The great news we reported last month is now official: The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced yesterday that they’ve received $2.96 million from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for two projects that will vastly improve biking and walking conditions in North and East Portland.
The Portland projects are two out of 27 that the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) has decided to fund from a $20 million pot of federal “flexible funds” set aside specifically for non-highway projects. PBOT has received $2,090,372 for the Going to the River project and $870,000 for a project on SE 122nd Avenue.
The Going to the River project will combine biking, walking, transit, and outreach components that are designed to improve access to Swan Island in North Portland. Swan Island is home to thousands of jobs, yet access quality for all modes is not equitable. With the flexible fund grant (and $240,000 from local sources), PBOT will add sidewalks, improve bikeways, improve access to light rail and fully connect the active transportation network around Swan Island. Construction is set to begin in August of this year.
On SE 122nd, the grant will fund a Complete and Green Main Street Project that will do similar things as the Going project. SE 122nd is a key artery in East Portland and PBOT plans to make biking, walking and transit access improvements in order to not just improve safety but to, “stimulate economic development and private investment in the corridor.” Here’s a bit more from PBOT:
Enhanced crossings of SE 122nd Avenue will also improve east-west bicycle travel and safety and improve pedestrian safety. Green elements include sidewalks separated by landscaping, stormwater planters in curb extensions and street trees.
Total cost of the SE 122nd project is $3.35 million ($2.48 million is coming from local sources). Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2012 with completion by December 2012.
As we reported earlier this week, the OTC also awarded $2.1 million to TriMet’s Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project, which includes $35 million worth of biking and walking improvements.
I’ll update this post with construction timeline estimates as soon as I hear back from PBOT.