PBOT Announces Upcoming Focus Groups

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) invites members of the Black community to participate in upcoming transportation focus groups on the following topics:

1. Lloyd to Woodlawn Neighborhood Greenway

This project is looking to develop a neighborhood greenway on NE 7th or NE 9th (or a combination of both). Neighborhood greenways redesign streets to slow traffic and limit car access in order to make safer corridors for pedestrians and bikers. At this time, PBOT is interested in learning more about how the Black community is utilizing these streets. Focus groups will be hosted in October or November. Project website: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/TRANSPORTATION/75668

2. Electric Scooter Pilot Program

Earlier this summer, PBOT announced a four-month pilot period for shared electric scooters to be deployed across Portland. As the pilot period nears its end, the agency will host at least three community focus groups to help inform whether scooters will become more permanent in our city. Priority demographics for these focus groups include: (1) Black community; (2) disability community; (3) East Portland residents. These focus groups will be hosted in October. Program website: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/77294

3. Transportation Incentives for Affordable Housing Residents

Around the City neighborhoods and commercial districts are starting to adopt parking permit programs to manage parking demand and encourage other modes of transportation. A part of the programs design includes the permit funds contributing to discounted transportation options such as public transportation, BIKETOWN and car sharing. PBOT is looking to expand similar options to affordable housing residents across the city, whether or not they living in a parking permit district. Over the next year the agency will be partnering with property managers and community organizations who support affordable housing residents to pilot a program that will provide these transportation incentives for free. The agency is looking to host focus groups with affordable housing tenants to inform how this program is designed. Focus groups will be hosted by early November.

Anyone interested in providing input on one of these topics should submit their topic interest and information at this link -- https://bit.ly/2OD66EN -- by Oct. 1 and the agency will follow up with more information.

PBOT also invites members of the community to apply for the PBOT Bureau and Budget Advisory Committee! More information is available here. Applications are due Sept. 24. Please contact Tosin Abiodun for more information: [email protected] or (503) 823-5080.