At its meeting Wednesday evening, the Metro Policy Advisory Committee discussed efforts aimed at enhancing development potential in centers and corridors, measuring the performance of urban growth, and addressing policies and other actions to reduce the region's greenhouse gas emissions.
Metro transportation planner Kim Ellis presented a proposal outlining several changes to state transportation mobility standards to address congestion more comprehensively by making the existing system operate as efficiently as possible, increasing travel options and creating walkable, transit-supportive communities.
MPAC received a presentation on the Regional Performance Indicators project, which is a collaborative effort between Metro, Portland State University's Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, the United Way and several other partners. Sheila Martin from PSU, along with Rita Conrad and Chris Deffebach from Metro, offered an overview of the 12-to-18-month project, which will measure the region's performance in a variety of categories including economic opportunity, education, civic engagement and a healthy environment. The results will help inform decisions about where to invest limited resources and how best to manage growth to strengthen the region's quality of life.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams expressed his support for this effort. "If done right, indicator modeling helps flag issues we should be aware of."
Finally, MPAC received a preview of the upcoming joint retreat with the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation on Friday, April 2, to develop land use and transportation strategies to reduce the region's transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. The State of Oregon requires Metro to develop at least two scenarios that illustrate the land use policy changes and related public investments necessary to help the region achieve ambitious greenhouse gas targets set by the legislature in 2007, which include a 75 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050.
The March 24 MPAC meeting has been cancelled. Following the April 2 retreat with JPACT, the next regular MPAC meeting will be held Wednesday, April 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Metro Regional Center.