On Friday, Nov. 20, members of the Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee wrestled with how best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Regional Transportation Plan. The fact that modeling done by Metro this fall indicated that the proposed RTP project list would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 49 percent has drawn considerable media attention in recent weeks.
Kim Ellis, Metro's RTP project manager, noted that all of the scenarios Metro modeled - including those that invested heavily in transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure - indicated an overall increase in emissions due to anticipated population growth, although some of the scenarios indicated a per-capita decrease.
Mara Gross, a citizen member of TPAC who works for the Coalition for a Livable Future, pushed hard for Metro to model specific projects in the RTP in an attempt to reduce the overall impact on climate change. She argued that the need to address climate change is urgent, and the region needed to start now. Her position was supported by John Reinhold, another citizen member; Alan Lehto, TriMet's representative; and Paul Smith from the City of Portland.
Other TPAC members, while acknowledging the importance and urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources, opposed the additional modeling requirement on the grounds that the RTP is scheduled for adoption by ordinance in June 2010, which does not allow sufficient time to design a good model, let alone run it. Elissa Gertler from Clackamas County suggested that anything done on such a short timeline would be "quick and dirty," which has not been in keeping with the way this RTP has been methodically assembled. She also pointed out that Metro, at the state's bidding, was poised to begin a comprehensive study of greenhouse gas reduction.
TPAC voted to forward the RTP recommendation to JPACT, adding its own amendments to those of MPAC. JPACT is scheduled to discuss the draft RTP and amendments at its next regular meeting scheduled for 7:15 a.m. in the Metro Council Chamber on Dec. 10. At that meeting, JPACT will act on the RTP policy framework and project list prior to action by the Metro Council on Dec. 17.