Bend MPO directs $581,570/year for FY28–30 to local street preservation, prioritizing greenways and quick-build safety projects

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Board on April 18 approved directing the remaining State Highway Fund allocation of roughly $581,570 per year for fiscal years 2028–2030 toward street preservation on local and neighborhood streets, with an emphasis on low‑stress bicycle and pedestrian routes, neighborhood greenways and quick‑build safety projects.

The move followed a staff presentation on the city’s pavement condition and maintenance needs and extended discussion among board members about balancing pavement preservation and safety. David Abbas, City of Bend Transportation Mobility Department, summarized the maintenance backlog and how the MPO funds fit into the city’s capital and operations plans: “we are with the inflation and and cost increases in doing business, we're at about a hundred and 5,000,000 over 5 years. The majority of that, 84% of that or 88,000,000 of that is in that local residential category.” Abbas also noted the MPO amount under consideration: “the amount we're talking about is $5.80, so less than that. 580,000.”

Why this matters

Board members framed the decision around two linked priorities: preventing larger future repair costs by investing in pavement preservation now, and using flexible MPO dollars to address safety gaps on neighborhood streets that are part of the city’s low‑stress bike/ped network. Chair Ari Mendes (Bend City Councilor) said, “I want us to take as much care about the safety of the people using the pavement as we do the pavement itself.” Councilor Mike Riley added support for pairing preservation with safety: “I I'd like to see the dollars continue kind of in in the, broad sort of street preservation bucket, if you will, but be focused on greenways and the low stress network and the ability to include doing quick build safety and traffic calming projects with the dollars as a whole.”

What staff presented

City and MPO staff described the scope of deferred maintenance and the role of the MPO funds: a five‑year deferred maintenance estimate of about $105 million, roughly $88 million of which is on local residential streets; a targeted city street preservation program budget of about $4.5 million per year (citywide); and the Capital Asset and Pavement Services (CAPS) assessment indicating the city would need about $5.5 million per year to maintain the current pavement condition index. Staff explained that State Highway Fund distributions through the MPO no longer carry the strict arterial/collector restriction they once did under the state fund exchange, so these dollars can now be used on local residential streets and for a wider set of interventions.

Board direction and motion

Board member Mr. Doty moved the allocation and Councilor Riley seconded. The motion language presented on the record was: “I moved to approve the distribution of the remaining $581,570 of f y 28 to f y 30 State Highway Fund annual allocations, with a focus on street preservation on greenways, key bicycle and pedestrian routes, low stress networks, and to include quick builds, safe crossing support, traffic calming, and other safety oriented enhancements.” The motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of the FY 2026–2027 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) — by resolution (number cited in meeting as 2025‑2). Motion made by Omar Ahmed and seconded by Councilor Mike Riley; vote: passed unanimously (roll call counts not specified in the transcript).

- Adoption of the FY 2026 Bend MPO budget — by resolution (number cited in meeting as 2025‑3). Motion made by Mr. Doty and seconded by Omar Ahmed; vote: passed unanimously (roll call counts not specified in the transcript). A public hearing was opened and closed; no public comments were received.

- MTIP (2024–2027) full amendments — three proposed transit project removals (cancellations because work duplicated in other key numbers). Motion made by Councilor Riley, seconded by Mr. Doty; vote: passed unanimously (roll call counts not specified in the transcript). Staff said each project was roughly $678,000 and duplicates appeared to have been carried forward in error.

- Amendment to the Bend MPO Establishment Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) — to add Cascades East Transit (CET) as a voting member and to adopt administrative/grammatical edits. Motion made by Mr. Doty and seconded by Councilor Riley; vote: passed with one abstention (the transcript records one abstention by Mr. Doty when signatories were noted later). The board noted the amended IGA and administrative edits still must be considered by each signatory jurisdiction (city, county and ODOT) per the IGA signatory process.

Other notable discussion

- Planning funds and statewide modeling: MPO staff reviewed a standing discussion about a $435,000 balance held for the Oregon MPO Consortium. Staff outlined three staff‑level options discussed: redistribute the balance to MPOs, fund more frequent household travel surveys, or advance phase‑2 of statewide activity‑based travel models. Staff recommended supporting activity‑based model work (phase 2 funding) and the board supported pausing final action until the state legislative session concluded and related funding clarity emerged.

- Federal and state updates: staff summarized current uncertainty at the federal level (delays and increased procedural review by field offices, potential staff reductions) and a state transportation funding framework under consideration by the legislature. Board members said they wanted a summary of any legislative bill once introduced and acknowledged potential coordination with each member jurisdiction before any MPO position on statewide legislation.

Implementation and follow up

Board members asked staff to return with a yearly work plan showing how the allocated State Highway Fund dollars will be spent and how the program will be reported to the policy board. David Abbas agreed to provide projected uses for the $581,570 in the next year’s work plan and to return with updates that the board can review for accountability.

Ending

The motion allocating the State Highway Fund funds passed unanimously; staff will present a projected allocation plan for the board to review in the coming year and the board will expect annual status reports on how the funds were used to preserve pavement and address safety on prioritized local streets.