To empower the people of the Portland metropolitan area to create, sustain, and enjoy walkable communities

Willamette Pedestrian Coalition                     

P.O. Box 2252                                                                                                                                             503-223-1597

Portland, OR 97208-2252                                                                                                                         www.wpcwalks.org

 


                                            


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Willamette  Pedestrian  Coalition

b e c a u s e   e v e r y o n e   i s   a   p e d e s t r i a n


Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Mini-Grants

NOTE: Police or Sheriffs' Departments applying for a grant, click here to scroll down to application information.

 

Do you enjoy walking? But hesitate because you don’t feel safe? Police and Sheriff agencies throughout Oregon are working to improved pedestrian safety in our towns and communities by conducting pedestrian safety enforcements operations to improve understanding of when Oregon law requires motorist to stop for pedestrians.

 

Twenty-three agencies participated in 2008, they conducted over 120 operations, and over 2,000 individuals received tickets or warnings. Newspaper articles, TV and radio spots about the enforcement operations informed others in the community about the law and their responsibility as a motorist or a pedestrian.

 

  • Do the operations make a difference in the community? “The level of compliance has greatly improved since the first time Hood River Police Department conducted PSE operations in 2003.” Sergeant Holste of Hood River Police Department.
  • Do the enforcements change driver behavior? “While working my regular patrol duties I am seeing more vehicles yielding to pedestrians than ever before.” Sergeant Roy of Independence.
  • Do the people see results? After an operation a student in Hood River commented, “Wow, people are actually stopping now.
  • Do city officials like the program? “We have overwhelming support of this program from our City Council and now from our new City Manager.” Captain Alexander, Ontario
  • How does the program work?  Funded by an ODOT grant the BTA and Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC) offer mini-grants up to $5,000 of overtime to police and sheriff agencies for conducting Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations between March and September.

 

Encourage your local law enforcement to apply for the grant or attend training. Applications for the grant are due January 30, 2009. Training will be held in Eugene on March 16. It is open to all law enforcement officers whether or not they apply for the grant.

 

About Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations

Funds enable enforcement agencies throughout the state to stage crosswalk enforcement actions against motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians. In these operations, a decoy police officer attempts to cross a street at an intersection or marked crosswalk. (Crosswalk laws apply to unmarked crosswalks as well.)  If passing motorists fail to stop and yield for the pedestrian they are issued either a warning or a citation. The operations include a media outreach component, with the purpose of raising awareness around motorist responsibility toward pedestrians.

 

Learn more about current crosswalk law by downloading a brochure produced by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

How to Apply for a Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Mini-Grant

  • Submit a completed work plan-see sample- on department letterhead to the BTA by January 30, 2009.
  • Download application materials:
  • Application Guidelines in .pdf or .doc format
  • Sample Work Plan in .pdf or .doc format
  • 2009 Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Training Information

 

Who can attend: Officers or staff from any police or sheriff’s department, whether or not applying for a mini-grant.

  • Training date: Monday, March 16, 2009
  • Training times: 9:00am–3:00pm
  • Location: Lane County Public Works, Eugene

 

First-time applicants must send at least one officer to the PSE Training on March 16th training is encourage for all other applicants. This year's training includes:

  •           Pedestrian Safety Enforcement operation basics
  •           Review of pedestrian laws
  •           Pedestrian concerns in rural, suburban, and urban settings
  •           How to gain support for a diversion classes by Multnomah County Judge Christopher Larsen
  •         Supplemental CD specifically on diversion classes, PSE signs (set of 2) for use in operations and Stop and Stay Stopped mini-cards
  •           Breakfast rolls, and a working lunch are provided

 

Departments that receive a 2009 Ped Safety Enforcement mini-grant, can receive reimbursement for training expenses from mini-grant funds. The registration fee is $30 per person.

  • To register, submit a PSE Training Registration Form and fees by February 27, 2009.
  • Download a PSE Training Registration Form in .pdf or .doc format

 
For more information on traffic safety in Oregon, visit these links: Brochure on pedestrian safety and crosswalk law in English, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese.  Questions?

 

 Contact Lynn Lindgren-Schreuder at 503- 223-1597.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 


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