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...)

Number-crunching by the League of American Bicyclists shows that the percentage of funds spent by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on biking and walking projects increased in the 2010 fiscal year (which runs from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010).

In FY 2010, the League calculates that the FHWA spent 2.07 percent, or just over $979 million on on biking and walking projects, up from 1.91 percent in FY 2009. However, while the share of biking and walking projects went up, the overall amount spent on them decreased. That's because the total spending by the FHWA (on all projects) went down over $11 billion between FY 2010 and 2009. (more...)

Metro has unveiled the list of "regional experts" that will sit on a task force to make recommendations on how the agency should dole out about $24 million in federal transportation dollars.

Back in July, there was a heated debate at Metro's Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation over how best to divide up those funds. The debate came after active transportation advocates lined up on one side and freight advocates lined up on the other. With both sides pulling at the committee, the vote was very close. (more...)

Green streets; where bikes, fish
and plants coexist.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Portland Mayor Sam Adams has released details of his promise to find $20 million to "kickstart" funding of the 2030 Bike Plan. As expected, the money will come from the Bureau of Environmental Services budget and will be allocated toward "Green Streets projects on prioritized boulevards."

As we pointed out last month, "Green Streets" is the name of a BES program that manages stormwater runoff through street designs that incorporate things like permeable pavers, vegetation, and bioswales. The Bureau of Transportation has worked in partnership with this program for years because some green street features -- like curb extensions -- are also used on bicycle boulevards.

The ordinance to be voted on this Wednesday will be considered as an "emergency ordinance" and will take effect immediately. According to language in the ordinance, an emergency exists because "the timeframe for completion necessitates beginning project development and outreach immediately."
(more...)

Studded tires cause $50-60 million
in road damage across the state
each year -- like these ruts on
N. Rosa Parks Way in Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus)

With a lack of funding for transportation projects such a major issue in this town, it's not surprising that some activists are taking a serious look at studded tires. Why? According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, studded tires cause an estimated $50-60 million a year in road damage and ODOT spends $11 million a year fixing it.

Citizen activist Jeff Bernards has been trying to raise awareness of this issue for five years and says, despite contacting Governor Kulongoski's office and PBOT and ODOT officials, he's gotten "nowhere." Now, Bernards wants to pursue a ballot initiative to ban studded tires. He explained his interest in this issue in a recent email: (more...)

Grrr...

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced winners of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. The only project to be awarded in Oregon was $23.2 million for "Portland's Innovation Quadrant - SW Moody St. & Streetcar Reconstruction" (total project cost is $66.5 million).

Many in the local bike scene were dreaming about a $98 million package Metro applied for that would have connected and built trails on the West Side and would have created America's first world-class neighborhood bikeway system in North and Northeast Portland.
(more...)

In case you're curious about the "finance task force" I've mentioned several times in my recent 2030 Bike Plan coverage, I now have more details.

According to the City Council resolution passed yesterday, the official name of the group with be the "Sustainable Transportation Finance Task Force." The group will be corralled by the Bureaus of Transportation, Planning and Sustainability, Environmental Services, Parks & Recreation and the Portland Development Commission. Their aim will be to:

"... form a finance task force to identify and pursue multiple strategies to increase funding for sustainable transportation and bicycle transportation; and promote the implementation of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030..."

(more...)

Commissioner Saltzman and his chief of staff
Brendan Finn at tonight's BAC meeting.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman made a rare appearance at the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting tonight in order to present his idea to raise up to $1 million per year to help pay for projects in the 2030 bicycle plan.

When the plan comes up for adoption by City Council this Thursday, Saltzman said he'll propose an amendment to use revenue from the City's Utility License Fee to pay for bike projects. The Utility License Fee is paid to the City by companies and agencies (like PGE, Comcast, Northwest Natural, and so on) that use the City's public right of way to perform a variety of services -- from telecommunications to natural gas and sewer line maintenance.
(more...)