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Regardless of your level of involvement—whether at the federal, regional, state, or local level—the 2010 Rail~Volution Conference provides an opportunity to see and hear about the last decade of creating livable communities in Portland and the challenges this city is facing. Recent Rail~Volution conferences have attracted planners, business leaders, elected officials, community leaders, funders and transportation advocates from more than 300 communities in 30 states.
Rail~Volution Portland will provide attendees with exciting opportunities to showcase their own successes; share lessons learned with others in their field; gain useful insights, and demonstrate the value and strength of livable communities to the hesitant and skeptical back home. Witness the transportation and land use transformation that has been a case study for North America and the world—come be a part of the Rail~Volution 2010!
Portland was recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as "Livable Community Capital of America," because of its dedication to implementing integrated community planning, smart transit investments and an extensive bike infrastructure. Come experience place-making at its best.
- Public, private and individual investments have rejuvenated neighborhoods and created thriving business districts that invite walking, cycling and transit riding. Learn how Portland achieved Platinum Bicycling City status.
- Local communities have invested in and are preserving affordable housing near transit that provides a high quality of life for everyone and makes getting around affordable.
- Regional policies have preserved farmland and open space, while providing lifestyle options and creating thriving regional and town centers.
- Visionary leaders, planners and designers are building sustainable communities with buildings that are not just green but "living buildings" functioning completely within their footprint.
- See how transit corridors help communities fulfill their development and mobility plans.
Place-making is a Rail~Volution theme, and in Portland, Making the Greatest Place is a commitment to protecting all of the reasons people choose to live here. Regional dedication to compact, livable communities and revitalized business districts can be seen as you walk or ride through the neighborhoods of the region. Transit is a key ingredient to making a great place. Area leaders have leveraged federal and state transportation investments to create more than $11.5 billion of development near streetcar and light rail lines. Great places happen where recreation, work and services are all an easy bike trip, transit ride or walk nearby.
Like communities everywhere, the Portland region faces the challenges of climate change, scarce resources, sustained economic development, environmental quality, access to opportunities and the pursuit of a high quality of life for everyone. Much remains to be done in Making the Greatest Place in Portland. Rail~Volution 2010 will showcase this region's vision and accomplishments.
Learn more about Making the Greatest Place from Metro, the regional government.
Multi-modal is how Portland thinks, plans and operates by investing in transit and bike facilities and encouraging development with an eye on the pedestrian. The region has fostered a first-in-the-nation bike mode share of 6.4 percent and the city consistently ranks as one of the top walking cities in the country. TriMet ridership has outpaced population growth and daily vehicle miles traveled for more than a decade. The Portland region now ranks seventh nationally in per capita ridership. The regional focus on access to affordable housing and reduced transportation costs has created high quality transit options, streets that are safer for all users and a reduction in green house gas emissions.
Learn more at TriMet, the regional transportation agency, and Bike Portland, the city's daily news source covering the Portland bike scene.
Green is not just a slogan in Portland; it is an ethos. It is the future of the economy, with the Mayor Adams' economic development strategy setting a goal of 10,000 new jobs in five years and creating the most sustainable economy in the world. Portland has been able to attract companies and firms committed to green business practices and who lead in the manufacture of sustainable products. The city is home to the most LEED-certified buildings per capita in the nation and is planning the largest "living building" in the world.
Next is a LEED certified neighborhood and a green transit rich eco-district. While in Portland, you will experience this region's commitment to renewable energy—from solar to hydro to wind, this region is working to reduce emissions and sustain the environment. While many cities have seen increases in emissions of 17 percent or more, Portland's emissions are declining. Portland's Climate Action Plan sets the course for Portland to reduce CO2 levels to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Learn more about Portland's green strategies and the Climate Action Plan at the City of Portland.
The Portland region is committed to smart planning and effective, affordable and green building. In 1979, the region adopted an Urban Growth Boundary to protect farms and forests from urban sprawl and to promote the efficient use of land, public facilities and services inside the boundary. By reducing sprawl the region has reduced the need to build costly infrastructure outside the boundary. This community stood together to reject building the proposed Mt. Hood Freeway, which would have devastated single-family neighborhoods. Instead, city leaders used the money to fund the region's first light rail line.
The Portland region is a diverse family, but within a unique regional governance framework, it makes decisions that build vibrant communities and town centers under the guidance of Metro's 2040 Growth Plan. Portland's residents have realized a green dividend from the region's smart growth policies and investments in transportation options; saving money on housing and transportation means more money can be spent at local businesses. The region's investment in transit and alternative transportation mean more local jobs for the local economy.
Learn more about the region's urban growth boundary and Metro's 2040 Growth Plan.
Portland is located on the confluence of two dynamic and beautiful rivers. A short distance from Mt. Hood, home to world-famous skiing and camping, Portland provides outdoor opportunities in the city or a short drive away. If you go by light rail, streetcar, bike, foot, rail or kayak, Portland offers a route for you. And, the 2010 conference will be held during the week on October 19 through 21, so bring the family and stay through the weekend!
Learn more about visiting Portland at Travel Portland.
The Bureau of Transportation in the City of Portland plans, builds, manages, and maintains:
- 3,949 lane miles of improved streets
- 2,485 miles of sidewalks
- 305 miles of bikeways
- 11 bike boxes
- 155 bridges
- 26 miles of guardrails
- 537 retaining walls
- 5,133 feet of harbor wall along the Willamette River
- 187 stairways
- 1,011 traffic signals
- 1,640 traffic calming devices
- 54,588 street lights
- 143,654 street signs
- 1,733 parking meters
- 17,742 pavement symbols and words
- 1 aerial tram
- 10 streetcars
- 1 China Gate
- 7 miles of streetcar tracks
- Support and operations facilities
(Source: 2008–09 Annual Report)
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