With all the talk about the bike stuff that didn’t get funded in the Mayor’s proposed budget, I thought it would be helpful to take a closer look at what did receive funding.
Below is the complete list of items the Mayor has decided to fund for the Office of Transportation (“GF One-time” refers to General Fund One-time funds):
Streetlight Operations Funding – $1.2 million GF One-time.
This funding of operating support would assist PDOT in a transition period to an increased or new revenue source.
Leaf Removal Program – $556,000 Program Revenue
This package would allow PDOT to recover the costs of providing leaf removal services to neighborhoods in the city.
Steel Bridge East Ramp Strengthening – $750,000 GF One-time
This package would provide $750,000 General Fund One-time as the City’s 50% match to strengthen the existing concrete ramp of the bridge.
ADA Ramps – $250,000 GF One-time
This package would allow PDOT to construct additional corners to meet the Americans with Disability Act requirements.
Safety Improvements – $460,000 GF One-time/1 FTE
This package would provide continued funding to evaluate and implement traffic safety improvements at high crash areas.
Bicycle Safety Improvements – $150,000 GF One-time
This request would provide continued funding to complete the bicycle safety engineering projects that include safety/crossing improvements and green-street bike safety projects.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements – $150,000 GF One-time
This project would build 15 pedestrian refuge islands to provide safe pedestrian crossing on high-speed multi-lane arterials.
Safe Routes to School Safety Improvements – $250,000 GF One-time
This request would provide continue funding for community-identified projects that increase the safety of children traveling in Portland.
West Burnside Preliminary Engineering – $800K GF One-time
This funding would pay for the 35% preliminary engineering cost for the section of the West Burnside & Couch project that is not within the urban renewal districts.
SW Boones Ferry & Stephenson Realignment – $300,000 GF One-time The project would design and construct a re-aligned intersection at SW Boones Ferry Road and SW Stephenson to increase sight and stopping distances.
Reclass 3 Limited Term to Permanent Positions – $295,884 Program
Revenues/3 FTE This package would convert three limited term to permanent positions. This is necessary due to the steady increased in workloads experienced in the affected departments. All positions are funded by service charges and fees.
Add Development Services Technician – $52,284 IA Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add one Development Services Technician position to the Street Use Permit Section due to the increased workload in that section over the years. The position would be funded by an interagency agreement with the Bureau of Development Services.
Add Engineering of Records – $87,876 Program Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add one Senior Engineer position to the Civil Design Section to perform as technical lead and/or project manager for PDOT capital improvement projects.
Add Constituent Liaison – $81,192 Program Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add one Community Outreach & Information position to perform as the constituent liaison to respond to citizens, neighborhood organizations, and business inquiries into PDOT programs, operations, and financing. The position would be funded by service charges and fees.
Assistant Manager O&M Streetcar – No Fiscal Impact/1 FTE
This package would add one Portland Streetcar Maintenance Supervisor position to the Portland Streetcar program to support the expanded operations of the Streetcar operation and to assure effective coverage. The position would be funded by existing bureau budget.
Certification/Project Delivery Manager – $94,068 Program Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add one Senior Program Manager Position to manage the ODOT Certification program and to act as the project controls manager, and supervise project delivery. The position would be funded by service charges and fees.
Central City Plan – $225,000 Interagency Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add one limited term City Planner position and part-time positions to work on the integration of the Central City Transportation Management Plan with the Central City Plan. The package would be funded by an interagency with the Bureau of Planning.
Airport Master Plan – $152,000 Interagency Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add one limited term Senior City Planner position and part-time positions to work on the Airport Master Plan. The package would be funded by an interagency with the Bureau of Planning.
Add Storekeeper – $69,114 Interagency Revenues/1 FTE
This package would add a storekeeper at the Tabor Storeroom Facility. The position would be funded be Parks and PDOT.
Street Light Cable CIP $400,000 General Fund One-time
The project would provide funding to replace the street lighting infrastructure in the Sout Auditorium blocks.
NAYA Street Improvements – $40,000 GF One-time
The package would provide funding for traffic safety improvements between the nearby bus stop and the new Native High School on NE Columbia Boulevard.
Peak Oil Initiative – $150,000 GF One-time/2 Part-time positions
This package would provide funding for two half-time limited term positions and $50,000 for materials & services to develop a work plan for PDOT to address recommendations made by the Peak Oil Task Force.
As you think about these funded items, remember that yesterday, Jeremy Van Keuren in the Mayor’s office told me yesterday that their priorities are on maintaining existing infrastructure and increasing safety.
In their minds, the Bicycle Master Plan Update process does not score high enough against that criteria to receive funding.