Love ’em or strongly dislike ’em, this is our state DOT.
ODOT’s Betsy Imholt.(Photo: Daniel Ronan) The Obama Administration recently green-lighted money for development of a rail corridor between Eugene and Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is hosting a series of open houses to discuss the project. I recently spoke with ODOT’s rail program study director Betsy Imholt and attended the open house … Read more
Detail of latest Oregon State Bike Map, now available online!
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
View of NE 82nd showing walkers and new barrier wall.(Photo: Elly Blue/Flickr) On Wednesday, we brought you news of the first “communique” from newly formed activist group The People’s Department of Transportation (PDOT). Their video featured on-the-street interviews and commentary that was critical of a new wall erected by the Oregon Department of Transportation in … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
A sign of things to come? Will a new LEED-like road certification program help the Oregon Department of Transportation do more for biking and walking access? According to the Daily Journal of Commerce, the ODOT is considering whether they should adopt The Greenroads Sustainability Performance Metric. Greenroads is a joint effort by the University of … Read more
ODOT wants input on transportation safety.(Photo © J. Maus) The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced two meetings where they will solicit public input on their Transportation Safety Action Plan. Last updated in 2004, that safety plan is an important part of the Oregon Transportation Plan and it guides ODOT’s safety budget. Anyone with … Read more
Some Portlanders will resort to anything to slow people down.(Photos © J. Maus) Excessive speed. It’s a killer and it’s on the loose on streets throughout Portland. It’s a problem and there are many ways to combat it. One of those is to reduce speed limits. But, as you’ll find out below, that’s far easier … Read more
Looking north towards SE Division from I-205 path.(Photos © J. Maus) TriMet is close to completion of their $3.8 million, stimulus-funded project to add lighting and other improvements to a seven-mile stretch of the I-205 multi-use path. The path is also the subject of an online survey and study being conducted by the Oregon Department … Read more
Project will improve lighting on I-205 path.(Photo © J. Maus) Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (a.k.a. the federal stimulus bill), the bike and pedestrian path that runs along Interstate 205 will be getting a $2.5 million makeover. Most of the money will go toward new lighting on a 3.6 mile stretch of … Read more
Sensible speed limits are key in creating a people-friendly city.(Photos © J. Maus) In America, there are many unseen barriers to creating a more human-friendly transportation system. Many of them reside in national engineering manuals that were created — and continue to be “updated” — by auto-centric engineers. Other barriers are entrenched in policies and … Read more