The bond funds will be repaid by local property taxes by an annual assessment on real property. The bonds will be issued in multiple series over time to provide funds on a staggered scheduled. The measure will cost property owners an estimated average of $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed value each year of the repayment period. A home with a real market value of $415,000 and assessed value of $220,000 (Bend’s citywide average) is estimated to pay approximately $170 per year. Annual cost may be lower in the initial years and higher in later years when all the debt has been issued.

The projects were identified by Bend City Council after a two-year process with the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee that recommended projects that would assist people who drive, ride bikes and walk. The projects represent the 0-to-10-year projects in the 20-year Transportation System Plan. See the proposed project list in the interactive map above, and last FAQ.

A portion of the bond proceeds will be used as matching funds for local projects led by the state: for example, along the U.S. 97/Parkway.  In some instances, the City can also use bond funds for partnership projects with other agencies, such as ODOT, Cascades East Transit and private developers. See the proposed project list in the interactive map above, and last FAQ below, under “Parkway Connections.”

Work on the bond-funded projects will begin in 2021. Most of the projects will be completed in approximately 10 years, and some neighborhood and proposed intersection projects will start in the first year with design. The City Council chose projects that could be completed within this time period.

Yes. As part of the City’s Transportation System Plan (TSP) update, a subcommittee of the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee, called the Funding Work Group, developed a plan to implement the projects and programs identified in the TSP. The GO bond is the first piece of the City’s 20–year funding strategy, which includes a number of funding sources to be evaluated in future years: increases to transportation system development charges, targeted sales taxes, urban renewal funding, fuel taxes, a transportation utility fee, promoting local improvement districts and a county vehicle registration fee.

The City could implement other funding tools identified by the Funding Work Group, a subcommittee to the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee, to implement projects in the 20-year Transportation System Plan, including those identified for funding through the proposed bond measure.

Under Oregon law, GO bond proceeds can only be used for capital projects. Using bond funds to pay for ongoing road maintenance, snow removal, etc. is prohibited.

Most federal and state transportation funds are earmarked for the federal and state highway system, not local roads. The federal government hasn’t increased the gas tax since 1993. The State of Oregon increased the gas tax in 2017 and a portion is shared with cities. State funding to Bend is used for street maintenance and improving the condition of existing roads.

In 2011, Bend voters approved a $30 million GO bond for transportation upgrades: building 12.7 lane miles of new pavement, 4 roundabouts, 5.6 miles of sidewalks, 181 ADA-compliant curb ramps, 59 LED streetlights, and storm drain improvements that reduced storm runoff into the Deschutes River by 94 percent. Bond-funded projects were completed using the voter-approved funds on schedule.

The City Council has adopted a resolution to establish a Bond Oversight Committee, made up of community members, to track and report to the community on project expenses, schedule, progress, and benchmarks.

Funds will be used for the following:

EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS

• Reed Market Rd (overcrossing, US 97 interchange and 15th roundabout) Cost Estimate: $36,500,000
  Three-phase project to partner with ODOT interchange work, construct 2 lane roundabout at Reed/15th, and overcrossing over railroad. Would combine with programmed projects to improve 3rd/ Reed, and Bond/Reed Roundabout to improve traffic flow, connectivity, safety, and capacity for whole corridor.
• Colorado Ave capacity improvements (from Simpson to Arizona) Cost Estimate: $7,000,000
  Would include incremental approach for Colorado Avenue widening, including right-of-way acquisition and monitoring for if/when widening is appropriate, including intersection capacity and safety improvements at Colorado Avenue/Simpson Avenue roundabout and Colorado Avenue/Industrial Way, and upgrade of striping and paving for all travel modes.
• Aune Rd extension (from Bond to 3rd) Cost Estimate: $13,000,000
  Two lane extension of Aune Road to connect 3rd Street and Bond Street. Would include intersection improvement at 3rd Street and a RAB at the intersection of Bond St and Industrial Way. Would include 3rd and Miller Intersection improvements and 3rd Street modification study and implementation.
• Portland Ave corridor improvements (from College Way to Deschutes River) Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
  Multi-modal transportation facility and safety improvements to help with pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular connectivity, which would include two intersection improvements.

NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIONS

• Purcell Blvd extension (from Full Moon to Jackson) Cost Estimate: $2,288,000
  Two-lane complete street extension to facilitate N/S Connectivity.
• US 20 southbound widening (from Cooley to Empire) Cost Estimate: $4,800,000
  US 20 southbound widening to two lanes in conjunction with a planned ODOT project.

BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS

• Citywide key routes Cost Estimate: $19,839,000
  Construct key east/west and north/south routes for safe travel on a connected system for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Key intersection improvements Cost Estimate: $1,050,000
  Addresses bike and pedestrian safety and improvement at intersections identified in Transportation Safety Action Plan (Olney, Greenwood, Franklin and 2nd Street; Franklin and 2nd and 4, and Clay and 3rd Street).
• Midtown pedestrian and bicycle crossings Cost Estimate: $12,000,000
  Midtown crossing projects which would include the Greenwood undercrossing, Franklin undercrossing, and Hawthorne crossing. Would include a study to identify the timing, feasibility, and scope for each project.
• Olney protected bicycle lanes and parkway undercrossing Cost Estimate: $1,820,000
  Provide protected bicycle lanes on Olney Avenue at Parkway undercrossing.
• Archie Briggs trail crossing improvement Cost Estimate: $500,000
  Design to improve pedestrian crossing at the Deschutes River Trail Crossing of Archie Briggs Road.
• 3rd canal crossing south of 3rd / Brosterhous Cost Estimate: $980,000
  Construct pedestrian facilities on 3rd Street across the canal bridge.

INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS (roundabout or signal)

• 3rd / Wilson Cost Estimate: $5,000,000
• Olney / 8th Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Revere / 8th Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Pettigrew / Bear Creek Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Revere / 4th Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Olney / 4th Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Ferguson / 15th Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Wilson / 15th Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• O.B. Riley / Empire Cost Estimate: $3,500,000
• Chase / Powers / Purcell Cost Estimate: $5,000,000
  Linking planned Chase Road extension from Brosterhous Road, providing east-west connection.

PARKWAY CONNECTIONS

• US 97 northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at Murphy Cost Estimate: $10,000,000
  Construct northbound on ramp and southbound off ramp at Murphy Road improving traffic flow and east/west connectivity at south end of town.
• Butler Market interchange at US 20/US 97 Cost Estimate: $3,090,000
  In conjunction with a planned ODOT project to construct frontage road from US 97 southbound off-ramp to Division Street.
• Powers / US 97 Cost Estimate: $2,650,000
  Would be in conjunction with a planned ODOT project which would include interchange or overcrossing pending outcome of the Parkway Study.
• Empire / US 97 Cost Estimate: $1,450,000
  Would be in conjunction with a planned ODOT project to widen Empire to 5 lanes from US 20 to US 97 northbound ramp.
• Colorado / US 97 northbound ramp Cost Estimate: $430,000
  Would include signal or roundabout in conjunction with an ODOT project and improve traffic flow and safety.

CITYWIDE

• Local Residential Safety Improvement Program Cost Estimate: $8,000,000
  Provides funding for capital projects (infill sidewalk construction, lighting, safe routes to schools) to improve safety projects in neighborhoods near schools and parks. Would fit in conjunction with the city’s current Neighborhood Street Safety Program.
• Funding for capital projects that enhance access to transit Cost Estimate: $8,000,000
  Would be done in conjunction with Cascade East Transit funding for capital projects like mobility hubs, shelters, and bus pull outs.
• Intelligent Transportation Systems Cost Estimate: $5,000,000
  Capital projects for Intelligent Transportation Systems for use of technology for transportation and traffic management systems.