More than 600 people took an online survey about how and where the region should invest in public structures and how, where and if the Metro Council should expand the urban growth boundary. Following the release of recommendations Aug. 10 about a Community Investment Strategy, the public was asked to provide feedback on the proposals. Comments received at presentations, in writing, e-mail and in an online and written survey were compiled in a public comment report, which is now available on Metro's website.
Respondents placed a high priority on transportation investments in their communities, including road, transit and bike and pedestrian paths, and stressed the need to fix and maintain the region's existing investments. Comment themes ranged from the need to have choices in housing and transportation to mixed feelings about density. Nearly all those who took the survey placed a high priority on jobs and economic development, although there was less agreement on the strategy to increase jobs. There was strong support for maintaining a tight urban growth boundary – if it strengthens existing communities and protects natural resources and rural communities – as well as agreement that governance and funding should be in place before expanding the boundary. Survey answers were split on many of the urban growth boundary study areas.
Comments were received from more than 40 different communities in the region. However, voluntary demographic data shows a higher percentage of survey respondents were white, higher income and older than the general makeup of the Portland metropolitan area.