A PBOT project to improve safety for bicycling
on Broadway between N. Wheeler and Ross
is in the running for state funding.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Oregon Department of Transportation has released an updated list of projects to be funded and constructed through their 2015-18 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). For ODOT Region 1 (which includes Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah and parts of Washington County) the program splits $127 million between a "Fix-It" pot and an "Enhance" pot to the tune of $60.5 million and $66.4 million respectively. "Fix-It" projects "maintain or preserve the existing system" (primarily new signals, bridge repairs, and paving), while the "Enhance" projects "expand or improve the transportation system."

The list released by ODOT today for public feedback is a 150% list — meaning they will further narrow down the list based on your comments.

For context, this is the first time ODOT has ever doled out these funds in this manner. Prior to last summer (when ODOT announced the changes), the STIP program had 22 different individual programs. All these dedicated funding pots have been simplified down to just these two. (more...)

City wants $1.5 million for N. Williams Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation has applied for over $36 million in state transportation grants. The grants are administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) through their 2015-2018 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). PBOT's list (PDF) includes 16 projects, many of which are crucial for improving bicycle access throughout the Portland metro region.

See highlights from the list below, followed by my comments and more analysis of the STIP process:

• $1.7 million to construct a segment of the Sullivan's Gulch Trail where it passes under I-205. This segment of the trail is a key connection at its eastern terminus where it intersects with the existing I-205 path (more background in our recap of a project open house last year). It's interesting that PBOT wants to build a different segment than the one they applied for a federal grant for back in 2011.

(more...)

Oregon biking and walking advocates received good news on Friday when ODOT Director Matt Garrett announced his agency is committed to key biking and walking programs that lost dedicated funding in the recently passed federal transportation bill (MAP-21).

As we detailed back in June, MAP-21 completely changed (and/or eliminated) the way many programs were funded. These changes have caused anxiety among advocates who worry that the new rules will make it difficult for biking, walking, and transit-centric projects to compete with more traditional highway projects.

Here's an excerpt from Garrett's statement: (more...)

A funding fight is brewing at Metro over how the regional planning agency should allocate nearly $38 million in federal funds. Unlike the vast majority of transportation funds fought over by various regional interest groups, these funds are "flexible," meaning they can be spent on nearly any type of project. With scarce dollars in play these days, the competition to snag them is intense.

The $37.78 on the table at Metro is a portion of $147 million in "regional flexible funds" they will dole out through the federal government's Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) for the years of 2016 - 2018.
(more...)

They're already crunching numbers in Salem.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Congress officially passed a new, two-year transportation bill today. As I shared yesterday, it's regarded by active transportation advocates as being downright bad. Even Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who was on the conference committee that hashed out the final bill, calls its passage "strangely anti-climactic" (I spoke with Congressman Blumenauer today and will share his candid take on the bill in a separate story).

For their part, the Oregon Department of Transportation has wasted no time in parsing the numbers to see where their programs and funding levels stand with the new bill. ODOT's role in doling out federal transportation funds has become heightened because a major theme of the new bill is that it gives more control of the pursestrings to states. For instance, a full one-half of the total amount of money in a new program dubbed "Transportation Alternatives" (about $307 million per year nationwide) will be doled out through a competitive grant program. (States can also decide to spend that chunk on other things, although given ODOT's track record and trajectory of respect toward active transportation, it's unlikely they would take part in that sneaky "opt-out" provision.) (more...)

A new report presented to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber yesterday outlines and prioritizes 16 new "non-roadway" transportation funding mechanisms. Among the ideas selected as a priority for "additional consideration for further implementation" and possible legislative action, is a "User fee for bikes."

The 93 page report, Oregon Non-Roadway Transportation Funding Options: Report to the Governor, (PDF) is the result of a 64-person "Non-Roadway Working Group" that was convened by Kitzhaber back in November. The group included a large list of transportation stakeholders (including Bicycle Transportation Alliance Advocacy Director Gerik Kransky), many members of the Oregon legislature, and State staffers (see full list below).

The purpose of this project (which has been on the to-do list for the state since 2008) was to, "develop recommendations for sustainable funding of non-roadway transportation, including rail, marine, aviation, transit, and on and off-road bicycle and pedestrian paths." (more...)

Detail of proposed
improvements to SW Barbur Blvd.

ODOT has whittled down a list of 89 "non-highway transportation projects" vying for $21 million in federal flexible funds, to just 35. Three City of Portland projects have made it onto the second round; but unfortunately, a project that could have built the first segment of the Sullivan's Gulch Corridor did not make the cut.

With cities around the state clamoring for federal funds as their local budgets shrink, the competition is fierce. ODOT received requests totaling $89 million for the $21 million in available funds, which the state has set aside specifically for "non-highway" projects. (more...)

The Oregon Department of Transportation is set to award $21 million to "non-highway" transportation projects throughout the state as per their Flexible Funds program. Of that amount, Portland officials expect about $2.2 million to be awarded locally and today Mayor Sam Adams sent in his list of project requests.

In the last go 'round of this funding pot, ODOT awarded Portland nearly $3 million for two key biking and walking projects — the "Going to the River" project and the SE 122nd Avenue complete street project.

Here are the seven projects that Mayor Adams has requested funding for:
(more...)

The FHWA awarded over $800,000 to build
a multi-use path and sidewalks
on SE Division in Gresham.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Yesterday, City Council passed a request for nearly $8 million in federal funding for active transportation projects. While our attention was on City Hall, the US Department of Transportation announced over $400 million in Federal Highway Administration grants — of which $19.5 million will flow to 16 projects throughout Oregon.

Below are a few of the projects on the list that caught my eye: (more...)

Federal funds could be used for
better bikeways in East Portland.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The City of Portland and counties throughout the region are busy putting their project wish lists together to apply for about $22.5 million in federal grants. The money is distributed by Metro and is part of a $70 million pot known as regional flexible funds.

Of that money, the City of Portland will get about $6.6 million to spend on bicycling and walking projects. On Friday, PBOT released the five projects they've identified for funding so far. They also announced a public meeting on June 1st to discuss the projects and hear your feedback.

Here are the five projects on PBOT's list: (more...)