SWTrails Pushes for Progress on Plan

[March 21, 2025]

Submitted by Don Baack, SW Trails PDX

SWTrails PDX has created a new committee called SWIM & More. The committee will track PBOT’s performance in implementing the Southwest in Motion (SWIM) plans to improve our SW transportation infrastructure approved in 2019. It will also advocate for increased SWIM funding and nominate the SWIM projects to be constructed in the next fiscal year.

The City of Portland adopted the Southwest in Motion plan in 2019. The plan included a large number of relatively low cost pedestrian and bicycle improvement for streets and paths in SW Portland. The plan did not set priorities for projects and has seen few projects completed. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has provided miserly annual funding relative to other "in Motion" plans to accomplish the projects. It is our opinion that PBOT has unilaterally decided what projects should be constructed with no input from SW residents.

The next meeting of SWIM & More will be via Zoom on April 2 at 7pm. We plan to have Maria Sipin, chief of staff and transportation lead for Distrcit 4 city councilor Mitch Green, present to discuss the PBOT budget and our efforts to increase transportation funding in Southwest Portland.

Zoom meeting details:

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 858 8947 5660

Passcode: 217514

See the SWTrails website for more information about SWIM and More or email Don Baack if you are interested in joining this effort.

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What pedestrian and bicycle improvements would you like to see? Let us know.