Ever been to a transportation-related government committee meeting where someone reads the names of recent traffic victims? It’s a practice that has become more common in Portland in recent years as agencies have adopted Vision Zero campaigns. I’m at meetings where this happens relatively often. It’s done at the outset of a meeting and I … Read more
Slides from presentation on Metro’s Emerging Transportation Trends Study.
We’re at that awkward stage in a highway mega-project when the agency in charge is under a cloud of controversy and still (after years of planning) doesn’t have an official endorsement to start construction, but still wants money to keep the project moving forward. Of course I’m talking about the Oregon Department of Transportation and … Read more
Metro continues to consider an increase in money for road widening rather than for safety improvements near schools.
Riding in east Portland can only get better.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (and TriMet) is set to invest $8.2 million into sidewalks, neighborhood greenways and transit-safety related projects in East Portland. The funding comes from a $34 million “Regional Economic Opportunity Fund” created by a Metro committee last year. In case … Read more
“… In a deep recession, people who are struggling — in addition to buses and bike paths — also need access to a job.”— Ann Lininger, Clackamas County Commissioner A 17-member Metro committee made up of mayors, commissioners, and transportation agency leaders around the region voted this morning to do away with a 75/25 federal … Read more
“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
Blumenauer: Come together. Right now.(Photo © J. Maus) United States Congressman Earl Blumenauer spoke during a rare appearance at an influential Metro committee last week, doling out some tough love over the groups’ inability to come together around a regional vision for transportation investments. It was a rare showing of straight talk that speaks to … Read more
A Metro task force wants to emulate success of light rail corridors in making decisions about active transportation funding.(Photo © J. Maus) A Metro task force put together to decide how the agency’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) should spend $23 million in federal “flexible” funds, has agreed that the money set aside … 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
