A $150,000 planning grant has been received by the county’s transportation
department on behalf of the Villages at Mt. Hood Board of Directors and the
Mt. Hood Bicycle/Pedestrian Coalition.

Coalition organizers George Wilson and Petr Kakes met in September with
County and Oregon Department of Transportation officials as well as Villages
board members to discuss which projects should be focused on and
prioritized.

“As the traffic on Hwy. 26 continues to increase, so do the safety concerns for
local and visiting pedestrians and cyclists,” Wilson said. “Our community must
be proactive, and begin planning an effective strategy to improve our
infrastructure to ensure children have a safe route to school, and that
pedestrians and cyclists have safe access throughout our Mountain
communities.”

On that note, in conjunction with County Transportation Supervisor Karen
Beurig, County Transportation Project Leader Lori Mastrantonio, and ODOT
Grant Manager Gail Curtis, the coalition identified the following projects to be
pursued with the grant monies:

– Bicycle/Pedestrian overpass on Hwy. 26. – Controlled pedestrian crossing on
Welches Road (Thriftway Shopping Center, Doctor’s office, Post Office).
– Signage-paving of Still Creek Road as an alternate cycling route to
Government Camp in order to avoid riding on Hwy. 26. Local bicycle and
pedestrian projects recently became eligible for state lottery funds through
ConnectOregon
– an initiative that ODOT uses to provide grants and loans to public and
private entities to invest in, among other things, bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure to ensure Oregon’s transportation system is strong, diverse and
efficient.

The initiative is lottery funded through the legislature on a biannual basis.
The Mt. Hood Bicycle/Pedestrian Coalition’s main focus it to promote and
educate, as well as outline project goals for the enhancement of
bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure and safety for the villages of Mount Hood.
The coalition’s website can be accessed at www.mthoodbikeped.com.

“We have included an easy search tool to conveniently locate local businesses
of your choice while cycling or visiting throughout the villages of Mount Hood,”
Wilson said. “We are currently adding local ride maps for both road cyclists
and mountain bike riders.”

Wilson also noted that brochures are on the way, and will be placed in the
visitor’s information center and local businesses.

If a local business wishes to be listed send information to
info@mthoodbikeped.com and be added to the website for free.