Survey says. Give us more!(© BikePortland) A Metro ‘Opt-In’ survey on active transportation shows that a majority of respondents from around the region feel it’s important to make greater investments in dedicated bicycle infrastructure. The survey, which was answered by 3,865 members of the Opt-In feedback panel, was to help inform in Metro’s first ever … Read more
JPACT came together this morning to green light $16.8 million in federal grants for active transportation projects.(Photo © J. Maus) A Metro committee unanimously approved a $70.7 million package of federal “regional flexible funding” at a meeting of their Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) this morning. 14 projects (totaling $22.9 million) — including … 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
Bike? Walk? Bus? Metro wants to know more about how you get around.(Photo © J. Maus) Metro has launched a survey to learn more about how Portlanders get around without a car. The survey is part of a multi-year effort to create a Regional Active Transportation Plan (ATP), a first for Metro. The survey went … Read more
Cross-section of proposed project that would link the Springwater to the Trolley Trail in Milwaukie. While much of the media attention for the current round of Metro’s regional flexible funding allocation revolved around the Portland bike sharing project, there are a host of other (extremely important) projects and programs that have been selected. Metro is … Read more
Metro plan will identify major bikeways and the money to build them.(Photo © J. Maus) Metro has earned state grant to develop a “Regional Active Transportation Plan.” According to project manager Lake McTighe, the plan will guide the development of our regional walking and biking network and, “Identify priorities and a funding strategy to get … Read more
Hillsboro MayorJerry Willey. Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey is concerned that some measures being considered by our region to reach Oregon’s climate change goals are too expensive and that it’s time to ask “the bicycle community” to pony up to pay for some of them. Willey’s comments came during the Metro Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting … Read more
The bike/car collision this morning on NE Marine Drive happened in a location where Metro owns an easement for a future trail that would place the bikeway off the main road. In a rare blend of advocacy and communications, Metro has posted a story on their website about the crash, saying that the collision, “highlights … Read more
Now just an on-street bike lane, the Staples donation will make it easier for Metro to complete the pathway. Metro announced today that office supply company Staples Inc. has donated the easement rights for future development of the Marine Drive trail. Staples owns a distribution center that backs up against Marine Drive just east of … Read more
In case you haven’t heard, Metro has launched a new way to gauge public opinion. It’s called Opt In and they liken it to an “online opinion panel.” Once enough people have signed up, they’ll use the citizen panel to gauge feedback on important issues facing the region: things like how to set transportation investment … Read more
Saving money.(Photo © J. Maus) A new report* estimates that our regional trail network saves us about $115 million per year in averted health care costs. The report (PDF) was done for Metro and focused on their interconnected system of trails, parks and greenways known as the Intertwine. The Intertwine (background story) consists of 1,250 … Read more
Bob Stacey during an interview last fall.(Photo © J. Maus) Bob Stacey, the former director of land-use non-profit 1000 Friends of Oregon and candidate for Metro President, has withdrawn his application for a vacant spot on Metro council. Stacey — who has become a favorite of many bike advocates in Portland for his positions on … Read more