Policymakers from across the region will meet Thursday morning to refine the priorities for how to spend $37 million in transportation funding.
The Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation is narrowing its priorities as it heads toward a final decision in November on how to spend the $37 million, part of a package of $98 million expected to be invested in three years, 2016-18. Known locally as regional flexible funds, the program consists of money from three federal programs that are controlled in urban areas by metropolitan planning organizations, such as Metro for the Portland area.
In September, the committee directed Metro staff to come up with a proposal that would invest the $37 million with a focus on job creation, implementing corridor plans and safety improvements.
Committee members also specifically mentioned using the criteria in the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The program targets innovative projects that strengthen the economy and create jobs, reducing congestion and provide affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices. In Oregon, TIGER grants have helped pay for a replacement for the Sellwood Bridge, a widening of Southwest Moody Avenue to expand capacity for cars, bicycles and streetcars, and a reconstruction of a freight railroad near Coos Bay.
The committee also expressed interest in using recommendations from several recent economic development efforts: the Community Investment Initiative, the Greater Portland Export Plan and the Regional Industrial Site Readiness Project.
There are several options remaining for how to invest the $37 million. A Metro staff recommendation calls for a Regional Economic Opportunity Fund, to implement the committee's direction of focusing on economic development. Another option would build safety enhancements on busy arterials streets, implementing recommendations from a recent Regional Transportation Safety Plan.
Also, some members of a technical advisory committee said it would be best to invest the money in active transportation/complete streets and green economy/freight projects as were invested in the most recent round of flexible funding.
A public comment period on flexible funding will be held later this month. JPACT is expected to make a final decision on funding categories at its Nov. 8 meeting. There will be additional public comment opportunities in the winter and next year related to project selection.
The flexible funds account for about 4 percent of transportation spending across the region each year. The fund attracts considerable attention because it can be invested in a wide variety of ways.
The $37 million is one part of $98 million expected to be available for 2016-'18. The committee has directed staff to use the rest of the money to continue investments in categories that had investments in recent years:
- Two categories that were created in 2010: active transportation/complete streets and green economy/freight projects. The money would be split with 75 percent, or $26 million, for active transportation and 25 percent, or $9 million, for freight.
- Regionwide programs that promote walking, bicycling and public transit use; help finance housing in transit-oriented areas; high-tech road improvements that reduce congestion. They would receive $26 million.