this bike turn median in Southeast
Portland, will get a major funding
boost thanks to a Metro committee.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Yesterday was a big day for Metro and for non-motorized transportation advocates around the region.
Between decisions on how to spend funds from the federal stimulus package (I’ll report on that separately) and their “regional flexible funding” program, Metro Council and their Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) doled out over $123.6 million in transportation projects.
Of that money, a record amount was approved for bike and pedestrian projects. From the regional flexible funds pot, Metro awarded over $10 million to bike/ped projects — nearly half the total amount allocated.
So, where did all the money go? Here’s a list of the marquee bike/ped projects (descriptions taken from Metro.):
NE/SE Twenties Bikeway: Lombard – Springwater Trail – $2,097,850
This bikeway will run north-south and when completed it will be a 9.2 mile corridor. 5.5 miles of that will be developed as a bike boulevard (the rest will be striped with bike lanes). The runs along NE 27th from Lombard to Ainsworth, NE 29th from Ainsworth to Knott, NE 28th from Knott to SE Madison, SE 27th from Madison to Stephens, and SE 26th from Stephens to existing lanes south of Woodward. This bikeway will also pass within one half mile of nineteen schools.
Westside Trail: Rock Creek Trail – Bronson Creek Trail – $2,399,337
This project will fund design and construction of a ten-foot wide, paved multiple-use trail. This is just one piece of the Westside Trail that will eventually be a continuous corridor from the Tualatin River north to and east through Forest Park to connect to the Willamette River Greenway and 40-Mile Loop Trail.
40 Mile Loop: Blue Lake Park – Sundial Rd – $2,322,421 (in Troutdale)
The project would construct a 1.7-mile mixed-use trail from Sundial Road in Troutdale to Marine Drive and Blue Lake Park. (The Marine Drive Crossing will include pedestrian activated overhead warning lights, traffic control signage, pavement markings, and overhead streetlights).
Kerr Parkway Bike Lanes: from Stephenson to Boones Ferry Rd – $1,742,926
This project will add bike lanes to Kerr Parkway in Lake Oswego. Adding bike lanes along this road will complete a link in the network of bike facilities in the area.
Red Electric Trail: SW 30th – SW Vermont – $1,929,183
This project will provide pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the Hillsdale town center area of SW Portland. Segments of this trail will include bike boulevard treatments and some off-street trails.
N Fessenden/St Louis: Columbia Way – Lombard – $2,159,431
This project addresses pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, and neighborhood livability impacts associated with cut through traffic on N Fessenden. The project will construct pedestrian crossing safety and traffic calming improvements, such as curb extensions and median islands.
OR 43: Arbor Dr – Marylhurst Dr (in West Linn) – $3,800,097
The project will consist of many roadway improvements (widening, medians etc..), but will also include eight-foot sidewalks, fourteen-foot plant strips, and six-foot bike lanes on each side of highway 43 between Marylhurst and Arbor Drives.
*I regret the error, but the two projects above were not funded in this cycle. Sorry for any confusion.
French Prairie Bridge: Boones Ferry Rd – Butteville Rd – $1,250,000 (in Wilsonville)
This project involves the planning and project development of the French Prairie Bridge, which will be a multi-modal bridge crossing the Willamette River (it will be bike/ped only, but will be open to emergency vehicles when necessary).
Council Creek Trail: Banks – Hillsboro – $218,044
This project involves planning work for the Council Creek Regional Trail that includes a Forest Grove to Banks section… this trail project intends to reduce the multi-modal gap in this corridor. The corridor extends from the City of Hillsboro, through Washington County, the City of Cornelius, City of Forest Grove, to City of Banks, connecting to existing Banks/Vernonia State Trail and Stub Stuart State Park.
Willamette Greenway Trail: N Columbia Blvd – Steel Bridge – $444,800
We covered this project in detail yesterday.
Now. Read that list again. These are not proposed projects. This is for real. This is not a drill. (Metro Council still must sign off on it, but they are very unlikely to disapprove, so says the BTA’s Michelle Poyourow).
This is nothing short of a major step forward in the completion of a regional network of trails and “mobility corridors” (a word Metro is keen on these days) and it sends a clear signal that Metro is moving toward a future that is very friendly to non-motorized travel.
I’ll have more about Metro’s efforts to build out a regional network of bikeways soon.
Next up, I’ll take a look at how Metro allocated their pot of federal stimulus funds.
— For more on Metro’s record-setting allocation of flexible funds, read this post over on the BTA Blog.