pandemic increased remote and hybrid workers resulting in canceled parking spaces, and DAS intentionally held open vacancies in preparation. However, several facilities are or will need to temporarily close completely, including the Green Lot and Commerce Lot. Employees are assured to have a space reserved when the lots reopen.

To help the EV folks out, ODOT is busy spending $100 million over five years for public electric vehicle charging along major roads and in Oregon's communities. About two-thirds of the funding — $52 million from the 2021 federal infrastructure bill plus a required 20% match — must be spent on EV charging infrastructure along Alternative Fuel Corridors. Oregon has 11 roads designated as electric corridors under the program: Interstates 5, 82, 84, 205 and 405; US Highways 20, 26, 95, 97 and 101; and OR Highway 42. ODOT may propose additional roads for designation over the next five years.

The remaining third of the money — $36 million — will be used to close EV infrastructure gaps and provide more charging sites in rural and urban areas, underserved communities, and at apartment complexes to allow more Oregonians to charge where they live, work, and play. Work will begin in fall of 2023.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-03-17 12:17:16

Last Update: 2023-03-16 17:38:30