PDX Transit

Get Schooled on Portland Transit Funding

Monday, 10. 9. 2006  –  Category: Biking, Driving, Walk

Metro’s 2008-2011 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) will be open for public comment starting Oct. 13. According to the Metro website, the MTIP is prepared every two years to document “how all federal transportation money is scheduled to be spent in the Portland metropolitan region.” So far, each proposed project has gone through qualitative and quantitative evaluations. The scoring process takes into account several factors, including environmental justice impact, measured reduction of CO, and linkage to other urban planning projects.

So what does this all mean to you? If you’d like a say in how funding is spent, but aren’t up to snuff on the details take PDX Transit’s crash course before submitting a letter to Metro or attending one of the November listening posts. Here’s a sneak preview of top scoring projects in our flagship categories:

Walk] Foster/Woodstock, SE 87th to SE 101st: This streetscape improvement project is integral in establishing an urban city center in the Lents neighborhood as according to the Metro 2040 plan. It also supports the planned I-205 Max extension and will be in close proximity to the Lents/Foster Road MAX station. Overall, it will improve access to public transportation and desirability of urban development in the area.

Drive] E Burnside/Couch Street, 3rd to 14th: Considered critical to new development in the area. Will open up the Burnside bridgehead and create two blocks of new development potential by redesigning the 12th/Sandy/Burnside intersection.

Bike] NE/SE 50s Bikeway: Building a bikeway from NE Thompson to SE Woodstock scored high because it intersects several other existing bikeways. It will also employ “innovative alternating curb extensions that lends itself to green treatment for stormwater retention”.

Ride] Eastside Streetcar, NW 10th to NE Oregon: This project will extend the NW Portland streetcar to the east side of town. It is given environmental justice points for serving disabled, low income, and black populations.

Download the MTIP Technical Evaluations for a complete list of projects and comprehensive evaluations.

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1. Portland transit Google mashup
2. Streetcar Plan Gains Speed
3. Service Alert: Portland Streetcar – RiverPlace to Gibbs closed May 11-12
4. Portland Mall Site Goes Live
5. Help Keep Portland Bike-Friendly