News

Oregon to spend at least 15% of federal safety funds for vulnerable road users

May 13, 2022

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), a.k.a. the Infrastructure Investment and Investment Act (IIJA), states—including Oregon—where 15% or more of traffic deaths are people outside vehicles are required to spend 15% or more of Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds on vulnerable road user safety.

Metropolitan Policy Committee approves MovingAhead; next phase is to refine designs

May 5, 2022

Today, the Metropolitan Policy Committee approved MovingAhead, ratifying what the Eugene City Council and Lane Transit District Board of Directors had already decided in March. The next phase is to refine the design along each “build” corridor (River Road, Highway 99, Martin Luther Kind, Jr. Blvd, and Coburg Road), with input from potentially affected property owners and other key stakeholders. Staff will also seek funding for construction, likely starting with River Road and Highway 99. Full buildout could take a decade or longer.

BEST applauds Lane County’s first Bicycle Master Plan; comment on draft through May 3

April 27, 2022

BEST applauds Lane County’s first Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) as the critical first step towards making bicycling safe and practical countywide. Building on an ambitious but compelling vision, the plan sets forth goals, identifies a countywide bicycle network, selects bikeway facilities to build out the network, divides these into discrete projects, and prioritizes these as near-, medium-, or long-term.

Through May 3, Lane County is accepting comments on this draft plan for rural roads and paved paths outside of the Eugene-Springfield urban area.

Then county commissioners will consider amending the Lane County Transportation System Plan (TSP) to incorporate the bicycle network detailed in the plan.

Transportation on crutches

April 11, 2022

BEST likes to practice what we preach. We walk, bicycle, and ride the bus. But while on spring break in Florida, executive director Rob Zako hadn’t planned lose the ability to bike, walk, or even stand for another 6 to 12 weeks.