Metro has announced that $533,000 of Regional Travel Options grants are now available. This program has funded all sorts of great stuff in the past. See full details in press release below:
Metro grants available to improve air quality, address community health issues
Wondering how to install bike lockers in your community? Interested in creating activities that encourage people to get out of their cars and walk, ride or take transit? If so, your city, public agency or nonprofit organization may be eligible for a Regional Travel Options grant.
Metro will fund projects that improve air quality, address community health issues, reduce auto traffic and create more opportunities for walking and bicycling. Federal transportation funds are used for the grants. The grant application process begins this month to fund projects beginning July 2011. A total of $533,000 is available.
Previous projects funded by these grants include: the City of Portland’s Sunday Parkways, the Carefree Commuter Challenge and the Bike Commute Challenge. The grants also support projects such as the installation of bike lockers at the Beaverton Transit Center, bike racks for businesses in Tigard and TriMet’s Open Trip Planner, which will allow users to plan trips that combine biking, walking and transit.
Grant applicants can learn more at an informational meeting on Monday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Avenue in Portland. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov/rtogrants.
The Regional Travel Options program carries out strategies that encourage and support alternatives to driving alone, such as the Drive Less/Save More awareness campaign, the Walk There! and Bike There! programs, MetroVanpool and CarpoolMatchNW.org. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road cuts emissions, decreases congestion, extends the life cycle of existing roadways and promotes a healthier community.
Metro, the regional government that serves 1.5 million people who live in the 25 cities and three counties of the Portland metropolitan area, provides planning and other services that protect the nature and livability of our region.
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