Visitors to the Oregon Convention Center will have free access to the region's transit system after Metro councilors approved a deal with TriMet on Thursday.
The agreement between Metro and TriMet is part of the broader overhaul of the region's visitor promotion fund, an overhaul that has been dominated by discussion about a proposed Hyatt hotel near the Oregon Convention Center.
But part of the visitor promotion fund has historically funded TriMet's Fareless Square and Free Rail Zone. With those out, Metro officials have been working with TriMet to get convention-goers access to the region's entire transit system.
"It's a wonderful marketing tool for us," said Teri Dresler, director of Metro's visitor venues, including the convention center. "It allows free transportation for folks in both an economical and environmentally sound way, because they'd otherwise be hiring shuttle buses to drive them back and forth across town."
The deal calls for TriMet to receive about $386,000, adjusted annually for inflation, for transit fare for attendees of city-wide conventions held at the Oregon Convention Center and booked by Travel Portland. The passes would be distributed at registration to attendees.
After four years, the fee paid to TriMet will be based on the number of passes used by convention center visitors.
The data, said Metro Council President Tom Hughes, will not only help Metro and TriMet learn who's using the system, but will also help gauge whether out-of-town visitors think the rail system is effective.
The Metro Council also approved a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, a framework agreement that has already been approved by the Portland City Council and Multnomah County Commission about the visitor promotion fund. That unanimous vote was one of the final steps needed before Metro officials can begin negotiations for the Hyatt project.
"I hope we'll end up with a hotel project that enhances Portland's look and feel, and truly offers Portland's local flavor," said Metro Councilor Kathryn Harrington. "In my years of business travel, I've seen enough generic convention centers and generic hotels."
The agreements authorize up to $60 million in publicly issued bonds to pay for construction of the $198 million hotel, which would be owned and operated by Hyatt after construction by Mortenson Development. Those bonds would be repaid from room taxes paid by visitors to the Hyatt.
In exchange for that investment, plus $14 million in direct investment, Hyatt would hold 500 of its 600 rooms open for attracting large conventions to Portland, would allow workers to decide whether to be union, would build across the street from the Oregon Convention Center and would include some design features, like large ballrooms, not typically found at non-convention hotels.
Note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly indicated the scope of the transit passes. The passes are good for the entire TriMet system – buses and trains – as well as the Portland Streetcar. This version has been corrected.