Details on the new Sustainable Transportation Finance Task Force

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In case you’re curious about the “finance task force” I’ve mentioned several times in my recent 2030 Bike Plan coverage, I now have more details.

According to the City Council resolution passed yesterday, the official name of the group with be the “Sustainable Transportation Finance Task Force.” The group will be corralled by the Bureaus of Transportation, Planning and Sustainability, Environmental Services, Parks & Recreation and the Portland Development Commission. Their aim will be to:

“… form a finance task force to identify and pursue multiple strategies to increase funding for sustainable transportation and bicycle transportation; and promote the implementation of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030…”

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With ODOT’s help, City will tackle dangerous arterials

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The Leftbank Project-5

ODOT grant will boost City’s efforts
to tame dangerous roads.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation has received a $98,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation that will go toward development of plans and processes to tame dangerous traffic corridors citywide.

According to PBOT traffic safety specialist Sharon White, the money is part of a new, three-year initiative that will focus on “high-crash corridors.” City Council formally accepted the grant at their meeting on Wednesday.

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State awards $495,000 grant for PBOT’s Safe Routes program

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Safer Routes to School event-3.jpg

New funds will install crosswalks and other improvements.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has just announced that their Safe Routes to School program has received a $495,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation to build engineering improvements at seven local elementary and K-8 schools.

In a press release, PBOT Safe Routes program coordinator Gabe Graff said:

“We are excited and proud to have been selected for this funding… By bringing in this funding, Portland’s Safe Routes to School program will help make walking and biking a more realistic, safer option.”

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The Morning After: Bike plan media coverage roundup

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In case you’re interested how the newly adopted 2030 Bike Plan is being covered by other media outlets (and what’s being said about it by commenters), here is a quick round-up.

Willamette Week – Bike Plan: City Council Exacts Revenge on Saltzman. Cyclists Win. Did Saltzman, Too?

Bojack.org – Your sewer bill dollars at work — for bicyclists

Portland Business Journal – City Council OKs $613 million bike plan

KGW-TV (NBC) – PDX bike plan approved with a $20 million kick-start

Portland Mercury – Portland Bike Plan: Round Two! Updated: Details on 5-0 Vote & Adams’ Surprise $20 Million “Kickstart” Fund

KATU-TV (ABC) – Bike plan approved; funding still up in the air

The Oregonian – Portland’s 2030 bicycle plan coasts to approval

A new way to think of the Bike Plan: It’s all business

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Many local bike folks (myself included) have been trying to think of ways to talk about the 2030 Bike Plan that clearly explain why it’s so important, without getting into all the wonky details. On that note, I came up with an analogy today (just before going on camera with a local TV station) that I want to share.

Think of the Bike Plan as a business plan. Everyone knows what those are right (if not, check Wikipedia).

So here’s the analogy: PBOT has this amazing product (a bike network) that they know will revolutionize Portland — but without a plan, they’re just like every other entrepreneur with a big, crazy dream. Before they can even approach investors, start hiring employees, expand the product line, reach out to new customers, and so on — they must have a plan.

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Your Big Bike Weekend Guide

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What a lovely group.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Rejoice in tons of great bike stuff to do this weekend! The 7th annual Mini Bike Winter starts tonight and goes through Sunday. If you’ve never checked it out before, this would be an excellent year to do so.

Check out the listings below:

Thursday, February 11th

8:30 pm: Mini Bike Winter (MBW) – Opening Gala
“We will be sharing with you a panel of exciting speakers, a collection of bicycle films, and the ever popular DIY stencil station.” This is the kickoff event for Mini Bike Winter!

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How they roll (across the tracks) in Seattle

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Screen grab from new Streetfilm
showing Seattle’s track treatment.

Streetfilms’ latest video comes from our neighbors to the north in Seattle. The film takes a closer look at how the Seattle DOT is helping people who ride bicycles avoid a common problem — falling on streetcar and rail tracks.

The film features John Mauro from Seattle’s non-profit bike group Cascade (he narrates the short video below). Here’s a quote from the film that stood out to me (watch the vid below the jump):

“The Seattle DOT has taken a pedal-by-pedal approach to getting people across the cross by taking sharrows and marking every couple feet of the cyclist’s path.”

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City’s Bike Advisory Committee steps back from Saltzman proposal

The City of Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee — a 13 member group that advises the City on “bicycle-related matters” — has released their letter in response to Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s Bike Plan funding proposal.

The BAC initially intended to draft a letter in support of Saltzman’s idea (after he pitched it to them in person at their monthly meeting on Tuesday), but now they have put some conditions on that support.

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A Bike Plan media coverage roundup

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“… While we support the objectives of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 that goes before the City Council today, adopting such a plan is far from enough.”
— Opinion from Portland Tribune

With the 2030 Bike Plan up for adoption at City Council this afternoon, there is a fresh crop of stories about it in the local media. Below are links and thoughts to how it’s being covered.

The Oregonian’s Joseph Rose must be breathing a sigh of relief this morning because the Portland Business Journal has successfully wrestled away his trophy for most misleading coverage of the plan so far. Their weekly “Business Pulse” survey asks: “Should the city of Portland spend $600M to build bike lanes?”

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Latest Headlines

Saturday’s ‘Cutty Cap Challenge’ offers prizes and an excuse to explore

PBOT survey asks Portlanders to rank pro-cycling taglines

I have a nemesis in my neighborhood. It’s whoever keeps putting these signs up.

Portland City Councilor gave up $75,000 of his own office budget for safer streets

From the Archives

The good, the bad, and the ugly on the Oregon Coast Bike Route