Complete streets, paths, trails among $19.5 million in FHWA grants for Oregon

Get Together in Outer SE-2

The FHWA awarded over $800,000 to build
a multi-use path and sidewalks
on SE Division in Gresham.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Yesterday, City Council passed a request for nearly $8 million in federal funding for active transportation projects. While our attention was on City Hall, the US Department of Transportation announced over $400 million in Federal Highway Administration grants — of which $19.5 million will flow to 16 projects throughout Oregon.

Below are a few of the projects on the list that caught my eye:

  • Improving southbound ramp to I-5 Kuebler Interchange in Marion County – $3,625,000
  • Developing I-5 Columbia River Crossing project – $3,000,000
  • Constructing a 1.6-mile, 12-foot-wide, multiuse, ADA-accessible trail through the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail to improve access for bicycles and pedestrians – $2,109,000
  • Constructing multi-use path to connect the Lava Lands Visitors’ Center, located at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, to Sunriver – $1,877,000
  • Improving access on US 20/Cascade Avenue by upgrading pavement and reconstructing sidewalks – $1,660,606
  • Making safety improvements to U.S. 26 Mill Creek Jefferson County Line – $923,000
  • Constructing Division Street Corridor “Complete Street” multiuse paths and sidewalks – $832,640
  • Constructing a trail and installing signs on Pacific Coast Scenic Byway – $412,930

While some readers will lament yet another $3 million being plunked into the controversial CRC project and a whopping $3.625 simply to “improve” one ramp on one freeway; there are other projects that should make you happy.

The 1.6 miles of trail on the Historic Columbia River Highway is a welcome win for that project and for the many people who ride in the Gorge. According to the project description, the $2.1 million will be used to create a 12-foot wide path from John B. Yeon State Park to Moffett Creek that will allow “hikers and cyclists” to “no longer have to share the shoulder of I-84 with trucks and cars traveling at speeds often exceeding 65 mph.”

A carfree bicycling and walking link from Newberry National Volcanic Monument to Sunriver is also great news. My family and I have ridden bikes all over Sunriver’s many miles of bike paths and being able to connect to the volcano sites will be fantastic.

The City of Gresham nabbed $832,640 for the SE Division Street “complete street” project. I’m still trying to track down where exactly the money will be spent, but the grant award notice from USDOT describes it like this:

“The project will construct multiuse paths and sidewalks to provide direct access to transit, extend curbs to narrow travel lanes, and construct a pedestrian crossing refuge island with a flashing beacon in a location that exceeds pedestrian crossing warrants and serves adjacent businesses and residents as well as two schools.”

After the big day at City Council yesterday, these FHWA grants are more positive news for Portland and for Oregon.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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DC
DC
12 years ago

I’ve never seen the southbound Kuebler ramp on I-5 as a problem. It has a long lane to merge with, not really worth this money.

DC
DC
12 years ago
Reply to  DC

But, if this is talking about the on-ramp, it needs the improvement. Lines are backed up at the red light all the way onto I-5 itself, rear-ending is common.

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
12 years ago

Any idea what Washington State got (SW Washington)?

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

Todd,

Here’s the project list for WA
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/fhwa1137wa.htm

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
12 years ago

Thanks.

jeff
jeff
12 years ago
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

Todd, any insight on any of the SW Washington / Gorge projects on the list?

Andrew Seger
Andrew Seger
12 years ago
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/fhwa1137wa.htm

Looks like the CRC got another $2millions for the EIS study! So exasperating. So actually another $5 million total for the CRC.

Andrew Seger
Andrew Seger
12 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Seger

ooh MUP in stevenson and a feasibility study for Bridge of the Gods crossing is nice. Plus the last mile of the Cushman trail.

Joe
Joe
12 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Seger

Even more exasperating is that these were some of the few funds that could’ve gone for non-road projects. They should all be for ped/bike facilities. There’s an outdated, and underfunded gas tax that could be/has been wasted on the CRC.

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
12 years ago

As for the Gorge – this sounds great, as some of the worst sections for bicycle (touring) safety are the highway bridges, due to the lack of shoulder (in my recent experience). I hope it addresses a few of these.

Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson
12 years ago

What’s this about a MUP on Division? Hadn’t heard of that project. The only thing remotely resembling a MUP on Division that I can find is a 150-foot-long cycleway (not a multi-use path, but an actual cycleway) on the proposed 80s Greenway. The cycleway would contain the eastbound bike lane for Division, doubling as the northbound lane for The 80s Greenway; with the opposite lane being the southbound lane for the same bike boulevard.

This isn’t a multiuse path, and technically, while it parallels Division, it’s part of The 80s Greenway.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
Reply to  Paul Johnson

Paul,

I just updated the story. I’m still looking for specifics about the location of the SE Division Project… But I’m almost positive that it’s in the City of Gresham.. not Portland.

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
12 years ago

It says MUP but I hear “off street path” with all the hazards that Vehicular Cycling warns us of.

These are Federal dollars. Other than meeting basic federal guidelines for the approved project what leeway does the state and local governments have in upgrading crossing hardware (to say a HAWK signal triggered by MUP traffic loops tuned for bicycles) from the minimum standard?

Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson
12 years ago

Excellent. Keep me posted, please, I’d like to get it on the cyclemap. BTW, how come no love for OpenCycleMap here?

Matt M
Matt M
12 years ago

You might consider revising the beginning of this story to reflect that yesterday’s council action was a request for funds:
“Yesterday, City Council requested nearly $8 million of federal funding for active transportation projects from Metro.”

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
Reply to  Matt M

thanks matt. technically, they passed a request for funds ;-). I made a slight change based on your feedback.

Steve B
Steve B
12 years ago

I can’t wait for the Columbia River Highway connection! Great news!!

Trekxc
Trekxc
12 years ago

The improvement on Division would be greatly appreciated by many! And, the CRH connection…awesome!