Bob Stacey has his work cut out for him in bid for vacant Metro Council spot.(Photos © J. Maus) Metro has received eight applications for the vacant Council spot left open by the resignation of Robert Liberty last month. As our regional government that plays a fundamental role in transportation investments and land-use policy, the … Read more
Biking in downtown Hillsboro.(Photo © J. Maus Metro has been awarded a $75,000 grant from health care company Kaiser Permanente for a biking and walking map project in Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro. The goal of the project, which Metro staffer Katie Edlin says is currently called, “Vámanos! Let’s explore Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro … Read more
Liberty at a Bike to Work Day event in the Lloyd District in May 2009.(Photos © J. Maus) Big news at Metro this morning with the announcement that councilor Robert Liberty has resigned. According to Metro, he is out effective January 15th to become the executive director of the Sustainable Cities Initiative at the University … Read more
There’s plenty of room on Barbur for a transit corridor. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced that Metro has won a $2 million grant to do an analysis of the “Southwest Corridor” project. The corridor would run from downtown Portland south via Barbur Blvd (99W) to Sherwood. This could bring major changes to Barbur … Read more
Metro announced $533,000 in Regional Travel Options grants today. According to Metro, the federally-funded grants are given to projects that “reduce the number of people driving alone to improve air quality and address community health issues.” Grant winners this cycle include a wide range of projects — from bike parking to “transportation mobility counseling.” One … 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
Two Metro councilors — Kathryn Harrington and Robert Liberty — traveled to Washington D.C. yesterday to accept a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Metro was one of five communities to be recognized. They received the award in the “Policies, Programs, and Regulations” category specifically for their 2009 Making … 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
Map credit: Metro Metro finalized an agreement yesterday that will allow them to secure the required easement rights to extend the Springwater Corridor Trail. The agreement will close more than half of the existing “Sellwood Gap” south of SE Tacoma Street. According to a Metro press release, they reached an agreement with Oregon Pacific Railroad … Read more
This just in from Metro: Metro seeks applicants for four citizen seats on influential transportation committee Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee (TPAC) is seeking citizens interested in transportation issues to serve on the panel starting January 2011. There are four citizen positions up for appointment: Three are two-year terms and one is a one-year position … Read more
A $20,000 RTO grant helped the City of Tigard update their bike map.(Photo © J. Maus) Metro’s Regional Travel Options program is now accepting applications. RTO grants, which come from federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds are a popular source of funding for projects that reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel, improve air quality, and, … Read more
Bragdon was an active supporter of active transportation projects and initiatives.(Photos © J. Maus) [via The Oregonian] Metro announced this morning that Council President David Bragdon has been hired as Sustainability Director for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Here’s a snip from a statement just released by Metro: “Beginning in mid-September, Bragdon will serve … Read more