On Wednesday, Metro opened a 30-day public comment period on amendments to the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan and 2010-2013 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The comment opportunity also describes Metro’s determination that indicates the region will continue to meet federal and state clean-air standards. Comments must be received by Metro by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5.
The amendments concern the following projects:
- Hillsboro has requested that that the Cornelius Pass Road to Highway 26 Eastbound project be amended to the 2035 RTP and 2010-2013 MTIP. The project includes traffic signal modifications, the addition of turn lanes at the interchange and relocation of bike and pedestrian facilities to support Intel’s planned expansion at its Ronler Acres campus and address existing deficiencies in the area. The project is allowed by and consistent with the Washington County and Hillsboro transportation system plans.
- Beaverton has requested that two projects, a widening of Allen Boulevard (between Murray Boulevard and Highway 217) and an extension of Nimbus Avenue (from Hall Boulevard to Denney Road) be deleted from the 2035 financially constrained RTP. During the final adoption of Beaverton’s transportation system plan and after the RTP was adopted in June 2010, the city council made changes to the project list and removed these two projects as priorities.
- Multnomah County has requested that the construction phase of the Sellwood Bridge project be amended to the 2035 financially constrained RTP and the 2010-2013 MTIP. With the start of a county vehicle registration fee, the project now has enough resources available to add the construction phase to the financially constrained RTP.
- Portland has requested to amend the Portland Bike Share project that is part of the regional flexible funds allocation process to the 2035 financially constrained RTP project list. This project is identified in the Portland Bicycle Plan. If this project is awarded funding through the regional flexible funds allocation process in December, this project would be incorporated in the 2012-2015 MTIP.
The RTP is a 25-year blueprint that guides transportation planning and investments throughout the region to improve safety, revitalize downtowns, protect the environment and support the region’s economy. Metro updates the RTP every four years. The 2035 RTP reflects the policies, projects and funding strategy approved by the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation and the Metro Council in June 2010.
The Air Quality Conformity Determination estimates carbon monoxide emissions and precursors of smog (volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen) from cars and trucks in the greater Portland air shed to the year 2035, assuming all the transportation facilities in the RTP are built. The estimate must not exceed a "budget" approved for the region by the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Comments can be made by email to [email protected] with “RTP Comments” in the subject line, or by mail to RTP Comments, c/o Dylan Rivera, Planning Department, Metro, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232-2736. Comments must be received by Metro by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5.