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News media contact:

John Brady

503-577-8236

john.brady@portlandoregon.gov

@PBOTinfo

NEWS RELEASE: 

PBOT invites Portlanders to apply for Fixing our Streets Oversight Committee

16 member Oversight Committee to ensure accountability and transparency of Fixing our Streets Program

(June 23, 2016) – As one of the first steps in launching the Fixing Our Streets Program, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) today invited Portlanders to apply for the Fixing our Streets Oversight Committee. The committee will play an important role in ensuring the accountability of the transportation safety and maintenance program voters created when in May they passed Measure 26-173, the four-year, ten-cent Portland gas tax. The Committee will also provide oversight for the projects funded by the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax which was passed by the City Council on May 11, 2016.

When City Council approved placing Measure 26-173 on the ballot, they created the 16-member Oversight Committee and mandated that it include representatives from Portland’s various neighborhoods, modal interests, business liaisons, transportation professionals and advocates from Portland's most vulnerable communities.

“After spending several years fighting for the funding to fix our streets and make them safer, I’m excited to finally get to work,” said Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick. “We need a diverse group of community members to serve on this oversight committee to ensure implementation of these important projects.”

The role of the Oversight Committee will be to:

1. Provide guidance to City Council on the effective use of new resources.
2. Monitor revenues, expenditures, and program/project implementation.
3. Review program priorities, spending, and any necessary revisions to project lists/financial plans, including the annual program audit. May make recommendations to City Council for project list revisions.
4. Monitor construction impacts to businesses and neighborhoods.
5. Monitor utilization of minority-owned, women-owned, and emerging small businesses to support community benefits.
6. Provide an annual report to City Council containing the above information.

Applications will be due July 19th. The committee will meet quarterly with the first meeting slated for September. 

The application is available at: www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/581590

Measure 26-173 is expected to raise $64 million over four years. The program’s project list includes paving, sidewalks, crossing improvements, neighborhood greenways, safe routes to school, high crash corridors, protected bike lanes and alternative street design that will have a significant impact on neighborhoods across Portland. The full project list and other information about Measure 26-173 and the Fixing Our Streets Program can be found at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/64188.

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation  

To help ensure equal access to City programs, services and activities, the City of Portland will provide translation, reasonably modify policies/procedures, and provide auxiliary aids/services/alternative formats to persons with disabilities.  For accommodations, translations, complaints, and additional information, contact me or the Civil Rights Title VI & ADA Title II Program by email at title6complaints@portlandoregon.gov, by telephone (503) 823-5185, by City TTY 503-823-6868, or use Oregon Relay Service: 711.