We do lots of planning and write plenty of grants, so don't mind us if we get excited when all that work comes to fruition. That's right, we're building stuff! Well, not us really, more our contractor. But they're doing a great job - check it out...

New Sidewalk at Faubion School in NE Portland

The beginnings of a new crosswalk near Chief Joseph Elementary in N. Portland

Installation of a green curb extension near Chapman Elementary in NW Portland.

This work is all part of a $500,000 grant we got from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for Safe Routes infrastructure projects. We're also constructing projects at Capitol Hill Elementary (SW), Forest Park Elementary (NW), Gilbert Heights (E. PDX), Kelly Elementary (E. PDX), Rosa Parks Elementary (N. PDX), Sacramento Elementary (E. PDX), and Sunnyside School (SE). The projects at each school were identified by a team of school and community members in conjunction with one of our traffic engineers. All the work is scheduled to be complete by the end of January.

Commuter Central's Senior Bicycling Correspondent, Dan Bower, is currently investigating bicycling conditions in Bicycling Magazine's #1 bike city in America (Minneapolis, by the way)  and has this story to file:

We're sure to hear more from Dan in the next few days to come.  How about some action shots of the bike paths being plowed by those fabled snowmobiles?

All TriMet service is FREE on New Year's Eve after 8pm.  The details are here: trimet.org/alerts/newyear

Ride the MAX, buses, and streetcar for free on NYE! Photo: Jessic Montes

On 12/31/10:

Buses

Buses will run on regular weekday schedules.

MAX

Late-night service will be added to weekday schedules, running every 30 minutes until about 3 a.m.

MAX Blue Line

The last eastbound train to Gresham will leave Pioneer Courthouse Square at 3:04 a.m. The last westbound train to Hillsboro will leave Pioneer Courthouse Square at 3:04 am.

MAX Green Line

The last train to Portland City Center will leave Clackamas Town Center at 2:08 a.m. The last train to Clackamas Town Center will leave Pioneer Courthouse at 3:00 a.m.

MAX Red Line

Trains will run on weekday schedule. The last train to the Portland Airport leaves Pioneer Courthouse Square at 10:30 p.m. The last train leaves the Portland Airport at 11:49 p.m. After Red Line service ends, a shuttle bus will carry riders between Gateway Transit Center and the Portland Airport every 15-30 minutes until 3 a.m., stopping at all stations.

MAX Yellow Line

The last train to Portland City Center will leave Expo Center at 2:11 a.m. The last train to Expo Center will leave Portland City Center at 3:08 a.m.

New Year's Day

New Year's Day is Saturday, January 1. TriMet buses and MAX trains and Portland Streetcar will run on Sunday schedules.

You know us, we love long walks on the sidewalk and riding together to and from school.

But sometimes you've got to sit down and type out a grant application. Or respond to 76 emails. Or fill out that TPS report. And at times like these, distractions come in handy. And no distraction has proved more addictive in 2010 than Twitter. Sure, at first it made us feel old and confused, but now we just let the tweets wash over us like a refreshing Portland shower.

Inspired by our colleagues over at Commuter Central, here are (in no particular order) our...

Safe Routes to School's
Top Ten Tweeters of 2010...

Playworks Portland @PlayworksPDX Portland, OR Playworks Portland helps bring safe, meaningful and inclusive play to 6,000 kids in 14 Portland Public schools daily! http://playworks.org/portland

Updates from a local organization committed to recess...

KaBOOM! @kaboom United States The KaBOOM! vision is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. http://kaboom.org

A national perspective on the importance of play

Beach School PTA @BeachPTA 97217 Support the students and teachers at Beach Elementary in North Portland http://www.beach.pps.k12.or.us/PTA.html

The 2010 Safe Routes to School poster child - thanks Beach!

Jamie Woods @woodsjam PSU Economics Professor and Chairman of the Parkrose Board of Education http://parkroseschools.blogspot.com/

Thoughtful posts with an East Portland perspective from the Parkrose School Board Chairman

David Douglas SD @daviddouglas_sd Portland, OR 97233 http://www.ddouglas.k12.or.us

Updates from the David Douglas school district

Metro GreenScene @metrogreenscene Portland, OR GreenScene is your guide to great places and green living in the Portland metropolitan area http://www.oregonmetro.gov/greenscene

Great tips and resources on green living

Lenore Skenazy @FreeRangeKids New York, NY Generalissimo of Free Range Kids Movement, syndicated columnist, sought-after speaker.To book, write: Lskenazy@yahoo.com . http://www.freerangekids.com

Our favorite tweeter of 2010!

SafeRoutesNow @SafeRoutesNow http://www.saferoutespartnership.org

Updates from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Portland Parks & Rec @PDXParksandRec Portland, Oregon http://www.portlandparks.org

We love our parks...

PublicAlerts @PublicAlerts Portland, Oregon Breaking news and information on service disruptions in the Portland metropolitan area. http://PublicAlerts.org/

Know before you go...

Top Ten Runners up: @pdxcommute, @WPCWalks, @EugeneSR2S, @SundayParkways, @Depave, @disabledSportOR, @BTAOregon, @CommCyclingCtr, @SmartTripsBiz, @PortlandSDFA