Federal Support for Bicycling and Walking in SAFETEA-LU

In 2005, Congress passed House Resolution 3 (H.R.3), SAFETEA-LU. The legislation amends Titles 23 and 49 of the United States Code and authorizes the expenditure of $286.5 billion dollars in multimodal transportation projects and programs over the next five years (2005-2009).

The core bicycling programs we support are represented strongly, and the passage of this bill includes some big victories for cyclists.  Both www.bikeleague.org and www.americabikes.org have information about bicycling and walking under the bill.

Text of the bill can be found at http://www.house.gov/rules/109textTEALU.htm

Click here for a six-page memo (PDF file) on H.R.3 and bicycling by the League of American Bicyclists.

H.R. 3 includes for Oregon Bicyclists:

In addition to the general programs under the bill, the program provides new Oregon-specific projects While we are only in the early stages of analyzing what H.R.3 means for Oregon cyclists, here are a few of the Oregon-specific projects:

NEW! Safe Routes to School for Oregon

A new national Safe Routes to School program will provide at least $1 million per year to Oregon. Of this, 10% - 30% of the funds must go to non-engineering programs. Each state must have a Safe Routes Coordinator.

The new Oregon Safe Routes to School law, HB 2742, provides guidelines for ODOT to administer this program. The law requires cities and schools to partner in developing Safe Routes plans and solving problems.

NEW! Portland-Metro Area Regional Trails Phase I - $5 million

Congressman Earl Blumenauer secured $5 million to launch Phase I of the Regional Trails Program. The BTA is working with his office to select the best projects.

NEW! Portland State University Transportation Center - $16 million

H.R.3 designated and funded a new national Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) to be housed at Portland State University in collaboration with the University of Oregon (U of O), Oregon State University (OSU) and Oregon Institute for Technology (OIT). The BTA is pushing for PSU to form a center for bicycling and walking research.

Sellwood Bridge - $7 million

The Sellwood Bridge is recognized as the number one priority for cyclists in the Portland region. We are assured that the bridge will include bicycle and pedestrian treatments.

Other Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects

• Portland – Gateway Urban Renewal District - $4.2 million
• Portland – East Burnside, including a new streetcar line - $5.2 million
• Portland – North Macadam Access - development includes street, pedestrian, bicycle and transit access improvements.- $11 million
• Columbia River Gorge – Recreation bikeway - $500,000
• Wilsonville – Boeckman Road mixed use urban village - $800,000
• Milwaukie – Lake Road safety improvements - $4 million
• Springfield – Middle Fork Willamette River Path - $3,000,000
• Eugene – Delta Ponds Multi-use Pathway - $2,880,000
• North Bend –Waterfront District Bike/Ped Improvements - $992,000
• Medford – "Safe Walk Route Plans," for ten elementary schools in Medford - $2.8 million
• Curry County – Rogue River Mutli-use Pathway - $600,000
• Port of Brookings Harbor – Boarkwalk extension and sidewalks - $600,000
• Albany – Pathway from Transit Station to Swanson Park - $520,000
• Hood River – City center to McCord Creek bikeway - $500,000
• Hood River County – Marine Park bike wand pedestrian facilities - $800,000
• Rockwood Town Center – Stark Street and pedestrian improvements - $2 million
• Gresham's Civic Neighborhood – new light rail station, bus, bicycle and parking facilities - $1.17 million
• Powers – Construct Mutli-use Pathway - $440,000

More about the BTA's national advocacy efforts