The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has developed a draft five-year implementation strategy for active transportation projects east of 82nd Avenue.  Over the year from November, 2010 to November, 2011, we gathered information from the East Portland community and analyzed project data to develop recommendations about which projects to build first to improve conditions for walking, biking, and taking transit.

In the fall of 2011, we asked the community to comment on the draft strategy and we incorporated your ideas.  On Wednesday, April 18, City Council adopted the strategy! 

Click here to zip to the page where you can DOWNLOAD THE FINAL REPORT.

1-Year Status Update

PBOT staff conducted a status update one year since City Council adopted the strategy. Here is a summary of the findings:

• The City has over $27 Million of local funds and secured grant funds committed to implementing priority projects identified in EPIM. 
• PBOT recently submitted more grant applications for over $10 Million in additional funding. If all grants are awarded, the City will have over $38 Million allocated to EPIM implementation between 2012 and 2018.

Implementation Matrix - 1-Year Status Report  - This table contains a detailed status report on accomplishments and budgeted investments in projects and programs identified in EPIM. It is a supplement to Table 18 - Implementation Matrix from the EPIM Report. 

BACKGROUND

What is Active Transportation?

Active transportation is daily travel powered by human energy.  Walking, biking and taking transit (which often involves walking) are all means of active transportation. Encouraging active travel means creating seamless networks of accessible trails, sidewalks and bikeways. Promoting active transportation can:

• help create safer streets
• help reduce the causes of global climate change
• promote a healthy environment
• limit adverse health impacts related to inactivity
• provide equity and access to viable, affordable transportation options
• support local businesses

Background on East Portland in Motion:  The implementation strategy builds on several adopted plans and existing programs and funding sources, including:

• East Portland Bicycle Infrastructure Implementation Action Plan called for in the resolution adopting the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030
• Sidewalk Infill on Arterials project funded through revenues generated by the Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act (HB 2001, passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature)
• Safe Routes to Schools Program
• Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant received by Multnomah County from the US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Other existing plans for traffic safety in East Portland 

Approach: 

We developed recommendations for priorities for implementation for the coming five years by integrating community input with geospatial analysis to determine where the greatest benefit for the greatest number of residents can be achieved with the funding available.  We gathered community input through a variety of techniques and participation in events at numerous venues throughout the project area.

At the same time, in order to avoid losing a year of investment, PBOT continued moving forward with projects that were already underway, like the SE Bush neighborhood greenway, the 80s neighborhood greenway, the NE 102nd Avenue Streetscape project, and the 122nd Complete and Green Main Street project. We also began project development on additional near-term projects for sidewalk infill and neighborhood greenways, working with neighborhoods and interest groups.

Seeking broad input from a diverse community

Transportation worked with community leaders like the East Portland Action Plan bicycle subcommittee (EPAPbike) and the East Portland Land Use & Transportation Committee (EPLUTC) to identify community priorities, while also reaching out to residents, businesses and other interested persons in the community. In the fall of 2010, graduate students from Portland State University partnering on the project conducted thirty individual and seven group interviews. We heard about daily transportation needs and attitudes from:

• Somali mothers
• Russian and Ukrainian families
• Immigrant youth in the David Douglas High School after school program
• Immigrant adults through IRCO
• Elders from multiple cultures at the East Portland Community Center
• Parents at Shaver Elementary School
• Homeless families at the Eastminster Presbyterian warming shelter

Some major themes emerged from the interviews:

1. Focus on kids: there was high support for programs like Safe Routes to Schools that focus on programs and projects to make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to school.
2. Importance of transit: access to transit and the importance of transit to people’s travel was a recurring theme, especially in the group interviews.
3. Enthusiasm for neighborhood greenways: projects to improve conditions for bicycling and walking on quieter streets that already have low volumes of traffic were supported both by people who bicycle and people who don’t bicycle.

For More Information

For more information on the East Portland in Motion project, or to be added to the interest list to receive updates, contact April Bertelsen, april.bertelsen@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-6177.

Notice of Non-Discrimination to the Public:

The Portland Bureau of Transportation fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.  Contact the Title VI Coordinator at Room 1204, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, or by telephone, (503) 823-2559, City TDD (503) 823-6868.  To help ensure equal access to programs, services and activities of the City of Portland, the City will provide auxilliary aids and services to persons with disabilities; please call 503-823-5185 or TDD 503-823-6868.