Eastbank Esplanade.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The Urban Trail Fund, a new grant program that was included in the state transportation bill (HB 2001) passed in 2009, will officially open for applications today.
ODOT will award $970,000 this year to a maximum of four projects. Only one application is allowed per city and projects must be within the Urban Growth Boundary. According to the bill language the money must go to projects that:
“develop and maintain… multi-use trails for non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians that supplement or provide links to roads, highways, footpaths, bicycle trails and public transit.”
On their website, ODOT says they want to fund “high-impact projects that demonstrate how trails are an important part of the transportation system in urban areas.” Priority will be given to communities that have already started to build a trail network and a key emphasis is being placed on connectivity. “Single, stand-alone trails that are not clearly part of a broader… transportation network will not be selected.”
It’s interesting to note the emphasis on connectivity and transportation (as opposed to a recreational emphasis). When this new fund was first proposed, legislators placed oversight with the State Parks and Recreation department. It took testimony in Salem by the BTA to make sure it was administered by ODOT and that the fund recognized bicycles as a legitimate transportation mode.
You’ve got until July 9th to get your applications in. The Oregon Transportation Commission will announce award the on October 20th.
Learn more about the program and download the application on ODOT’s website (docs won’t be available until 1:00pm today on June 1st).
Thanks for reading.
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Oh, I hope the Gresham-Fairview Trail gets some money.
I vote for the Hwy 217 Trail!
I think the most glaring gap in our bikeway system is the lack of a safe, moderate (i.e., through Hillsdale) route between Portland and Beaverton.
I know the total estimate is something like $22m to fill in all the gaps in the Oregon Red Electric trail, but there are sections (e.g., Shattuck to Oleson) that wouldn’t cost a fortune to build, and would significantly improve the existing situation.
one Portland path needs come to mind in particular: the westside Greenway trail (along the west side of the Willamette River) from South Waterfront area to the Sellwood Bridge, would really benefit from some attention – there’s areas of bad asphalt, some squirrely connexions, a number of blind corners, and limited path width with a lot of use by both cyclists and pedestrians. A few hundred thou wouldn’t do everything, butcould go quite a a ways toward making it a more hospitable facility for all.
Anyone at Portland Parks paying attention?
oh, and the missing peice of the Marine Drive path (between I-205 and 122nd) would be great to complete someday…
of course, npgreenway seems to meet that criteria. the bridgeton gap along marine drive, I-5 to ne 33rd would also be a worthy project. It would not be hard to find 20 projects in Portland that would provide that crucial link. But less than $1MM split four ways isn’t going to fund any major projects, but several smaller ones. Perhaps the funding for the rest of Waud Bluff trail, moving forward,but not totally funded yet, i understand…
Yes the Gresham-Fairview Trail would be a deserving recipient!