PBOT announces public meeting to discuss bike/walk projects

This just in from PBOT:

The Portland Bureau of Transportation will convene a public meeting to receive input on potential applications for federal transportation funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects under Metro’s Regional Flexible Funds (RFF) program. The meeting is scheduled for June 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room B of The Portland Building at 1120 SW Fifth Avenue.

Metro forecasts that $70.7 million in federal Surface Transportation Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funds will be allocated to the Portland region in fiscal years 2014 and 2015. While some of these funds have already been dedicated to construction of rail transit projects or will fund other transportation programs, $22.5 million is available for local projects. Of that amount $16.9 million is designated for Active Transportation and Complete Streets projects, which are projects that add or improve facilities for bicycling and walking and access to transit. Portland will receive approximately $6.6 million of Active Transportation and Complete Streets project funding.

Projects must meet the criteria described in Metro’s 2014-15 project nomination process guidelines. These guidelines and further information about the regional allocation process can be downloaded from www.oregonmetro.gov/regionalflexiblefund (also attached).

Beginning in January 2011, City staff has been working with two standing City committees to identify potential projects: the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee. These committees are comprised of citizens appointed by the Mayor.

City staff has developed five candidate projects based in part on input from the BAC and PAC (attached). At the June 1 meeting, staff will present these projects to a wider audience for consideration and comment. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to suggest alternative projects. On June 17, The City will submit summaries of up to five candidate projects to Metro.