Long, Steve

Dear OBRAites,
here is a message I sent to Mayor Tom Potter's office concerning the
funding issue for the Bicycle Master plan's funding issues and that
office's reply.

Steve

________________________________

From: Potter, Mayor [mailto:mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.us]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 4:49 PM
To: Potter, Mayor
Subject: RE: Platinum Bicycle Master Plan

<<...OLE_Obj...>>

Office of Mayor Tom Potter

City of Portland

Thank you for emailing me about the proposed budget and the Platinum
Bicycle Master Plan. For this budget, we were faced with an
unprecedented number of requests and priorities. All of these requests
have real merit; obviously, not all can be met.

The Portland Department of Transportation (PDOT) has struggled with
significant funding issues - and will continue to struggle with funding
issues in the coming years. The largest part of Transportation
discretionary revenue comes from State gas tax revenue. This revenue is
not indexed for inflation and has not been increased since 1993. This
has left PDOT with a large gap in the amount of revenue they have
available to adequately fund maintenance. In response to this gap and
to ensure that essential basic maintenance is taken care of, the
proposed budget dedicates a substantial portion of PDOT's funding ($1.2
million) to institute a very short-term fix to ongoing maintenance.

Difficult decisions had to be made as to the best use of remaining
dollars after funding basic maintenance. Several components of
Commissioner Adams's Safe Streets Initiative were funded, two of which
focused on bicycle transportation. Included in the proposed budget were
Safe Routes to School, pedestrian safety improvements, and funds to
continue improving the City's most dangerous intersections.
Additionally, the proposed budget includes bicycle safety improvements
for $150,000. These decisions are consistent with our priority to fund
safety requests above other requests.

I appreciate your concern. I agree that the Platinum Bicycle Master
Plan is important and I would like to see it funded in the near future.
Thank you, again, for emailing me.

Sincerely,

Tom Potter
Mayor

From: Long, Steve [mailto:steve.long@clark.wa.gov]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 4:49 PM
To: Potter, Mayor
Subject: RE: Platinum Bicycle Master Plan

jvankeuren@ci.portland.or.us

Dear Mr. Van Keuren,

I am writing in response to the Mayor's decision to cut funding for the
Bicycle Master Plan update process. I am rather appalled that the Mayor
would take such an action, especially given our current:

Bike culture

Environmental needs

and

The low costs associated with its updating.

Please be advised that I am encouraging the Mayor to change his budget
to include the monies needed to update the Bicycle Master Plan and to
continue funding the Safe Streets Initiative.

Please keep our city liveable and rideable!

Additionally, if you could keep us (myself and perhaps
obra.list.obra.org) all informed of the progress and intention to
restore this funding, it would be most appreciated.

If you cannot access the list, I would be glad to forward any responses
you have for you.

Steve Long