Transportation Transitions is made up of Salem-Keizer folks interested in improving the ways of getting around without an automobile. We need to create a group of citizens committed to making transportation alternatives available in our community and invite anyone with an interest in better transit, bicycle usage and/or sidewalks to join us. We are committed to seven-day-a-week bus service, a quality system of bike routes and sidewalks throughout our community. We rely on this website and email to get out the word about transportation issues and important ways you can become involved in making our community more supportive of alternate modes of transportation. We have a twitter stream with bits of information available at http://twitter.com/trans2. If you are interested in supporting our efforts - by writing letters, attending meetings, sending emails, etc. please send us an email at Trans2Salem@gmail.com. Transit Resources and Information Cherriots and Cherrylift in Salem-Keizer - www.cherriots.org Oregon Transit Association - http://www.oregontransit.com/ - Represents transit agencies in Oregon including TriMet, Lane Transit, Cherriots and many smaller transit properties. Oregon Public Transit Division - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/PT/index.shtml Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates AORTA - http://www.aortarail.org/ - Organization has a Portland and Rail focus, but also has members in the Salem area. 2009 Legislative Issues - The Legislature decided to expand the payroll tax amount that Portland (TriMet) and Eugene-Springfield (LTD) could levy without a vote of the people but refused to give Salem-Keizer Transit and other transit districts in the state the same authority. The state has also eliminated support for the Airport Road Shuttle and ended the state's employee bus pass program. These are difficult economic times!! HB 2186 provides for a Green Houses Gases Emissions Task Force focused on Metropolitan Planning Organizations (of which Salem -Keizer is one of six in Oregon) to look at ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The task force is directed to "Study and evaluate the development of alternative land use and transportation scenarios that accommodate planned population and employment growth in those areas of the state that are served by metropolitan planning organizations while achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles." There will be a presentation on this task force at the Andersen Room of the Salem Public Library on Wednesday October 28th at 6:00. The presentation is hosted by 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Oregon Environmental Council and Senate President Peter Courtney is scheduled to speak. Bike Resources and Information Breakfast on Bikes - http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/ - A program of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) that meets the last Friday of each month for breakfast. BTA is a statewide advocate for bicycles. Willamette Valley Bicycle Transportation Alliance - http://www.salembicycleclub.org/ State of Oregon Bike / Ped Program - www.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/bikeped/ Sheila Lyons ODOT, Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Manager 355 Capitol St. NE, Rm 222 Salem, OR 97301-3749 503-986-3555 Sheila.a.lyons@odot.state.or.us Pedestrian / Sidewalk Resources and Information City of Salem Sidewalk Repair Program - http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/PublicWorks/TransportationServices/Pages/SidewalkRepairProgram.aspx This program has inspected more than half of the city's 900 miles of sidewalks, replace more than a mile of sidewalk and patched and ground sidewalks in hundreds of locations. Funding for the program is expected to end by February of 2010. Safe Routes to School is a national program to enable and encourage more children to safely walk and bicycle to school - http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ This program is currently being implemented at Halleman School and neighbors in the Morningside area are looking to develop the program for their elementary school. The Salem-Keizer School District has designated a transportation employee with Safe Routes to Schools. Part of his job is to reduce the number of bus routes to schools. Kevin Baker Salem/Keizer School District Transportation Routing Baker_Kevin@salkeiz.k12.or.us Ph: 503-399-3108 Possible funding program for bike/ped improvements, EECBG - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program - The City of Salem has received more than $1.5 million dollars of stimulus money from this program Julie Yip Oregon Safe Routes to School Program ODOT Transportation Safety Division 235 Union St. NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-4196 (direct) (503) 986-3143 (fax) julie.a.yip@odot.state.or.us ___________________________ |