Tonight: Transportation Safety Summit

At the 2007 summit, we helped
PBOT with the safety chapter
of the 2030 Bike Plan.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tonight from 6:30-8:30pm at the White Stag Building (70 NW Couch St) is the 4th Annual Transportation Safety Summit. Hosted by Mayor Sam Adams, this event will be an excellent opportunity to learn and to share your insights and concerns with the leaders of PBOT, ODOT, the Portland Police Bureau, and others.

The Summit comes at a time of a lot of news and momentum around traffic safety (back in January I wondered out loud whether 2010 would be the Year of Transportation Safety in Portland).

If you can make it tonight, please plan to attend. With notables like Police Chief Sizer, Mayor Adams, TriMet GM Fred Hansen, the director of PBOT Sue Keil, and others slated to be there — a large showing of concerned citizens will remind them how important this issue is to Portlanders. (Remember, these people have a lot of other things on their mind; for example, both Sizer and Adams are embroiled with a high-profile visit by Jesse Jackson today.)

There will be no shortage of issues to discuss tonight.

Among the things you might hear about are:

Results from a transportation safety survey put out by Mayor Adams (take it!).
How PBOT is working on safety improvements in neighborhoods citywide.
Recent efforts by PBOT to gain more control over setting local speed limits.
A new PBOT project that will tackle “high crash corridors.”
More details from Mayor Adams about recent promises to spend nearly $40 million in sidewalks and bikeways.
An update on how new revenue from HB 2001 will be spent in our region.
How the new Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 will improve bike safety.

Bring your concerns, ideas and enthusiasm. Portland is at a transportation crossroads in many respects right now. Our city leaders need to know that the status quo is no longer acceptable and the future must include a larger commitment to making our streets safe for everyone.

See you there!

Transportation Safety Summit