The Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee adopts goals and objectives, discusses small solutions versus big goals
On May 17, the Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee adopted the plan’s vision, goals and objectives, a milestone for moving the plan forward.
"This is partially a discussion about what we see as a matter of vision and policy, but it is also a discussion about how do we guide our staff and their work for the next year or so on this project," said Metro Councilor Carl Hosticka.
The adopted vision focuses the plan on ways to support, strengthen and connect livable and prosperous communities from Portland to Sherwood while using public resources efficiently, thoughtfully and equitably.
Though adopted unanimously, the grandness of that vision was reapproached in discussions about the plan’s work process. The next step toward a shared investment strategy is to take the wide range of ideas generated by the public, stakeholders and previous plans and narrow them to a range of projects that offer the most benefit while still recognizing today’s financial challenges. The committee struggled with whether this meant that a "big vision" for the corridor was being set aside for the sake of economic pragmatism.
"I think the important part for me in this process is that we continue to build and plan knowing that financing is a whole different issue today than it was 25 years ago," said Lake Oswego City Councilor Donna Jordan. "What we’re doing is placing things where we have an opportunity now, but we shouldn’t cut off future opportunity."
Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle emphasized local self-reliance and on the ground improvements in the short term.
"What we’re seeing here is reflected across the country. We all have to work as regions and get it done ourselves, because the federal help is no longer there," he said. "If you fix an intersection, a corner, a storefront or a block in the city of Beaverton, people are excited something is happening, so we can’t sit around dreaming about the big win."
City of Portland’s Catherine Ciarlo made a case in favor of pushing for larger solutions.
"Mayor Adams would commend the pragmatism of the approach, but he would push us to make sure we don’t lose the ability to identify a [larger] vision," Ciarlo said. "Those little wins are important, but they are not inexpensive even in their own right. And [the Southwest Portland] community, the folks who live there, they’re wanting us to lead and to come up with some visionary fixes and improvements to move it forward."
Metro Councilor Barbara Roberts sees no conflict between building a solution based on current financial challenges while still reaching for a grander vision. She sees the plan as offering an opportunity to have the big vision on the local level and as a step toward future, larger efforts.
"Part of a reaching a long term vision is staging," she said. "It’s that staging we’re working on, and I think within staging you can have a lot of vision. You can see the vision happening in the communities. That’s the reason I’m so encouraged."
The Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee next meets on June 11 at the Metro Regional Center.