Former BTA director will be mayor’s transportation policy advisor

Catherine Ciarlo
(Photo courtesy Catherine Ciarlo)

Catherine Ciarlo, who was formerly the executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and currently serves on the Portland Planning Commission, has been hired to be the transportation policy advisor for Mayor-elect Sam Adams.

Ciarlo led the BTA from 1998-2005. In addition to her role on the Planning Commission, Ciarlo is the executive director of Oregon Women Lawyers and she has a law degree from Lewis and Clark College.

In a story on her appointment to the Planning Commission, she told BikePortland that she wants, “to see Portland head in the direction of environmental sustainability and transportation systems that truly serve people.”

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On policy issues, we have previously reported that Ciarlo was an ardent supporter of the failed attempt to reuse the old Sauvie Island Bridge span as a bike and pedestrian only crossing over I-405 and she was also an oustpoken critic of the Columbia River Crossing project (CRC).

Catherine Ciarlo, shown here in the middle of former mayor Bud Clark and Northwest Portland bike advocate Patricia Gardner testifying in front of City Council in support of the Sauvie Island Bridge relocation project.
(Photo © J. Maus)

In a statement about the CRC in advance of the City Council’s vote on the project, Ciarlo said:

“We will urge City Council not to write a blank check for a project that doesn’t meet the criteria we believe any new bridge should meet.”

Ciarlo lives in Southeast Portland. Expect to see her appearing as a source on bike and transportation-related issues a lot more in the future.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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Ethan
15 years ago

Go Catherine! This is awesome.

Mark Ginsberg
Mark Ginsberg
15 years ago

This is great news. Catherine will be a great addition to the new mayor’s team. She is not only a great bicycle advocate, but an excellent consensus builder who understands how bicycling helps the city beyond just personal transportation.

Doug Klotz
Doug Klotz
15 years ago

Catherine:
Congratulations!
Doug

A-dub
A-dub
15 years ago

Catherine,

Congratulations from all your Friends at Lewis & Clark!

Jessica Roberts
Jessica Roberts
15 years ago

Catherine is one of the smartest people I know. She’s good with people and good at understanding how things really get done, and I expect those traits will serve her very well in Sam’s office. I look forward to good ideas that actually get implemented under her tenure.

Steve G
Steve G
15 years ago

This is fantastic news. It sends a strong signal from the mayor’s office to the local transportation planning community: bikes should continue to be a top priority for our fair city.

Congratulations, and good luck, Catherine — you may need wear your helmet AFTER your commute, too!

Bill Stites
15 years ago

This is great news. Congratulations Catherine!

That Sam is a pretty smart guy. Dare I say, Obama-esque? 😉

Anonymous
Anonymous
15 years ago

A poor hire. Sorry Sam, but you and your staff missed the boat big time on this one. But hey, keep that convention center hotel idea going! (/sarcasm)

Cecil
15 years ago

As a member of Oregon Women Lawyers, I was sorry to see Catherine go. As a cyclist, I am thrilled that this is where she went. Congratulations, Catherine!