Two transportation grant programs seek public comment
Portlanders have the opportunity to help decide which bike, pedestrian, transit, road and freight projects to fund in Portland and the metro region. Metro and the Oregon Department of Transportation are taking public comments on the grant requests to the Regional Flexible Funds Allocation (RFFA) and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Enhance, respectively.
Click this link for a list of Portland-specific project proposals.
Regional Flexible Funds Allocation: Metro will be taking comments on the 29 proposed RFFA projects through June 7. Metro is holding a public hearing on Thursday, May 30 at 5:00 p.m. at the Metro Council Chambers, 600 NE Grand Avenue. Project descriptions will be provided in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian.
The Regional Flexible Funds program includes funds from three federal programs, which are allocated every two to three years. In the past RFFA has helped fund diverse projects such as the Springwater Corridor and improvements at freight bottlenecks such as the 82nd Avenue and Columbia Boulevard interchange.
During the current three-year cycle, the flexible funds program has approximately $94.58 million available for area projects. Funding criteria for the RFFA funds are guided by the planned outcomes of Metro’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). These outcomes are: vibrant communities; economic prosperity; safe and reliable transportation; leadership on climate change; clean air and water; and equity.
Can’t make the May 30th public hearing? Review the projects and comment at this webpage.
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program: ODOT staff will be accepting public comments through June on a 150% priority project list (this list of projects represents approximately 150% of the available project funds). ODOT is requesting public comment to assist in narrowing the 150% priority project list to a 100% project list.
In conjunction with the Congressional reauthorization of federal transportation programs (MAP 21), ODOT combined many previously separate transportation funding streams into two new programs: STIP Enhance and STIP Fix It. ODOT directs projects that “enhance, expand, or improve the transportation system” toward the STIP Enhance program. Those activities or projects that “fix or preserve the transportation system” are eligible for funding through STIP Fix It.
For more information and to comment on the proposed STIP Enhance projects visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/Pages/stip/stip_enhance.aspx . If you have questions contact Jeff Flowers, ODOT Region 1 Program and Funding Services Manager, 503-731-8235 or Jeffrey.A.Flowers@odot.state.or.us.