The expected cost of improving Beltline is from $250 to $350 million. One proposal is to build another bridge north of I 105 at Willamette that would have a lower speed for "local" traffic. That may help. However, it would work against the idea that we should build neighborhood nodes so people don't have to drive far and can in fact walk sometime. It would make it easier to drive to the Delta area for shopping instead of spending money in one's community. 
If people want to fund Beltline, let's vote on it. I hear the call to vote on road improvements such as South Willamette and the West 11th EmX. Get a petition and get signatures. 
Multnomah County added a $19 registration fee and used a variety of other sources to fix the Sellwood bridge which cost $324 million.  Let's do the same! If 100,000 motorists in Lane County paid $30 we'd raise $300 million overnight!
Who is ready to quit complaining and start the process?