The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board on Tuesday approved a revised funding package for the State Highway Fund (SHF) call for projects, adopting a modified version of staff and TAC recommendations that spreads a $31,335 shortfall roughly evenly between two Safe Routes to School education awards.

Andrea Napoli, Bend MPO staff, summarized the application and scoring process, saying staff and two non-applicant TAC members individually scored nine applications and averaged ranks to produce a recommended funding list. Napoli said the Bend Traffic Garden application was not recommended because it lacked a local match and an identified site, and that several sidewalk infill projects scored highly but might be funded by the City of Bend through other local sources.

Board members pressed applicants and staff for details on readiness, funding flexibility and overlap between similar programs. La Pine School District and Commute Options representatives said they prefer any necessary reductions occur in later years to preserve early implementation and program continuity. Bob Townsend of Cascades East Transit, whose microtransit pilot was the highest-ranked project, said a modest reduction would not prevent delivery: "That reduction in the second year is not gonna be the reason that Deschutes River Woods micro transit fails or not. We'll find some way to make up that difference," he said.

Facing a remaining funding gap in the staff-recommended scenario, board members debated two staff scenarios and a modified Scenario 2. Councilor Ariel Mendez proposed allocating the $31,335 shortfall by reducing the FY30 line for both Commute Options and La Pine School District programs by about half (roughly $15,600 each). Mike Riley moved adoption of the modified Scenario 2 with that split; Ariel Mendez seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.

What was approved: TAC- and staff-recommended awards with the following notable points: Commute Options (Safe Routes to School education) and the La Pine School District safe-routes education program were recommended for funding but with a planned FY30 reduction under the adopted compromise; the Bend Traffic Garden was not recommended because it lacked a funding match and a specific site; Cascades East Transit received full funding for a Deschutes River Woods microtransit pilot; several City of Bend sidewalk infill projects were recommended for full or partial funding though staff noted some high-ranked sidewalks (for example Northeast 6th Street) may be funded by the city instead of MPO dollars.

The board recorded a verbal vote and the chair announced the motion carried. Andrea Napoli noted staff would meet individually with applicants to explore any flexibility in scope or cost and to finalize award letters.

The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote.