How does the Transportation Wallet for New Movers work?
The Transportation Wallet for New Movers program was created for residents of certain new multi-unit buildings constructed in Portland. The program is funded by a fee developers pay when they get their building permit. (If you just moved to the Northwest Parking District scroll down for more info).
If you live in a building that’s part of the program, once your residency has been established, you will receive a welcome flyer (like the one here) with a unique code in the mail with instructions on how you can get a Free Transportation Wallet. Welcome flyers are mailed out by PBOT staff on a quarterly basis.
You’ll see a special link on the left side of the welcome flyer for you to sign up with your for Free transportation credits and other information. You can also sign up directly here if you have your unique code.
After you sign up, PBOT will email you Portland transportation tips and send your Transportation Wallet for New Movers package by mail.
You’ll have up to 2 options for your Transportation Wallet for New Movers package:
- A TriMet Hop card preloaded with $100 + $100 in BIKETOWN e-bike credit. Are you an Adaptive Bike User? Adaptive BIKETOWNoffers free one-hour rides for anyone experiencing a disability or are unable to ride a two wheeled bicycle. This option is only available for Medicare recipients, seniors age 65+, or others who self-identify that they are unable to ride a traditional two-wheeled bicycle due to injury, illness, or ability.
- A TriMet Honored Citizen Annual Pass. This option is only available for people who qualify for TriMet’s Honored Citizen fare. A $308 value.
The Transportation Wallet for New Movers is non-transferable and non-refundable. Limit one per person, 18 and up. More than one person per unit may get their own Transportation Wallet for New Movers.
More about the program
Depending on city zoning, some buildings pay into a fund aimed at helping their residents use other ways of getting around town than driving a car, such as public transit and bike-share.
This helps reduce transportation costs for residents and helps shift us toward more environmentally friendly ways of traveling.
Buildings are enrolled in this program if they meet all the following criteria:
- Building permits were issued after May 2018
- The building has more than 10 units (this also includes building alteration projects that add more than 10 units.)
- The building is in one of the following commercial/mixed-use or multi-dwelling zone types: CR, CM1, CM2, CM3, CE, CX, RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RX, or RMP. See the city’s Portland Zoning site for a map of zoning in Portland.
Developers of buildings that fit these criteria pay what’s called a Multimodal Incentive Fee to fund transportation options for their residents, provide information about travel options, and administer surveys of residents for four years after the building is built. The fee is $1,100 per market-rate unit or $308 per regulated affordable unit—the same price as a TriMet annual pass.
This program does not include buildings located inside the area designated by planners as “Central City” or which are far from transit. “Far from transit” is defined as more than 1,500 feet from a transit station or more than 500 feet from a street with 20‐minute transit service during peak hours.
Information for developers
For more information about the requirements for developers, see:
- City Code 17.107.035 Pre-Approved Multimodal Incentives for Development. This part of city code describes this program, which building developers can use as an alternative to going through a city process to create and approve their own custom plan to manage the transportation demand generated by residents of their buildings.
- Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plans for Residential Uses Administrative Rule and Procedures Guide. This document describes how Portland implements this program.
- For developers:
- View the requirements and documents on our TDM Plans for Commercial/Mixed-Use Zones page.
- Or contact PBOT’s TDM Administrator at tdmmixeduse@portlandoregon.gov.
Are you in Northwest Portland?
If you are a New Resident to the Northwest Parking District in the last 6 months from another part of town and choose not to get a Zone M on-street parking permit, you can sign up for a different Transportation Wallet package than what is offered above. Check your address here for eligibility. Ready to apply ? sign up here.