ORDINANCE No. 180745

*Authorize grant application to Oregon Department of Transportation for $500,000 for Innovative GreenTrips, a project to reduce delay on congested roads and highways (Ordinance)

The City of Portland ordains:

Section 1.  The Council finds:

1.  The Vision for the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) calls for a balanced, multi-modal transportation system where residents will have a broad range of safe and convenient transportation options and will frequently walk, bicycle, carpool, or ride public transit as their first choice of transportation.

2.  Increasing traffic congestion is increasing delays for people and goods throughout the Portland metropolitan region.

3.  Reducing traffic-related delays would improve economic vitality, particularly for freight trips, while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming.

4.  “Travel options” information and incentive programs such as TravelSmart and SmartTrips have proven to reduce discretionary drive-alone trips quickly and inexpensively.

5.  The Oregon Transportation Commission has created a new “innovations” category for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) 2007-2009 Discretionary Grant Solicitation.

6.  ODOT requires a 10.27% local match for “innovations” grants. PDOT is able to provide up to $53,500 in local match in the form of salary, benefits, facilities and services to manage the “Innovative GreenTrips” project.

7.  The Bureau’s level of confidence in the cost estimate for this project is 100% to be within the $500,000 grant amount.

NOW, THEREFORE, the council directs:

a.  The Mayor is hereby authorized to make application to the Oregon Department of Transportation in the amount of $500,000.

b.  The Mayor is authorized to provide such information and assurance as are required for the grant period.

Section 2.  The Council declares that an emergency exists because the application must be postmarked by January 31, 2007; therefore this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 100-2007

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 180745