Do you have a transportation plan that you would like to see in Portland in the next 25-years? It should be on the agenda Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) – the strategy shaping Metro’s approach to transportation policy. Every five years, Metro develops a new plan, listing projects to prioritize for funding over the following 10 and 25 years and how they’ll pay for them. They updated the RTP last year. was in 2018, so the time has come for an update – and right now, there’s an opportunity for you to share your thoughts with the agency about what the new plan should look like.
“The greater Portland region is facing urgent challenges. The impacts of climate change, generations of systemic racism, economic inequities and the pandemic have made clear the need for action,” Metro explains in a fact sheet RTP 2023. “Safety, housing affordability, homelessness, and public health and economic disparities have been intensified by the global pandemic. Technology is changing quickly and our roads and bridges are aging.”
Metro claims that the RTP is made up of:
- A long-term vision for the region’s transportation system
- Regional goals and performance targets, which describe the results the region hopes to achieve, and indicators that measure progress.
- Policies that guide actions and decisions in pursuit of the vision or goals
- A financial plan that shows how the region will finance investments
- A strategy that incorporates major investments in transportation, both state and local.
Metro and their partners, which include groups like the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) Over the next year and half, they will continue to work on this plan. (They’ll need to have the finalized plan all set for Metro Council to adopt by December 6, 2023, when the current plan expires.)
Over this period of time, they’ll utilize multiple public comment periods to shape the RTP. Participants will be asked to share their travel habits with the agency and which projects they would like it to implement with the RTP funds. Options for these project categories range from improving existing transit service and places for walking, biking and rolling to expanding freeways so “more cars to travel around and through the region.”
Metro will keep their commitment to climate policy in the next iteration. They won’t spend their resources on expanding car-centric infrastructure if they don’t. The extreme weather events we’ve seen in the Pacific Northwest since the last time the RTP was updated have made it clear policymakers need to take bold action to combat the climate crisis, and changing our transportation system is one of the most effective ways to do this.
“Protecting the environment has always been a priority for the people of greater Portland. Given that the transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon, any conversation about the future of transportation in the region must include a strong focus on its impacts on climate change,” Metro states.
This survey is a great way to make sure they do. Metro will use your input to compile a list of priority investments. They plan to release it in January and invite more feedback from the community. This survey will remain open until October 17th. You can find it here. here.
Taylor has been BikePortland’s staff writer since November 2021. Street Roots and Eugene Weekly have also featured her writings. Contact her at taylorgriggswriter@gmail.com
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