Communities awarded $2.5 million for transportation, land use projects

Aug. 17, 2016

 
For more information: Sadie Carney, DLCD Communications manager, 503-934-0036 or Shelley M. Snow, ODOT Communications, 503-881-5362

 
This is a joint release of the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Department of Land Conservation and Development

 
SALEM – Fifteen communities across Oregon – from the Klamath Tribes to Estacada – have been awarded Transportation and Growth Management Program grants to fund transportation and land use planning projects. The Transportation and Growth Management Program (TGM), a 23-year partnership between the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Oregon Department of Transportation, awards grants to support Oregon communities working to create vibrant, livable places where people can walk, bike, take transit or drive where they want to go.

“These grants reflect both the transportation planning needs of local governments across the states and the innovation of cities, counties and tribes to meet those future needs for their communities,” said Erin Doyle, Intergovernmental Relations associate from the League of Oregon Cities, and chair of the TGM Program Advisory Committee. “This round of TGM grants provides more communities across the state with the assistance they need to accomplish these important planning processes. The TGM program highlights the successes Oregon communities can achieve when they can leverage resources from state and federal partners to complete local planning.”

For this year’s funding cycle, 39 applications requested $5.1 million. Recipients will work with staff to develop each project, including final award amounts based on the scope of each grant. Award amounts are expected to range between $75,000 and $200,000. Award recipients are listed below, and project descriptions are online (PDF).

• City of Astoria
• City of Estacada
• City of Heppner
• City of Keizer
• City of Molalla
• City of Newberg
• City of North Plains
• City of Portland
• City of Reedsport
• City of St. Helens
• City of Woodburn
• Klamath Tribes
• Multnomah County
• Rogue Valley Transit District
• Washington County

Awards will be used for various projects, such as updating the city of Heppner’s transportation system plan, or TSP, a process that local governments must do regularly in order to move transportation and land use projects forward. Funds also can be used to develop a coordinated land use and transportation plan, which the city of Keizer will be doing to help guide development in several neighborhoods around the city.Grants also support developing public transit plans – and that’s how Rogue Valley Transit District will use its award.

Planning is critical to the success of a community’s economic and environmental health, yet there are few sources of transportation and land use planning funds for local governments. With over 1,100 projects completed, Oregon’s Transportation and Growth Management Program continues to provide value by helping communities craft their future transportation systems in concert with their desired land uses.

In addition to planning grants, the program offers local governments other resources, including education and outreach workshops, speakers and publications; code assistance; quick response; and transportation system plan assessments. To see examples of the program’s accomplishments, see the “TGM Tangibles report,” or visit “Publications” on the website, www.oregon.gov/LCD/TGM/.

 

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