Kelly Keniston

The 2040 Bend Metropolitan Transportation Plan is a multi-modal roadmap designed to address anticipated 20-year transportation needs and guide the management and development of future transportation facilities for the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization area. The plan focuses on providing a variety of practical and convenient means to move people and goods, enhancing safety and efficiency, ensuring accessibility and equity, integrating land use and transportation, respecting the environment and livability, and fostering economic development, all while adhering to financial constraints. It aims to achieve a coordinated and contiguous transportation system that supports metropolitan community development and social goals by 2040.

This Transportation System Plan outlines recommended priorities for improving the transportation infrastructure of Bend, extending to the year 2040. The plan details numerous projects categorized into near-term, mid-term, long-term, and expansion area driven priorities. Key focus areas include road extensions, corridor upgrades, multi-modal facility enhancements (for pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles), high-capacity transit services, mobility hubs, and intersection safety and capacity improvements. The overarching goal is to enhance mobility, reliability, safety, and connectivity throughout the city.

This interim report informs Bend's Transportation Plan by documenting the findings and recommendations of the Funding Work Group regarding transportation funding. It identifies existing funding tools, analyzes potential new funding sources, and provides initial recommendations for a robust Funding Plan. Key areas of focus include diversification, fairness, equity, full funding for projects and operations, community ownership, and flexible implementation, with core tools like General Obligation Bonds, Transportation Utility Fees, and Fuel Taxes being recommended. The assessment also evaluates funding needs versus capacity for capital and operations/maintenance over a 20-year analysis period.

This Transportation System Plan outlines a framework for guiding the development of a balanced, multi-modal transportation system for the Bend urban area, addressing forecast needs through the year 2020. The plan integrates strategies for automobile, public transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian travel, with an objective to reduce reliance on single-occupant vehicles. Key areas of focus include constructing and modernizing arterial and collector streets, completing comprehensive trail and pedestrian systems, and implementing a public transportation system. It also emphasizes transportation system management and demand management to enhance efficiency, accessibility, safety, and livability while fostering economic development and minimizing environmental impact within the community.

This Initial Funding Assessment provides background information for crafting the City of Bend's Transportation Funding Plan, focusing on guiding investments, stabilizing funding, and supporting livability objectives. The assessment outlines how Bend will fund capital improvements, transit, operations, and preservation for its transportation system. It details methods for forecasting existing funding, identifying gaps, and evaluating additional funding sources and strategies to address planned growth, congestion, safety, and budget predictability.