“It is unacceptable to the BTA to consider overturning our current policy… The Port [of Portland]… wants this money for highway/road projects. Now is the time to say no.”— Gerik Kransky, BTA A funding fight is brewing at Metro over how the regional planning agency should allocate nearly $38 million in federal funds. Unlike the … Read more
They’re already crunching numbers in Salem.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) Congress officially passed a new, two-year transportation bill today. As I shared yesterday, it’s regarded by active transportation advocates as being downright bad. Even Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who was on the conference committee that hashed out the final bill, calls its passage “strangely anti-climactic” (I … Read more
A new report presented to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber yesterday outlines and prioritizes 16 new “non-roadway” transportation funding mechanisms. Among the ideas selected as a priority for “additional consideration for further implementation” and possible legislative action, is a “User fee for bikes.” The 93 page report, Oregon Non-Roadway Transportation Funding Options: Report to the Governor, … Read more
Detail of proposed improvements to SW Barbur Blvd. ODOT has whittled down a list of 89 “non-highway transportation projects” vying for $21 million in federal flexible funds, to just 35. Three City of Portland projects have made it onto the second round; but unfortunately, a project that could have built the first segment of the … Read more
The Oregon Department of Transportation is set to award $21 million to “non-highway” transportation projects throughout the state as per their Flexible Funds program. Of that amount, Portland officials expect about $2.2 million to be awarded locally and today Mayor Sam Adams sent in his list of project requests. In the last go ’round of … Read more
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 … Read more
Federal funds could be used for better bikeways in East Portland.(Photos © J. Maus) The City of Portland and counties throughout the region are busy putting their project wish lists together to apply for about $22.5 million in federal grants. The money is distributed by Metro and is part of a $70 million pot known … Read more
“… But we’re still not really cracking into the heart of the core [federal] programs in a way that our mode share and crash record really demands.”— Andy Clarke, President, League of American Bicyclists Number-crunching by the League of American Bicyclists shows that the percentage of funds spent by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on … Read more
Metro has unveiled the list of “regional experts” that will sit on a task force to make recommendations on how the agency should dole out about $24 million in federal transportation dollars. Back in July, there was a heated debate at Metro’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation over how best to divide up those … Read more
Green streets; where bikes, fish and plants coexist.(Photo © J. Maus) Portland Mayor Sam Adams has released details of his promise to find $20 million to “kickstart” funding of the 2030 Bike Plan. As expected, the money will come from the Bureau of Environmental Services budget and will be allocated toward “Green Streets projects on … Read more
Studded tires cause $50-60 million in road damage across the state each year — like these ruts on N. Rosa Parks Way in Portland.(Photo © J. Maus) With a lack of funding for transportation projects such a major issue in this town, it’s not surprising that some activists are taking a serious look at studded … Read more
Grrr… U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced winners of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. The only project to be awarded in Oregon was $23.2 million for “Portland’s Innovation Quadrant – SW Moody St. & Streetcar Reconstruction” (total project cost is $66.5 million). Many in the local bike scene were … Read more