Federal share for Portland-Milwaukie project set at 50 percent
Written by jrood
The Federal Transit Administration has committed to a 50-percent share for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project in Oregon. TriMet had requested a 60 percent federal share, since all previous light rail projects were funded by at least a 60 percent federal share. The 50-percent federal share would be capped at a maximum of $735.8 million.
The FTA expressed its
strong support for the project but noted the following reasons for its 50/50
funding decision:
• FTA New Starts share
could be no greater than 50 percent for a project over $1 billion.
• There is tremendous
demand for the New Starts program, and FTA did not want to create a precedent
for a federal share above 50 percent for a project over $1 billion.
• The U.S. Department of
Transportation’s budget has not increased and the Transportation
Reauthorization Bill is not moving forward.
• There is no anticipated
increase in most domestic spending, as directed by President Obama.
"With the help of our
federal partners, this project will move forward and will improve transit
options for this corridor and throughout the region, while also creating
jobs," said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane. "Over the next few
weeks, we’ll be working with our project partners to recalibrate the project to
fit within these new funding parameters."
The FTA and the Oregon
delegation, including U.S. Senators Wyden and Merkley, as well as U.S. Reps.
Blumenauer and Wu strongly support this project. TriMet will work closely with
its federal partners as it finalizes the new project scope, budget and schedule
for submittal to the FTA this fall.
The 7.3-mile
Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project is the region’s sixth MAX line, and
extends from Portland State University, South Waterfront, SE Portland to
Milwaukie and North Clackamas County. The project includes a multi-modal
transit bridge over the Willamette River, the first bridge over the river in 35
years. The bridge will carry MAX, buses and the future Portland Streetcar, and
includes two 14-foot bike and pedestrian paths.
