MPO briefs board on State Highway Fund call for projects; 10 applications under review

Andrea Napoli, Bend MPO senior planner, updated the policy board Oct. 17 on the 2025 State Highway Fund (SHF) call for projects. The MPO received 10 applications; applicants include nonprofits, transit, and several City of Bend project proposals.

Napoli said the applications are at an early review stage: submissions currently include project titles, brief descriptions, and requested funding amounts. Project examples include a Meissner Nordic Ski Club shuttle, Commute Options safe routes to school expansion, two Chinnsford (?) School applications (pedestrian education and a traffic garden), a Cascades East Transit microtransit pilot for Deschutes River Woods, and four City of Bend sidewalk infill or pedestrian projects (Sixth Street, Butler Market, Boyd Acres/Cooley Road, and American Lane). Napoli said the estimated available SHF funding is approximately $313,000 per year for the program and that the total requested exceeds available funds.

Napoli described next steps: staff are working with ODOT to finalize eligibility, two TAC members (local agency staff who did not apply) are assisting with criteria‑based scoring, and the TAC will review rankings at its Nov. 4 meeting. Applicants will be invited to present to the policy board Nov. 21; staff anticipates the board will award funds at the Nov. 21 meeting or, if necessary, at a December meeting.

Board members asked whether applicants could still proceed with partial funding and requested clarity on which projects are flexible by scale. Napoli said staff will seek that information as part of scoring and applicant follow‑up.