Commissioner Novick to post Dear Santa letter at Lloyd Center Mall

Contact: Dylan Rivera
Portland Bureau of Transportation
503-823-3723 Dylan.rivera@portlandoregon.gov
@PBOTinfo  #12dayspdx

(December 18, 2013) – Leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to find funding for the city’s transportation infrastructure, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and City Commissioner Steve Novick, who oversees the Portland Bureau of Transportation, will unveil a letter to Santa Claus, making the case for why Portland deserves a stocking full of street maintenance, sidewalks and safety features on Christmas Day.

“The mayor and I are willing to go to the North Pole in the search of more transportation investments,” Novick said. “It’s so easy to see the needs all over the community, we decided to whip together a list to help the big man and his elves know the kinds of things that would really bring smiles to Portlanders’ faces.”

Who: Steve Novick, Transportation Commissioner

What: Commissioner Novick will discuss the City's need for investments in street maintenance, safety improvements, improved access to transit, and other transportation amenities, and send a detailed letter to Santa Claus requesting assistance.

When: Noon, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013

Where: Santa’s Mailbox, Nordstrom entrance, Level I, Lloyd Center Mall, Portland, OR 97232

Visuals: Commissioner Novick, unveiling Dear Santa letter to news media, next to mailbox (see attached photo) and putting the letter in the mailbox.

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(December 19, 2013) – Commissioner Steve Novick posted a letter, cosigned by Mayor Charlie Hales, to Santa Claus on the Thursday before Christmas at Lloyd Center Mall. On their wish list? The funding for a number of badly needed transportation projects. Basic street maintenance, neighborhood greenways and safety measures, to name a few. Below is a copy of the letter in full. Is there something you think they ought to have included? Share it with us by tweeting to us @PBOTInfo with the hashtag #12dayspdx.    See the full #12dayspdx campaign, sing along with us, and share your ideas.

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Dear Santa,

We hope you will agree that Portland has been a good city this past year. We hope you will be able to give her something she desperately needs: funding for her transportation priorities.

As a start, it would make the people of Portland very happy if you could find a way to fill our stocking with (in no particular order):

$850 million to address our basic street maintenance needs.

$58 million to fund the elements of the Outer Powell Concept Plan.

$23 million to complete the projects on the East Portland in Motion priority list.

$30 million for maintenance and improvement of our signal network to the latest technology.

$2.5 million for a historically and aesthetically appropriate replacement for the safety barrier on the Vista Bridge.

$2 million a year to clean our street signs, making them more readable and improving safety

$1 million a year in grants for community uses of unpaved streets, including community gardens, mulched paths and other community defined projects

$30 million to build the North Portland Greenway Trail, connecting downtown, Lower Albina, St. Johns and Kelley Point Park

$50 million for sidewalks that will make it safer to walk to school, to the bus, and elsewhere, especially in East Portland and Southwest

$19 million to implement the Capitol Highway Plan in Southwest

$15 million for a North Rivergate Boulevard overpass over the UPRR tracks in North Portland

$200 million for improvements to gravel streets

$20 million for 10 years of frequent bus service on 122nd Avenue

$10 million for Intelligent Transportation System improvements to three key freight routes

Now Santa, we understand you may feel this seems like a very long list. It sure is! We have not raised the resources to meet the needs of the dynamic, growing city that Portland has become.

And remember - We’ve been really good, making a lot of progress on that this year. Remember the fog seal street program we started? Such an efficient use of maintenance dollars! Remember the financial wiz we lured from Chicago to take over the transportation bureau?

We’ve also got a great cookie recipe for you this year. The organic milk is on its way from the neighborhood store. Give our best to Mrs. Claus.

Merry Christmas,

Charlie and Steve

(December 2013) -  Leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to find funding for better streets, safety improvements and basic street maintenance, Commissioner Steve Novick, who oversees the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and Mayor Charlie Hales highlighted the needs in a Letter to Santa that Commissioner Novick mailed on the Thursday before Christmas and through a supporting #12dayspdx social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

Here is  the full #12dayspdx Transportation Wish List. Sing along with us, and stay tuned for more discussions on the transportation funding that the Portland Bureau of Transportation needs to improve safety and services throughout Portland: 

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, A Community Vision for #Transportation Funding #12dayspdx #pdxtraffic #pdx

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Two Prioritized, Synchronized Freight Routes #12dayspdx #pdxtraffic

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Three Trucks De-icing #12dayspdx

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Four Cycle Tracks #12dayspdx

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Five Paving Crews #12dayspdx

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Six Trucks-a-Striping #12dayspdx

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Seven Beacons Flashing #12dayspdx

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Eight Neighborhood Greenways #12dayspdx

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Nine Transit Lines Expanded #12dayspdx

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Ten Sidewalk Crews #12dayspdx

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Eleven LED Lights-a-Glowing #12dayspdx

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, $1.3 billion for #Transportation Funding #12dayspdx

Read Mayor Hales' and Commissioner Novick's Dear Santa letter.

View #12dayspdx social media posts here.

Does your New Year's resolution include getting healthier or fitter?

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is reminding everyone that winter is a great time to ride your bike - despite temperatures a little cooler, skies a little grayer, with a little more moisture in the air. We're also giving people a boost to their new year's resolution now via our #resolve2ride campaign and Winter Cruise month.  

From now until January 6th we want you to let us know that you'll ride your bikes this winter.  Whether you'll pledge to hop on when it's a little drier (say, the last two months or so) or at least once a week, we want to hear your winter bike resolutions. 

On Facebook, Twitter (@pbotactive), or Instagram (@pbotactive) tell us that you'll resolve to ride this winter.  And be sure to include the #Resolve2Ride hashtag so we can find your post.  You can also email us at smarttripsbusiness@portlandoregon.gov and tell us your reason.

Our favorite response will win a $25 gift card to the bike shop of your choice.  Three runners-up will receive a Winter Cruise send-off package that includes PBOT’s coveted bike map bandanna, a reflective keep-your-pants-out-of-your-chain leg band, a seat cover for the occassional drizzle, a bike light, and more!

So tell the world why you bike in winter for a chance to win – and keep on cruising!

#WinterCruise   #Resolve2Ride

Check out this story from KATU with hints on how you can #Resolve2Ride.

And remember, we'll have more prize giveaways through January as you enjoy your #WinterCruise.