A group of regional leaders will spend another month debating how to spend $130 million in federal transportation money coming to greater Portland starting in 2019.
The so-called Regional Flexible Funds are a local allocation of federal transportation money. They're "flexible" in that the Metro Council and the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation can prioritize how the money is spent.
JPACT spent more than an hour Thursday discussing how to spend the money, advancing one proposal for discussion at its May 19 meeting. Other proposals can still be made by May 19.
The plan, floated by TriMet, includes money for Safe Routes to Schools, which educates K-12 students on how to get to school safely, as well as planning money for relieving congestion on Interstate 5 at the Rose Quarter, Interstate 205 in Clackamas County and Highway 217 in the Tualatin Valley.
Once JPACT votes on a proposal, it's sent to the Metro Council for consideration. The Metro Council can vote up-or-down on the proposal, but can't amend it.
The spending plan being considered by JPACT breaks down as follows:
- $63.4 million for transit bonds, allocating money for potential transit projects in Portland, Gresham, Tigard and Tualatin and paying for earlier light rail lines to Milwaukie and Clackamas.
- $28 million for funding affordable housing near transit, planning for transit corridors and support for transportation options.
- $26 million for active transportation programs, including construction of bike lanes and sidewalks.
- $7.3 million for projects that help move freight around and out of greater Portland.
- $3.8 million in bond sales to support $10 million in congestion relief planning, and $2 million for Safe Routes to Schools.
- $1.5 million for Safe Routes to Schools programs.
- $250,000 each for projects that improve traffic flow through technology and encourage people to walk, bike or take transit for trips within the region. These are part of the region's efforts to reduce tailpipe emissions.
Learn more about regional flexible funding for transportation