Advocates for the east side of the Portland metropolitan region agreed that economic vitality, livability, safety and environmental quality should be enhanced by the East Metro Connections Plan - a community investment strategy that will identify specific transportation, community and economic development projects in Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village and Multnomah County.
During the first meeting of the Steering Committee on April 22, elected officials, community and business leaders listened to Metro Council President Tom Hughes' insights from spending the morning touring the East Metro area. He asserted that the eastern part of the region has great bones in terms of future job growth and that the area has the opportunity to become one of the most important driving economic forces for the rest of the region. To realize that potential, he said, communities there are going to have to pull together to maximize our ability for economic development.
East Metro Connections Plan implements a new approach to allocating limited transportation dollars to ensure that regional transportation investments support local land use, community and economic development and the environment. Given this new approach, agreement on priorities will help the cities advocate for their local needs, while capitalizing on the opportunity to address issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
A few themes were repeated as Steering Committee members shared their hopes for the outcome of this effort. There was rousing agreement that everyone wants East Metro Connections Plan to be successful with the process resulting in economic development and prosperity. Some expressed the importance of focusing on the Interstate 84/U.S. Highway 26 transportation connection, while others endorsed broader aspirations. A comprehensive analysis of the transportation system will illuminate effective ways to serve residents, businesses and those who travel through the area. The transportation system is intrinsically connected to other elements that will also be analyzed, including economic, community and environmental issues.
The East Metro Connections Plan began in fall 2010 and will wrap up during summer 2012. The public will be invited to attend a workshop this summer to learn more about the project and provide input on local needs, evaluation criteria and the types of solutions decision-makers will be asked to consider.