Last night the BTA joined a coalition of groups, including 1000 Friends of Oregon, Oregon Environmental Council, Environment Oregon, and Oregon League of Conservation Voters, to testify about our serious concerns regarding the transportation package, HB 2001. We reiterated the same statement we had issued in a May 19 letter to Oregon legislators that we cannot support the bill absent four changes:
1. Restore a minimum of $24 million in federal flexible funds for non-highway transportation.
2. Restore the increase in the minimum spending for bike-ped projects to 1.5% or otherwise ensure increased funding for non-motorized transportation.
3. Require the Transportation Commission to apply state transportation planning requirements to the pork projects earmarked in the bill.
4. Restore MPO land use planning aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for at least Eugene-Springfield.
A new version of the bill was released today containing two of the BTA’s priority recommendations. Despite these changes, we do not believe that the legislature has demonstrated a commitment to shifting to a multi-modal transportation system, and we are continuing to advocate for additional improvements to the transportation package.
Urban Trail Fund
The BTA supports the Urban Trail Fund as an organizing tool for future investments, but we recommended placing the Fund under the jurisdiction of ODOT rather than the Parks Department. (See new text on the Urban Trail Fund in Section 31 here.) This is an important distinction for ensuring that funded projects are transportation-oriented as opposed to recreational. Also, Rep. David Edwards announced last night that $1 million would be allocated to the fund this legislative session. However, we are not satisfied with what amounts to small change in comparison to the $840 million in earmarked highway projects, and will continue to ask for additional funding, including a portion of the $14 million of non-highway federal funds.
Non-highway federal funds
The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) has adopted an emergency rule for allocating federal funds toward non-highway transportation projects, including transit, elderly and disabled transportation, bicycle and pedestrian projects, and carpools. Of the total amount determined annually, the OTC “will dedicate the first $14 million to any transportation project or purpose as determined by the Commission,” and distribute the remaining dollars to other eligible non-highway projects.
I’m a 5 day a week bicycle commuter, a student, a local commercial green builder and an automobile owner. I feel like seeing the problems that face our multifaceted transportation system really show that if we can improve the zero emissions bicycle access more and more people will continue to jump get healthy and work for a greener future!