The Portland Bike Plan just got $20 million in kickstart funding. All five commissioners voted “aye” on the Mayor Sam Adams’ plan to divert sewer project savings into a Green Streets fund that would build bioswales on bike boulevards, slowing down traffic while collecting rainwater.
- Actually “Building It” just got closer.
The plan came under fire from numerous critics since Adams proposed it two weeks ago—including Matt in his Hall Monitor column and budget watchdog the Public Utility Review Board, which argued that stormwater facilities on bike boulevards were not a “core component” of sewer service and therefore rate-payers should not pick up the tab for their construction.
Fastidious Amanda Fritz had concerns about shifting budgets around, but in her vote today (and on her blog) said she’d done the research on the plan and approved of it 100 percent. If savings from big construction contracts that would go into the new bike fund were instead passed along to ratepayers, each Portlander would get a check for 90 cents. Instead of passing along the savings, said Fritz, the “best and appropriate” use of the money is to invest it in projects slated to create 280 jobs.
While Commissioners Fish and Leonard also waxed lovingly about how the plan got Portland double-bang for its buck, Saltzman voted “aye” with no explanation. Saltzman was originially skeptical of the budget reshuffle (perhaps a little butt-hurt about his own bike funding plan getting shot down) and it’s his bureau, Environmental Services, whose projects will be delayed to make way for the bikey bioswales.
Yahoo!!
Would each Portlander get 90 cents, or just sewer ratepayers? I guess renters pay sewer bills indirectly, but they don’t really notice.
Sewer ratepayers, Stefan. Some renters are charged for sewers (or at least I have been)…
My apartment management charges us $25/mo. for water/sewer/garbage for a 2-br. apartment. It’s less for a 1-br. but not sure how much less.
Also if you have a 2-br. apartment it’s $10/mo. more per occupant over 2.
From what I’ve heard homeowners tell me, this is a steal.
@Jackattak
It is a steal.
Here’s hoping these things work.
The point is not getting 90 cents back. Nice strawman though. The point is spending money on what it’s supposed to be spent on.
Cyclists won’t even use these bike boulevards because all this curb extension crap will just inconvenience them as much as the cars. They’ll stick to the arterials.
This town is filled with fucking stupid people, led by fucking stupider people. But they all went to college, so they presume they’re not stupid. Unfortunately, college doesn’t cure fucking stupid, just provides a smoke screen.
Good thing I didn’t go to college.
Wouldn’t want to be thought of as stupid.
Do any of these helmeted losers ever have to go to work?
Yes they do. I work with many, tho they are hardly losers. They also don’t support this either. It’s not a bike v. car issue; it’s misuse of funds issue.
This would be great if green streets solved basement flooding (shit backing up into basements). They help, but you still often need the pipework done because the pipes are still 90 years old. It’s not quite a “twofer” as Chris Smith tried to say in the O.