Oregon Senator Pushes to Revive Key Fund for Forest Roads and Rural Access

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is leading a bipartisan effort to restore a critical funding stream for maintaining roads and infrastructure in the nation’s most treasured public lands. The initiative, co-sponsored by Senator Steve Daines of Montana, seeks to reauthorize the Federal Lands Transportation Program.

This program is the primary source of federal money for roads, bridges, and tunnels within areas like national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. For Oregon, a state where over half the land is federally managed, the fund’s lapse has direct consequences. It supports vital access routes in the Columbia River Gorge, around Crater Lake, and deep within the Willamette and Siuslaw National Forests.

“Oregonians and visitors from across the country depend on safe, reliable roads to reach our world-class hiking trails, campgrounds, and fishing spots,” Senator Wyden stated. “Letting this program expire isn’t just bad policy—it’s a threat to outdoor recreation, local economies, and public safety in our rural communities.”

The funding is essential for everything from repaving bumpy forest service roads to ensuring emergency vehicles can reach remote areas. Its absence places a heavier burden on already strained state and county budgets to perform maintenance on federally owned land.

Outdoor recreation is a multi-billion dollar economic engine in Oregon, supporting countless small businesses from guide services to gear shops and rural motels. Industry leaders argue that reliable infrastructure is the backbone of this sector. The senators’ push aims to secure long-term funding, providing stability for land managers and the businesses that rely on consistent public access to Oregon’s natural wonders.