190988

The City of Portland ordains:

Section 1. The Council finds:         

1. As a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill there is a significant increase in federal funding to numerous existing and new programs that can fund specific projects to provide critical transportation improvements within the City of Portland.
    
2. Although there is a significant increase in funding at the federal level, Portland will see limited resources allocated to local projects and face enormous competition from other jurisdictions. 
    
3. PBOT has worked closely with City and regional partners to develop the proposed projects included in this ordinance.
    
4. The projects identified improve safety, multi-modal access, and asset condition.
    
   1. Safe Streets for All – “Safe Systems on 122^nd Avenue: A model for humanizing arterial streets” provides an opportunity to address significant safety needs on one of Portland’s highest crash corridors, which traverses some of Portland’s most diverse neighborhoods. The “Safe Systems on 122^nd Avenue” grant, if awarded, will add safety protections for people walking, rolling, accessing transit and driving, while also slowing driving speeds to reduce serious crashes.
       
   2. Burgard Bridge Replacement – The federal Bridge Investment Program provides an opportunity to replace the Burgard Bridge, which is a critical link in the transportation network in North Portland, particularly for heavy freight movement, and is in very poor condition and seismically vulnerable.
       
   3. Central Eastside Railroad Crossing Elimination Study – The federal Railroad Crossing Elimination Program provides an opportunity to study in detail the persistent and growing issue of long freight train blockages of multiple at-grade railroad crossings in the Central Eastside and identify projects and strategies to address these issues.
       
   4. Rose Quarter / Albina Vision – The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program provides an opportunity to help fund elements of ODOT’s I-5 Rose Quarter project consistent with the Albina Vision planning effort.  This grant funding can ensure the Rose Quarter project is developed in a way that helps to restore the heart of the historically black Albina neighborhood, with a focus on reconnecting the N and NE Portland neighborhoods and removing barriers to community connectivity, mobility, access, and economic development by capping I-5.
       
5. All three of the Portland initiated grants have existing funding sources that can cover the proposed match:

Safe Systems on 122nd Avenue – up to $25 million, includes up to $20M of Safe Streets for All funding and up to $5M match from Fixing Our Streets funds allocated for repaving 122nd Avenue.

Burgard Bridge – up to $20M, includes up to $16M request from the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program and up to $4M match from Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.

Railroad Crossing Elimination Study – up to $2M total, including up to $400k in-kind match from already-budgeted GTR in the planning division budget.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

1. The Mayor is hereby authorized to make application for grants in the amount of up to $47 million.   
    
2. The City to participate in the Reconnecting Communities grant application process with ODOT and key stakeholders, including the Albina Vision Trust.
    
3. The OMF Grants Office is authorized to perform all administrative matters in relation to the grant application, grant agreement or amendments, requests for reimbursement from the grantor, and to submit required online grant documents on the Commissioner-in-Charge’s behalf.

Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because the grants are due immediately; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.