Project Grant OR2024022

APPLICATION PURPOSE: THIS GRANT INCLUDES FY 2023 AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY FUNDING FOR TRIMET TO USE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCING PLANS FOR HIGH-CAPACITY TRANSIT SERVICE ON THE 82ND AVENUE CORRIDOR BETWEEN CLACKAMAS TOWN CENTER AND NE KILLINGSWORTH STREET WHICH SUPPORTS IDENTIFIED AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY OR HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.; ACTIVITIES PERFORMED: THIS PROJECT PROVIDES PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FOR BUS RAPID TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CORRIDOR AND ANALYZES THE USE OF ZERO EMISSIONS ARTICULATED BUSES. THIS NOT ONLY HELPS ADVANCE FLEET ELECTRIFICATION WITHIN THE REGION BUT SUPPORTS TRIMETS NON-DIESEL BUS PLAN WHICH PLANS FOR A FULL ZERO EMISSION BUS FLEET BY 2040. THE USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITHIN THE CORRIDOR ALSO SUPPORTS EMISSION REDUCTIONS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DIESEL VEHICLES REGULARLY TRAVELING THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. THE TOTAL POTENTIAL EMISSION REDUCTIONS WILL BE ANALYZED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT AND EMISSION REDUCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED AS THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE (LPA) IS ADVANCED. BUS IMPROVEMENTS WILL HELP TO OFFSET INCREASED CONGESTION AND RELATED EMISSIONS AND MAKE TRANSIT MORE COMPETITIVE WITH AUTO TRAVEL.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE PERSONS WITHIN THE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY OR HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING HIGH-CAPACITY TRANSIT USING ZERO EMISSIONS BUSES IN THE HIGHEST RIDERSHIP MOST FREQUENT BUS SERVICE CORRIDOR IN THE REGION AND THAT EXPERIENCE HIGH SERVICE DELAYS DUE TO GROWING TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THIS SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN DIESEL BUSES WILL HELP LOWER POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. IN ADDITION HIGHER CAPACITY TRANSIT IN A CORRIDOR WHERE BUSES ARE FULL AND OFTEN OVERCROWDED DURING PEAK SERVICE HOURS CAN PROVIDE INCENTIVE FOR DRIVERS TO SHIFT FROM PERSONAL AUTOMOBILES TO PUBLIC TRANSIT HELPING REDUCE TRAFFIC AND IMPROVE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS BICYCLISTS AND AUTOMOBILES.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: 82ND AVENUE HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS THE JUSTICE 40 INITIATIVE BY ADVANCING CLEAN TRANSIT UTILIZING CLEAN ENERGY PROVIDED THROUGH REGIONAL HYDRO-POWER AND WIND IN AN AREA WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF EXISTING AND PLANNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE REDUCTION IN LOCALIZED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED ALONG WITH THE USE OF ZERO EMISSION BUSES HELPS REDUCE DIESEL EMISSIONS IN A CORRIDOR THAT CONTAINS FIVE CENSUS TRACTS THAT ARE AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY AND TEN CENSUS TRACTS THAT ARE HOME TO HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. FIVE OF THESE CENSUS TRACTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS DISADVANTAGED USING THE JUSTICE 40 SCREENING TOOL.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.