HomeMy WebLinkAboutLtr to BMPO re TGM Grant
March 30, 2010
Tyler Deke, Manager
Bend MPO
575 NE 15th Street
Bend, OR 97701
RE: Bend MPO TGM Grant Application for the Transit Plan and TOD Plan
Dear Mr. Deke:
Deschutes County is writing to express our support for the Bend MPO Transit Corridor Plan and
Transit Oriented Development Project. We understand the purpose of the project is to prepare an
updated Public Transportation Plan for the Bend MPO and the City of Bend, and assess the
potential for increasing future housing and employment densities along transit trunk routes and at
potential TOD centers. This would include better service for the rural residences of Deschutes
River Woods.
This project would also provide a critical contribution toward metropolitan efforts to formulate
strategies for vehicle miles traveled reductions and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, each a stated criterion of the TGM program. The project also has the following
objectives:
promote the use of transit and reduce congestion;
identify a range of improvements that promote multi-modal travel by increasing the availability
and convenience of transit facilities with respect to pedestrian and bike travel; and
encourage transportation and land use coordination by coordination transit corridor and land
use planning analyses to maximize the use of major travel corridors.
We understand that project staff will provide periodic updates on the status of the planning work
over the duration of the project. We also understand that interested parties will have the
opportunity to participate on the various advisory committees.
We support this application and believe it is worthy of TGM funding. The timing of this
proposed project is excellent given the other planning activities underway in the area, such as the
Deschutes County Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update.
Sincerely,
Dave Kanner
County Administrator