News

Building Wealth in Local Communities:  A Program for Change

Facilitated by Jeff Goebel and Associates

Many of you may have attended the ORA Annual Meeting in 2009 facilitated by Jeff Goebel. We are bringing Jeff back to Eastern Oregon in 2010 to help facilitate "Building Wealth in Local Communities: A Program for Change" in five counties: Umatilla, Malheur, Union, Grant, and Baker. (Click town name for flyer.)

Pendleton: March 13 - 10am-5pm - Pendleton Arts Center

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Bill Targets Transportation Greenhouse Gas

Stefanie Knowlton
Statesman Journal
February 25, 2010

A bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions in transportation will head to the governor's office after passing out of the House 32 to 26 Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1059 would require the Oregon Department of Transportation to develop a statewide strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from light vehicles and to work with other state agencies, transportation districts and cities to create a practical guide to reduce emissions through land-use and transportation planning.

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Metro and the Portland-Area Counties Head to a Fractured Agreement on Land Use

Eric Mortenson
The Oregonian
February 24, 2010, 3:38PM

Thursday is D-Day, in the Wonk World of land-use planning. That's when the Metro Council will vote on agreements with the three Portland-area counties to designate which land will be developed and which will remain rural for the next 40 to 50 years.

It's a big deal: An unprecedented attempt at regional cooperation that could bring certainty and stability to growth planning. After two years of public hearings, meetings and studies, a plan has emerged that designates 28,066 acres of urban reserves -- land where the urban growth boundary will ultimately be expanded -- and 271,516 acres of rural reserves that are set aside for farming, forestry and natural areas.

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Oregon Senate, NASA Scientists Agree: Fewer Car Trips Key to Healthy Cities

Jonathan Maus
BikePortland.org
February 24th, 2010

A new study by NASA and a bill passed by the Oregon Senate yesterday have at least one thing in common. They both sound the alarm that transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (a.k.a. too many cars and trucks on the road) are harmful to the planet and they need to be curtailed.

The NASA study analyzed emissions based on economic sectors (as opposed to the more commonly studied individual chemical causes) and found that “motor vehicles emerged as the greatest contributor to atmospheric warming now and in the near term.”

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Portland Metro Area Needs Regional Transportation Authority to Sort Out Mess, New Report Says

James Mayer
The Oregonian
February 24, 2010

The region's transportation system is a bureaucratic and political mess -- allowing the Sellwood Bridge to deteriorate while suburban pet projects like the Newberg-Dundee bypass attract favor, says a new City Club report.

The report calls for more regional cooperation, specifically by empowering the Metro regional government to own and operate the Willamette River bridges and major urban highways such as Portland's 82nd Avenue that are controlled by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

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Controversial Portland Columbia River Crossing Under Pressure to Move
Forward, Despite Flaws

www.thetransportpolitic.com
Yonah Freemark
February 23rd, 2010

In most cities, this debate would have ended years ago, and the results would have been far less pretty. The governors of both states involved are highly supportive of the freeway project, and they’ve unearthed enough financing to pay for it. With state departments of transportation pledging their involvement and money, there wouldn’t been much of margin for substantial change.

Yet the Interstate 5 Columbia River Crossing has been plagued by delays primarily because Portland prides itself on being one of the most ecologically aware North American cities, and therefore one of the least inclined support increased freeway capacity. Something had to be done — the existing bridge is structurally unsound and congested at rush hours — but in this region, the only way to garner support was to ensure the inclusion of a public transit component and reduce the number of traffic lanes.

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Urban and Rural Reserves Battle May Have Barely Begun

Carla Axman
BlueOregon
February 22, 2010
 

Later this week, Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties along with Metro will vote on a 50 year plan to set aside land for potential urbanization in the region.

The process has often been contentious and difficult, pitting farmers, conservationists and local food advocates against big development interests. Washington County has seen a surge of local activism on the matter, with hundreds of locals turning out to public meetings--often with overwhelming testimony against large expansion of urban reserves.

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