On Oct. 28, Metro’s Regional High Capacity Transit System Plan was recognized with the Oregon Transit Association’s Innovation Award. This was Metro’s first award from the OTA, which is composed of mostly transit operators.
Tony Mendoza, who managed the HCT project, accepted the award, which in part reads, “Metro broke new ground by integrating land use and transportation while achieving quality communities with vibrant economies. Metro’s progressive thinking and commitment to innovation continues to make the Portland metropolitan area a great place to live.”
Especially noteworthy about this award was the recognition for a long-range planning project, since this award is designed to acknowledge innovative concepts or effective problem-solving techniques not previously applied in the public transportation industry.
The plan is an element of the Regional Transportation Plan and develops a 30-year vision to guide investments in high capacity transit in the Portland metro region by evaluating potential extensions to existing and new corridors for light rail, commuter rail and streetcar lines, with a focus on potential land use and development opportunities to support these future transit investments.
In presenting the award, OTA president Mark Pangborn praised the region’s efforts to expand HCT and tie the system to land use decisions, noting that we are an inspiration to the rest of the state.