*Accept and appropriate grant for $50,000 from Metro and authorize Intergovernmental Agreement for the Wayfinding for Bike and Walk Buses project

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) staff will collaborate with Bike Bus PDX leaders and internal PBOT staff for one year (2024-2025) to create a wayfinding strategy, criteria, and signage for bike and walk bus routes and stops . PBOT will pilot the strategy and prototype signage at 3-5 schools, prioritizing Title 1 schools. PBOT has heard from these leaders that more needs to be done to support families biking and walking to school, particularly with infrastructure along their routes.

Total project cost is $55,723.00, funded primarily with a Metro Regional Travel Options grant - $50,000 Metro grant funds plus $5,723.00 (10.27%) required in local match. Internal order number is TR03810001. The grant number is TR000381. Match funds are from PCEF. The 1-year contract is for Walking School and Bike Bus Wayfinding. The grant budget includes staff time ($5,425), materials and supplies ($40,030), contract services ($5,750), and approved indirect costs ($4,518). The grant is broken up into three tasks: 1) Engage with school communities to create criteria, strategy, and wayfinding prototypes, 2) Pilot temporary wayfinding prototypes, and 3) Install stable or semi-permanent wayfinding. There is no additional funding requested. There is no work outside of the scope of the grant agreement anticipated for this project. The FY 2024 / 2025 budget is hereby amended as follows: GRANTS FUND Fund: 217 Business Area – TR00 Bureau Program Expenses – $50,000

PBOT Safe Routes to School staff will form a workgroup consisting of established bike and walk bus leaders from Bike Bus PDX and internal PBOT staff to create a wayfinding strategy, criteria, and signage for bike and walk bus routes and stops. Bike Bus PDX is an organized group of parents/caregivers who lead bike or walk buses at their child(ren)’s schools. A bike / walk bus is a group of people biking / walking together to a destination, such as a school. The bus starts at a location and people can join along the route. Eighteen Portland schools are part of Bike Bus PDX: Alameda, Abernethy, Beach (Title 1 – 2024/2025), Cesar Chavez (Title 1), Chapman (Title 1), Creston, da Vinci, Glencoe, James John (Title 1), Lent (Title 1), Maplewood, Rigler (Title 1), Richmond, Rose City Park, Sunnyside, Vernon, Vestal (Title 1), and Woodstock. Bike Bus PDX contacted PBOT Director Williams and Commissioner Mapps asking for diverters on streets they use for their bike buses. While that is something PBOT is exploring, we would also like to pilot other near-term and lower cost options to make bike and walk bus routes and stops more visible. More families and students will bike and walk to school if they feel safe, know which routes to take, and are able to join an organized group. PBOT Safe Routes staff often hears from established bike and walk bus participants that they continue to join because it is fun, and if something is fun, more people—especially kids—will do it.