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The financial situation for the project to replace the Sellwood Bridge is steadily becoming more stable. Since May, when the shortfall for the $290 million project grew by $22 million after Clackamas County voters rejected a contribution proposal, Multnomah County has been convening groups to seek ways to cut costs.

However, as planned project funding falls into place and the construction phase approaches, one chunk of money has become less certain: a $20 million to $40 million contribution from the federal government.

鈥淎s we get closer to construction, every (funding source) has been locked up except that one thing,鈥� Multnomah County spokesman Mike Pullen said.

That money would have come from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), a bill that allocates money for highway, bicycle and transit projects statewide. But political battles over the act are taking place in Washington, D.C.

The , from John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, recommends a 35 percent decrease in allocations, to between $215 and $230 billion over six years. Some officials say that proposal would be disastrous for transportation infrastructure, including in Oregon.

The Mica proposal calls for a six-year reallocation that would reduce the expenditures from the federal transportation trust fund to match incoming revenues, which come primarily from gas taxes. Money would go directly to state transportation agencies and also be distributed through a number of grant programs.

In Oregon, 鈥渢he proposal would have a substantial impact,鈥� said Oregon Department of Transportation Senior Federal Affairs Advisor Travis Brouwer. 鈥�(The proposal) would cost the state $160 million per year in lost highway funding 鈥� that means that work simply will not get done.鈥�

Brouwer said that, typically, $500 million from the federal transportation legislation comes to ODOT annually and is split between local governments and the state’s capital program. As the federal stimulus package and other funding sources expire in coming years, reauthorized federal legislation will be the only source of money for the capital program, because state money will cover mostly maintenance projects and debt service to previous projects, Brouwer said. The capital program includes all new projects and expansions, such as highway widening to accommodate traffic loads.

鈥淎t the state and federal funding levels expected (through the Mica proposal), we will see the transportation system deteriorate,鈥� Brouwer said.

Regionally, it’s difficult to know exactly what the Mica proposal would do to specific projects, said Aaron Deas, government affairs manager for TriMet. Federal money paid for 60 percent of TriMet’s MAX green line project and 50 percent of the light-rail project between Portland and Milwaukie. Federal funding for transit projects has already been decreasing because of more national competition for light-rail money, Deas said. Mica’s proposal would only make the situation worse.

鈥淚n my personal opinion, this proposal would be fairly catastrophic in general, and for transit particularly,鈥� Deas said.

Another major project, the Columbia River Crossing, also would be funded partially by reauthorization of the federal act, through the Projects of National and Regional Significance program. It’s unclear how much money any of these programs will have, because the Mica proposal is presently only a proposal 鈥� agencies and legislators are awaiting specific bill language that will outline details.

Mica’s proposal is not the only one being explored; an alternative from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works would retain existing funding levels by adding money from a yet-undetermined source, but for only two years. Another option would be a temporary extension of the existing reauthorization, which would continue funding at present levels until a more permanent deal could be reached.

The extension might be the most realistic option politically, but if that were to happen, the transportation trust fund could be exhausted in two years, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said.

鈥淭he prognosis is quite grim,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat’s at stake is the future of our transportation infrastructure.鈥�

Congress must take some action on the situation by Sept. 20, when the current allocation, a two-year extension of the previous six-year reauthorization, runs out. In the meantime, transportation planners are being left in limbo.

鈥淚t is extraordinarily difficult for ODOT and others to plan a long-term budget when we don’t know what’s going to happen,鈥� Brouwer said.

In Multnomah County, planners are exploring how they may be able to cover a potential hole in the Sellwood Bridge project. One option is a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, which could provide up to $30 million.

In the meantime, the county is forming a plan to perform a scaled-back project that could be completely funded by sources already secured. Some project parts, such as interchange updates on the west bank of the Willamette River, could be delayed; however, the bridge would be built.

鈥淲e’ll have to have a project that reflects the money we have,鈥� Pullen said. If more money were acquired next year, project elements could be restored.