Thanks to our Sponsors this Holiday Season!

Breakfast on Bikes couldn't happen without the support of businesses who look forward to creating a sustainable transportation system. Thank you!

During the holidays please support those who support us!

Check out their holiday breads like Stollen, Julekage, and nut bread!



LifeSource Natural Foods.


and
Coffee House Cafe.

For their support we also thank the
Salem Bicycle Club
Willamette University Sustainability Council

(Remember, no B on B tomorrow morning - it's Dec 11th!)

SKATS adds Projects to Funding List; Includes Study of Kroc Center Access

Today the Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study Policy Committee voted to add seven projects (and perhaps an 8th) to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as well as the Regional Transportation System Plan (RTSP).

Two of the projects were necessary to add because HB 2001 has specified funding for them, and any Federal funding requires that they be included in the regional TSP and TIP.

Widen Aumsville Highway at the Mill Creek Corporate Center from a two-lane street with roadside ditches to a three-lane section (minor arterial standards) with center turn lane, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes. The intersection at Kuebler Boulevard will be widened, including modifications to the traffic signal. ($4M from ODOT via HB 2001)

Enlarge I-5 at Kuebler Interchange by adding a westbound-to-southbound loop ramp, modifying the existing southbound off-ramp, and modifying eastbound-to-southbound on-ramp. ($15M from ODOT via HB 2001)

The other additions included:

Conducting a Salem-Parkway / Kroc Center Access Study. Fund a study of alternative projects and alignments, including potential overpasses and/or underpasses of Salem Parkway and the Portland and Western rail line, to improve access and safety to the new Salvation Army Kroc Center. (SKATS-STP-U funds)

Complete 12th Street Promenade at Mill Street: Improve pedestrian crossing at the intersections of 12th Street SE and Mill Street and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at Mill Street.

Widen Gaffin Road SE to minor arterial standards from Cordon Road east to western border of the Salem Renewable Energy and Technology Center, including a new signal at Cordon Road with a left turn pocket on Gaffin Road.

Construct a roundabout at the Chemawa Road and Verda Lane intersection. Add turn lanes on 14th at Lockhaven.

In Turner, from the Union Pacific RR tracks west to 7th Street, widen Delany Street from 24' to 36' to include sidewalks, bike lanes, and storm water culverts.

The Kroc Center piece is particularly interesting, and there will be a meeting in early December to start the discussion. Earlier this year, when the center opened, we observed that getting to the center is very difficult for bicyclists, especially kids. Hopefully the project will focus on getting kids to the center via active forms of transportation, not on adults driving to the center. We'll be sure to follow this!

The inclusion of the 12th & Mill project suggests the City does not plan to fund it with the "Keep Salem Moving" road bond bike/ped funds.

By placing these projects in the RTSP and TIP, the project become eligible for Federal funding. Their inclusion does not mean they are necessarily funded.

The comment period for the RTSP and TIP updates will close on January 23, 2010. I don't believe they have published formally the process for comment.

FTA seeks Comment on Proposed Expansion of "Catchment Area" for Bikes and Peds

This email and solicitation for comment from Congressman Blumenauer's office is making the rounds. The proposal, if enacted, looks to be a significant source of multi-modal funding. It's worth some attention.

Dear Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Friends and Colleagues,

As Jonathan Maus posted in the Nov. 16 edition of BikePortland.org, the Federal Transit Administration is currently accepting comments on a new policy that would extend and more clearly define the 'catchment area' for bikes and pedestrians around transit stops and stations.

I urge you to comment on the proposed policy. After all, who knows more about transit, bicycle and pedestrian behavior, needs and facilities than you? Communities across the country would benefit from your comments and recommendations.

You can find the policy, as well as the procedure for comments at [here]. The deadline is January 12, 2010; contact names and addresses and requirements are listed in the document.

A final request: please cc me on any comments you submit, so I can share them with my colleagues in DC.

Thanks.
Meeky


Meeky Blizzard
Advisor for Livable Communities
Congressman Earl Blumenauer
[meeky.blizzard at mail.house.gov]

Cutting Carbs: Learn about Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Dec 4th

Want to learn more about reducing the carbon footprint from land use and from transportation?

The Oregon Environmental Council is offering a seminar "Cutting Carbs," a Professional Development Workshop for Transportation Professionals and Advocates on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Salem Workshop, on the afternoon of December 4th, will feature presentations from Gail Achterman, Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission; Brian Gregor, Senior Transportation Analyst, Oregon Department of Transportation; Mike McKeever, Executive Eirector of Sacramento Council of Governments.

Register for the workshop here.

Read the note at BTA-HQ here.

Traffic Lights at Union and Front Improved for Bikes

Though the Union Street Railroad Bridge is closed for the winter and spring while contractors clean up the old lead paint, its eastern bridgehead just got better for bikes!

This week the City just installed two video cameras to make crossing Front street at Union easier. Originally, bicyclists were asked to use the pedestrian signal and crosswalk. The Vision 2020 bike/ped group asked the Downtown-Riverfront Urban Renewal Area for support on improving the intersection. They had set aside some fund for Vision 2020 projects and agreed to help fund the new signs and new traffic light controllers.

The cameras mean that improvements on the first intersection on the proposed Union Street Bicycle Boulevard are essentially completed!

The detection zone for bicycles is in a hypothetical bike lane near the right hand curb on each side of the intersection. Traffic engineers will fine-tune the zone over the next couple of weeks.

The west-bound crossing had been especially difficult, and the induction loops there seemed dead to bicycles. This makes it possible to cross the intersection while maintaining usual lane positioning!

Minto Bridge not the Only One Hung Up by Antiquated Laws

The Oregonian reports that the Portland Spirit wants more bridge clearance on the new Trimet light-rail and bike/ped bridge:

the Portland Spirit says it won't be high enough to guarantee passage. The Spirit's owners demand a higher bridge now to protect their cruise interests later.

According to the article there's not a problem now, but the cruise operator may add "a 10-foot-tall mast and 10-foot-tall wind turbines," which will require higher clearances.

Interestingly, according to the article, the legal framework that permits both the Willamette Queen and Portland Spirit challenges is apparently based in the The General Bridge Act of 1946. I always thought the problem was 19th century law - though the 1946 act may include vestigial 19th century components.

In any event, it's another example of the ways we are planning like it's 1950 instead of planning for 2050.

The article ends:

Climate change means a world of uncertain, erratic events, and TriMet and other large institutions are right to try to plan for it, says Bob Doppelt, director of the Climate Leadership Initiative at the University of Oregon.

"This historic planning for infrastructure really is no longer relevant for climate change -- that's the biggest issue," he says. "You've got to say look forward rather than backward and say, 'What are the most likely scenarios?' and plan for them."

Downtown Parking District costs almost $800 per Spot per Year

Downtown parking is in the news. Tonight City Council will consider some goals.

Back in June, City Council reauthorized the Downtown Parking District Tax. The staff report on it is here. As best I understand it, here are the numbers.* Salem residents pay directly and indirectly almost $800 per spot.

The tax rate on downtown businesses is $130.69 per spot next year to maintain a parking spot in downtown Salem. The total tax levy of the district is $373,550 for the next fiscal year.

$97,289.41 is the cost for the Chemeketa Parkade (26.04%),
$57,282.55 for the Liberty Parkade (15.33%),
$161,088.23 for the Marion Square garage (43.12%).
Total number of spots is 2809.

The total cost to run the District next year is apparently $2,217,690 or $789.49 per spot. (The difference between $789.49 and $130.69 per spot must come out of the general fund, but I did not analyze this.) Over a 20 year life of a spot, at these rates a spot is worth $15,789.80.

*There may be other downtown parking not covered here - perhaps someone with a better understanding of downtown parking will chime in? The relationship between on-street and parkade parking is not entirely clear, for example.