There's plenty of room on Barbur
for a transit corridor.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced that Metro has won a $2 million grant to do an analysis of the "Southwest Corridor" project. The corridor would run from downtown Portland south via Barbur Blvd (99W) to Sherwood. This could bring major changes to Barbur Blvd and help tame the motor vehicle traffic on that street that has led to two high profile fatalities this year.

Below is a short blurb on the project: (more...)

Metro announced $533,000 in Regional Travel Options grants today. According to Metro, the federally-funded grants are given to projects that "reduce the number of people driving alone to improve air quality and address community health issues."

Grant winners this cycle include a wide range of projects — from bike parking to "transportation mobility counseling." One award that catches my eye is $53,000 for Sunday Parkways out in Wilsonville.

Check the full list of winners below. (more...)

A Metro task force wants to emulate
success of light rail corridors in making
decisions about active transportation funding.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A Metro task force put together to decide how the agency's Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) should spend $23 million in federal "flexible" funds, has agreed that the money set aside for active transportation projects — about three-fourths of it — should focus on just a few corridors at a time. The approach, similar to how TriMet has built out their light rail system, would be distinctly different than how our region has typically funded biking and walking projects.
(more...)

Two Metro councilors — Kathryn Harrington and Robert Liberty — traveled to Washington D.C. yesterday to accept a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Metro was one of five communities to be recognized. They received the award in the "Policies, Programs, and Regulations" category specifically for their 2009 Making the Greatest Place campaign. That effort helped spur action their regional 2040 Growth Concept plan.
(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...)

Map credit: Metro

Metro finalized an agreement yesterday that will allow them to secure the required easement rights to extend the Springwater Corridor Trail. The agreement will close more than half of the existing "Sellwood Gap" south of SE Tacoma Street.

According to a Metro press release, they reached an agreement with Oregon Pacific Railroad Company for $618,000. The agreement also included the sale of a 5,000 square foot property to Oregon Pacific in the Sellwood area.

The Sellwood Gap is a thorn in the side of many people in the Portland area. When the trail reaches Sellwood, the popular multi-use path snakes through residential streets for about a mile until the trail picks up again. (more...)

This just in from Metro:

Metro seeks applicants for four citizen seats on influential transportation committee

Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee (TPAC) is seeking citizens interested in transportation issues to serve on the panel starting January 2011. There are four citizen positions up for appointment: Three are two-year terms and one is a one-year position intended to fill an upcoming vacancy.

TPAC is an advisory committee that reviews regional plans and federally funded transportation projects across the three-county Portland area. It advises regional leaders on transportation spending priorities as well as policies related to transportation, such as efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. It also recommends needs and opportunities for involving citizens in transportation matters.

An essential responsibility of TPAC is to advise the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT), a panel of elected officials and transportation agency executives that controls federal transportation spending in the Portland area. TPAC also advises the Metro Council, which reviews and must approve all major JPACT actions.

TPAC is comprised of 15 professional transportation staff appointed by area cities, counties and government agencies, and six at-large citizen members. Citizen member John Reinhold plans to vacate his position for personal reasons, so a new member will be appointed to serve the remaining year of his term, from January to December 2011.

Citizen members of TPAC are selected through an application, interview and appointment process. Metro council members who serve on JPACT and Metro staff will conduct interviews and recommend candidates for the Metro council president to nominate. Candidates nominated by the council president must be confirmed by the Metro council.

All applicants should be able to attend regular meetings that take place on weekdays during normal working hours. Metro seeks diverse representation on all its advisory committees. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit www.oregonmetro.gov">www.oregonmetro.gov to submit your application online, or download the form and mail it completed to Metro Council Office, Attn. Kelsey Newell, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232. Applications are due at Metro by 5 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2010.

For more information on the application process, call Kelsey Newell, 503-797-1916. For more information on TPAC roles and responsibilities, call Dylan Rivera, 503-797-1551. Hearing impaired may call TDD 503-797-1804.

For more information on TPAC, including bylaws, a member roster and meeting agendas, see:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=419

To apply online see:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=28550

Baltimore Woods looking south
with St. Johns Bridge in the background.
(Photo: NPGreenway)

Metro and the City of Portland have collaborated to purchase six acres of land north of the St. Johns Bridge where they plan to extend the Willamette River Greenway Trail by over one-third mile. The $1.9 million purchase was made possible by Metro’s 2006 natural areas bond measure, the City of Portland's Grey to Green initiative.

The land is an area known as Baltimore Woods and is located adjacent to N. Decatur Street at North Caitlin Avenue. A statement from Metro says the purchase will "help fill the gap between Cathedral and Pier parks."
(more...)

A $20,000 RTO grant helped
the City of Tigard update their
bike map.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Metro's Regional Travel Options program is now accepting applications. RTO grants, which come from federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds are a popular source of funding for projects that reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel, improve air quality, and, in Metro's words, "create more opportunities for walking and bicycling.
(more...)

Bragdon was an active supporter of
active transportation projects and
initiatives.
(Photos © J. Maus)

[via The Oregonian]

Metro announced this morning that Council President David Bragdon has been hired as Sustainability Director for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Here's a snip from a statement just released by Metro:

"Beginning in mid-September, Bragdon will serve as director of long-term planning and sustainability for the nation’s largest metropolis. He will lead the mayor’s PlaNYC initiative to create a “greener, greater” city. (more...)

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. (more...)

Detail map of easements Metro has purchased.

(more...)

As part of their ongoing Drive Less/Save More campaign, Metro has produced a new video to demonstrate how to cross the I-5 bridge. Here's their blurb about it:

The bridge does pose some challenges like narrow paths, curving railings and traffic noise. The video provides riders with important knowledge of the bridge. It gives you the sensation of what you’ll experience first hand. It also shows the crossings you’ll need to navigate and where not to ride as you make your way through the Hayden Island area.

Metro staffer Kathryn Sofich, who works with Councilor Rex Burkholder and serves on the City of Portland's Bicycle Advisory Committee, is the host. Check it out below... (more...)

JPACT Chair Carlotta Collette at this
morning's meeting.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Metro's Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) met this morning to set policy parameters on how to allocate $20-24 million in federal Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan dollars (MTIP) -- also known as Regional Flexible Funds. After some tense discussion, the committee split 7-6 in favor of a motion to target 75% of the funds for active transportation projects and 25% for freight projects (after that contentious amendment passed, the committee unanimously passed the full resolution).
(more...)

Tomorrow's meeting will likely be
packed as the fate of $24
million hangs in the balance.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Active transportation advocates will be listening closely to Metro's 17-member Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) when they meet tomorrow morning. Based on proposals currently on the table, JPACT's vote on how to set parameters for doling out $20-24 million in federal funds is likely to result in less funding for biking, walking and trail projects.
(more...)

As I detailed on Wednesday, active transportation advocates are mobilizing to thwart an attempt by freight and business advocates to get a larger piece of an important infrastructure funding source.

This freight activism has raised eyebrows because it's coming from what I've recently learned is the state's first privately-funded, professionally represented coalition whose sole purpose is to make the case for freight infrastructure and to remedy what they see as a "disproportionate share of funding" going to biking and walking projects. (more...)

Freight or bikes? A Metro committee
is being pulled both ways.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Next week, Metro's 17-member Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) will vote on a policy direction that will guide them in handing out $20-24 million in federal transportation funds. With scarce transportation dollars at stake these days, freight and active transportation advocates are dueling to get their projects a larger piece of the pie.

This funding pot, known as "Regional Flexible Funds" have been extremely important for non-motorized transportation projects in recent years. Last year, Metro allocated a record amount of this money -- around $10 million -- to biking and walking projects while freight projects didn't receive a dime. According to Gerik Kransky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, in the last two funding cycles, active transportation and complete streets projects have received an average of $19.9 million from this process. (more...)

Streetcar and bike parking in South Waterfront.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Last week, Metro Council approved funding for the South Waterfront Transportation Management Association (TMA). The new TMA will be funded to the tune of $300,000 (half from Metro, other half matched by neighborhood businesses and residents of the area) over three years and is set to begin work on July 1st. Other supporters of the new TMA are developers, the City of Portland, the Portland Development Commission, and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU).

TMAs are non-profit, public/private partnerships funded through the federal government's CMAQ (Congestion Management/Air Quality) grant program and administered through Metro's Regional Travel Options program. The idea behind them is to increase awareness and promote the use of biking, walking, ridesharing, and taking transit. Or put more simply, discourage single-occupancy vehicle use.
(more...)

Detail of new edition of Metro's Bike There! map.

Metro has reason to be proud of their Bike There! map. In a word, it's awesome. It's one of those maps that gets me inspired to explore new places every time I unfold it. Given the extensive coverage and user-friendly details, it's no surprise they want to celebrate the launch of the latest version.

Around since 1982, this is the eighth edition of this popular map. Highlights include maps of 21 cities around the region, recreational routes, more detailed street ratings, labels for steepness, and full listings of existing rail lines to help you make that multi-modal trip (and/or steer clear of pesky tracks). Of course it's also printed on super-durable, waterproof paper. (more...)

Beaverton resident Jim Parsons
on the Fanno Creek Trail.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Metro has acquired rights for a trail easement across two properties in central Tigard that will allow them to add length to the popular Fanno Creek Greenway Trail. It's not a huge piece of the trail, but it helps close a glaring gap that currently exists just northwest of Main Street in Tigard.

With the legal rights secured to build the trail behind the two properties at the corner of SW Tigard and Grant Avenues, Metro will be able to build an additional 865 feet of trail. Metro paid $52,000 for the three acre easement, using money from its $227 million natural areas bond measure that voters approved in 2006 (this is the first trail deal made with that money).
(more...)