Oregon Public Broadcasting

If Oregon officials meeting Monday at Portland State University get their way, Congress will tackle looming infrastructure needs by going "green." And as Rob Manning reports, federal leaders want to sell the idea by offering new jobs.

Portland Rep. Earl Blumenauer invited experts and politicians from around Oregon to the summit. Most seemed to think that Congress should battle overdue maintenance, along with problems like rising petroleum prices and greenhouse gas emissions.

Some officials said a “New Deal” kind of approach was necessary to avoid a “crisis” in terms of strained power lines, failing roads, and diminishing water supplies.

But Gail Achterman, with the Oregon Transportation Commission, said the challenge will be convincing non-experts that it’s worth it.

Gail Achterman: “Big reforms happen, really big reforms happen, when people, when Americans believe that there are increased economic opportunities for average, hardworking Americans.”

Some leaders at the summit suggested that federal funding policy should shift to reward more efficient projects, as a way to cut long-term costs.