The widespread agreement on East Metro Connections Plan reinforce the importance of the many assets of east Multnomah County communities
Resounding agreement on priorities for east Multnomah County communities was established this week. A unanimous vote at Fairview City Council on July 18 marked the final local endorsement of the East Metro Connections Plan. In the last three weeks, the councils of Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village and the Multnomah County Commission also unanimously voted to support the plan.
The plan is really a set of investment packages that make the most out of the east county assets people care deeply about -- beautiful natural areas and recreation, historic downtowns and burgeoning employment areas. Together, elected, community and business leaders created a coordinated investment strategy where future transportation investments support community values and economic development.
"I'm really excited about what we've done. This kind of collaboration, between the cities and county and between the public and private sectors, it's what we need to realize East Metro's potential," said Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick, whose district includes east Multnomah County. "If we continue to work together, there are great things in our future."
The local endorsements reinforce the hard work of the project's steering committee, which resolved complex issues and some long-standing points of contention.
The committee's work and eventual agreement impressed east county stakeholders.
"I think the exciting thing is that you’re moving towards a solution to a problem that has nagged at you for a long, long time and that you’ve done it in a way that sets a standard for you to work collaboratively," said Metro Council President Tom Hughes.
Travis Stovall, executive director of East Metro Economic Alliance, said one of the keys of the effort was collaboration.
"As we move forward as a community and as a sub-region, one of the most critical things is working together. This is the culmination of an incredible effort of a lot of organizations, a lot of people, a lot of municipalities," Stovall said. "It allows us to speak with a unified voice and shows the region that we’ve got our act together."
The steering committee unanimously confirmed an action plan that supports economic and community development by providing better access and mobility, increasing safety, activating employment areas and helping people find their way through and to key destinations in the East Metro area. The final vote of the two-year, Metro-led effort is scheduled for Aug. 9, when the Metro Council is set to consider the plan.