PBOT works up short-list of projects for state grant funding

Improvements to the Klickitat Mall
pathway are being considered.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The CIty of Portland Bureau of Transportation is currently creating a list of projects they hope will earn a share of about $12.5 million available in statewide grants this year.

There are three pots of money (all being administered by ODOT) that PBOT bike planners can compete for. Here are the names and amounts available for each one (all programs are statewide):

• Urban Trail Fund – $970,000 (program is new this year, more information about it here)
• ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Grants – $5 million
• Transportation Enhancements Program Grants – $6.5 million

Historically, the Bike/Ped and TE grant programs have been a very important source of funding for non-motorized projects. Projects funded using these grants include the bike-only signal at N. Interstate Ave. near the eastside of the Steel Bridge, the bikeway signage project, the signal at 41st and Burnside, the Eastbank Esplanade, and more.

The City of Portland is allowed to submit just one project for the Bike/Ped program grant and the application is due by July 1st. For the TE Program, the city will apply for four projects and applications are due by September 30th.

At this month’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meetings, PBOT bike program coordinator Roger Geller went over the 17 (yes 17) selection criteria the projects must meet (like benefit to both biking and walking, a mode share impact, community support, innovation, and so on).

With the criteria in mind, here’s the list of projects they’re currently considering followed by a brief description (all text taken directly from PBOT memos):

122nd Avenue Sidewalk Infill, Access to Transit and Bike Boulevard Crossings
Infill sidewalks on SE 122nd Ave and prove enhanced crossing treatments of 122nd near transit stops, at all locations where proposed city bikeways cross the roadway and other key destinations.

SE & NE 128th-129th-130th Bikeway Corridor; Enhandced crossings of arterials for pedestrians and bikes
Provide for crossings of arterials by this bikeway corridor. Likely treatment would be a bicycle hybrid signal or activated beacons.

Safe Routes to Schools Package
Fund a package of improvements indentified in existing Safe Routes to School engineering plans. Combine with an evaluation component to demonstrate the effectiveness of comprehensive implementation of such plans.

NE Klickitat Mall Pathway
The Klickitat bikeway project has generated neighborhood focus on the adequacy of the Klickitat Mall between 14th Ave. and Irving Park. The current 10-foot pathway is inadequate for shared us. This project would develop separated bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the 60-foot right of way that would be a model for similar bifurcated pathways statewide. (If they got this grant, the City could then use the Urban Trails Fund to try and extend the path into the park).

SW Multnomah Blvd Sidewalks and Cycle Track
Match work by existing BES [Bureau of Environmental Services] project to develop complete street on SW Multnomah that includes a cycle track. (Geller said, Multnomah is a “good candidate” for a cycle track.)

Red Electric Trail
Develop next segments of Red Electric Trail in southwest Portland.

SE Clinton to OMSI Multi-use Path adjacent to Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail Line
Complete key segment of multi-use path between the SE Clinton light rail station and OMSI station in SE Portland and Central Eastside Industrial District. Build path in existing right-of-way and additional right-of-way. to be acquired by the Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail project.

To help advise Geller’s selection, the Bike Advisory Committee voted on the projects. The top vote-getters were the 122nd Avenue improvements, the Safe Routes to Schools package, and the SW Multnomah sidewalks and cycle track project. Also getting a strong show of support was the SE Clinton/OMSI project.

Stay tuned for more information on these grants (I’m still awaiting a list of projects under consideration for Urban Trail Fund) and for a final list of what projects are ultimately applied for.