Oregon Public Broadcasting

Thursday Governor Ted Kulongoski launched the first transportation project in Oregon funded by federal stimulus money. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The repaving project is along one of Portland’s busiest roads, The Sunset Highway.

It was going ahead anyway. But federal stimulus money means it will start immediately; that additional paving will be done along bridges; and that a wire barrier will be installed along the median – to stop cars crossing into oncoming traffic.

The governor said such projects put people back to work and he used the event to champion his own stimulus package.

Ted Kulongoski: “If there is one piece of legislation that the legislature must pass this session to rebuild a strong economy, it is the Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009.”

Kulongoski has been criticized for not announcing a Stimulus Czar for the state. But he used the repaving project event to name the members of the Oregon Way Advisory Group, which will play the role of a Stimulus Czar.