Transportation Bond measure likely to be on May Ballot

On Wednesday, Jan 8th, the City Council voted unanimously to prepare a funding measure that addresses Bend residents’ top concern: traffic congestion and safety.

The bond will fund work on a list of critical projects to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. The list was developed over two years by a 25-member Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee.
 
The project list includes:

• Better east-west connections (notably along Reed Market Rd)
• Traffic flow improvements (on the Parkway, 3rd St, Empire, Wilson, Butler Market and other key routes)
• Safer crossings to access schools, parks and jobs
• A network of cross-town bicycle routes
• Completing missing sidewalks along priority routes

The City will prepare a bond measure of about $180 million for transportation projects for the May 2020 Primary Election ballot. The Council will consider a draft resolution for the measure at its Feb 5th regular meeting.

The $180 million transportation bond measure would be funded by a property tax. The average annual cost would be $160 to $170 per year, based on a home with a tax assessed value of $220,000, which is the average for properties in Bend. (In the Summit West area, assessed values tend to be 50-100% higher than the average, so the tax would be about $240–$340/year.)

A May 2019 telephone survey that found 72% of registered voters said the City of Bend should ask voters to consider a transportation funding measure.

A December telephone survey of 304 randomly selected Bend voters tested two possible funding amounts, with a $190 million bond earning solid majority support.

An online “One-Minute Survey” conducted from October through December drew 3,493 respondents and more than 1,500 comments. Survey respondents listed traffic flow and safety improvement projects that closely aligned with the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee and City Council’s priority projects.

For more information, visit www.bendoregon.gov/safe-travel.