Shoshanah Oppenheim's blog

Symbol of our success!The Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) and its bicycle community partners earned Portland the “Platinum” Level Bicycle Friendly Community award from the League of American Bicyclists. The coveted "Platinum” designation of “Bicycle Friendly Community,” recognizes those communities that have quality conditions for bicyclists and cycling safety. Portland is the first large U.S. city to gain the designation and joins Davis, California, as the only other Platinum city in the country.

“When Portland received the Gold award in 2003,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League, “we challenged the community to increase ridership to get to Platinum. Bold leadership, community-wide involvement, and a lot of hard work have resulted in a 144% increase in bicycle use since the 2000 Census – impressive results by any standard.”

The League’s reviewers noted that Portland has coupled modestWeather is no barrrier in Portland when you want to ride. but smart investments in infrastructure, with outstanding education, promotion, and encouragement activities to make cycling a practical and safe option for many more Portlanders than ever before. Education and enforcement programs are now helping drivers and pedestrians interact more safely and predictably with the increasing numbers of cyclists on the road. Only 0.7 % of the Office of Transportation's budget is spent on bike infrastructure. However this small investment yields significant ridership. currently 6% of trips taken are by bike.

City wide problem, city wide solutionThe asset value of Portland's transportation system is approximately $7.1 billion. The city owns an operates 3,949 lane miles of roads, 157 bridges, 992 traffic signals, eight million square yards of sidewalks, 37,352 improved corners and over 53,000 street lights.

Our system needs investment. Our system is only effective if we can safely and efficiently move people and freight through our system. 380 people died and 2,662 serious injuries have occurred because many of our many fixable safety challenges that can not be addressed due to lack of funding for maintenance and safety.

Portland, like most Oregon cites, relies on the state gas tax as its primary source of funding to maintain and operate our local streets and bridges. The gas tax has steadily eroded as a funding source and has not been increased since 1993. As a result, many of our assets have fallen into disrepair and important services have been cut. Over the last seven years Portland Office of Transportation has had to make cuts in service totaling $42.4 million. These cuts have resulted in reductions in services, unaddressed safety needs and a growing percentage of the City's transportation infrastructure that is in poor and very poor condition.

Gay Student Alliances (GSA) have gained strength in numbers over the last decade. These organizations give hope to adolescents who grow up throughout the state questioning their sexuality. This year Sam was asked to be the keynote speaker at the Oregon Gay Student Alliance Conference.

In January 2008, the state will begin granting same sex couples the legal benefits of marriage, benefits heterosexual couples have long enjoyed. LGBT couples and families will find comfort in the recognition the law provides.

Autopsy of a crash.Sam lobbied the Oregon State legislature for an important change in state law requiring motorists to move disabled vehicles out of traffic lanes during prime commuting hours. Sam understands that a major cause of congestion on the highways are non injury accidents and minor vehicle malfunctions.

Commissioner Adams tackles deficiencies in Portland's paving department.

At the request of Portland Department of Transportation (PDOT), the Audit Services Division of the City Auditor's office conducted a series of audits of PDOT's Street Preservation Program. The audits examined four functional areas 1) compliance with least cost standards per Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 279C; 2) street maintenance and preservation; 3) asphalt price and supply stability; and 4) asphalt quality and city standards.

On Wednesday August 8, Portland City Council unanimously voted to reduce the hourly threshold that triggers a lobbying entity's obligation to register with the auditors offices. The City Council believes that the threshold reduction will require more entities to disclose their lobbying activities. This action builds on Commissioner Adams' efforts to "daylight" political decision making and create a more accessible city government.

Under the changes, lobbying entities who spend more than eight hours "attempting to influence the official action of City officials" must register with the auditor. Under the original ordinance sponsored by Sam, elected officials and bureau directors must publish their official calendars. This is an effort to disclose who is meeting with city leaders and whose interests are being represented in the decisions of the council.

WANTED: Staff Associate for Transportation and Good Government Projects

We're looking for a policy associate to help us work on  transportation related issues in the office of City Commissioner Sam Adams. Many of the projects will involve public outreach and development of strategies related to transportation funding. Great opportunity to learn how the city works and to have an impact on the city around you.

How can Portland maintain our transportation system and make our streets safer?Join Commissioner Sam Adams to discuss solutions developed by the Safe and Sound Streets Stakeholder Committee to the problems with our transportation system. Sam has been working to create a strategy to addresses our significant transportation maintenance and safety needs. Come hear what Sam has learned from the community and give your input as we move forward with a plan.

Freedon flags!

Earlier this year Oregon's legislature passed and the Governor signed a

comprehensive anti-discrimination bill that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodation, and public education.

Today we found out that the opponents of these You have protection from discrimination at work.basic rights failed to collect enough signatures to refer the new law to the ballot. This is great news for Oregon and we are thrilled that the privileges
Portland residents have enjoyed for over 16 years are being extended to Oregonians throughout the state.

Governor Kulongoski Sings Landmark Bill Summer 2007Today the Oregon Secretary of State announced that opponents of Oregon's Landmark Domestic Partnership bill failed to collect enough signatures to refer the new law to the ballot. In January 2008, the state will begin granting same sex couples the legal benefits of marriage, benefits heterosexual couples have long enjoyed. LGBT couples and families will find comfort in the recognition the law provides.

Bikes galore at the award event.The results of the BTA bike to work challenge are in. This year's challenge was a outstanding success. Participation was up from 550 workplaces and 6186 riders in 2006, to 888 workplaces and 9,746 bike commuters, logging 101,269 trips and riding 922,835 miles.

Happy Bike CommutersToday's bike to work challenge breakfast stop was a huge success. It was great to meet neighbors and friends on the side of the road for some java and jawboning. We had over 100 folks stop by and chat with us on the first official Monday of autumn. Even with the chill in the air the bike commuters were happy to be on their bicycles, rather then in cars or buses.

GreenStreet on Division"Sustainable Communities" will be the theme of the community town hall hosted by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams and State Senator Brad Avakian (District 17). The town hall, slated for Tuesday, October 2nd from 7 to 9 P.M. will be held at the Friendly House in northwest Portland, which is located at 2617 NW Savier St.

The town hall follows on the heels of 2007 legislative session, which was easily one of the ‘greenest' in recent memory. During the past session, Senator Avakian chaired the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and worked to pass bills that promoted the development of Oregon's renewable energy and biofuels industries, expanded electronics recycling, and laid the groundwork for addressing global climate change.