HB 2001 – Transportation Funding: Most of the decisions related to transportation funding and planning requirements have been made and the Revenue Committee will likely release their proposed amendments late this week or early next week. The BTA expects to see an amendment establishing a fund for non-motorized transportation projects outside road right-of-ways. While the state highway bike/ped funding requirement will likely remain at 1%, we do expect a raise in vehicle registration fees and gas taxes to increase the overall amount of highway funding and, consequently, the total amount of dollars for bike/ped projects.
Despite the fiscal challenges this session, the BTA is continuing to emphasize the need for more funding to address shortcomings in the state’s existing bike and pedstrian network. A recent ODOT study concluded that only a little more than half of the needed bike lanes and sidewalks on highways within cities are present. Additionally, only about a quarter of all of the applications for bike/ped project grants submitted to ODOT have been approved for funding.
We’re also addressing the misconception that all of money allocated under the “Oregon Bike Bill” is used to fund projects for bicyclists. In fact, two-thirds of the funds historically have been used for pedestrian projects – primarily sidewalks and pedestrian road crossings. We support these investments as necessary for the safety of all road users, but do want better understanding of how the Bike Bill money is used.
