County getting stimulus cash for roads, rail and trails

The area rakes in almost $9 million in the first round of stimulus fund allocations for transportation

By Anthony Roberts

The Clackamas Review, Mar 10, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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Metro kicked the region’s federal stimulus plan into high gear last week by quickly approving $102 million in Portland-area transportation projects.

The council’s vote opens the floodgates for federal transportation dollars, creating as many as 3,500 jobs, according to Metro officials.

“This is a very good day for the entire region,” said Metro Council President David Bragdon. “This stimulus package will help create immediate jobs and fund a variety of projects that accomplish a broad range of improvements.”

Northern Clackamas County communities will rake in more than $4.5 million in street improvement money, with another $900,000 headed toward the I-205 light rail line and almost $3 million going toward improvements to pedestrian and bike trails.

All told, Metro allocated $38 million to local jurisdictions, and approved $44 million in TriMet projects and $19.5 million in Oregon Department of Transportation projects. Wilsonville’s transit agency, South Metro Area Rapid Transit, was awarded $450,000.

A Metro advisory board decided to allocate all of the $38 million in regional money immediately instead of breaking it into two funding cycles.

Local projects

Street improvement projects largely include repaving and maintenance work. Of the $38 million in money Metro allocated to local jurisdictions, work includes:

• repaving Sunnyside Road and installing new traffic signals between S.E. 82nd and I-205, $900,000;

• repaving and repairing several roads throughout Happy Valley, $889,000;

• resurfacing portions of Linwood Avenue and River Road in Milwaukie, $300,000;

• repaving several streets in Gladstone, $827,000

• realigning intersection of Molalla, Warner Milne and Beavercreek in Oregon City, $900,000; and

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