The Next 30 Years of Portland Transit

Portland's Metro authority is mapping out the region's transit plans for the next 30 years, and the public is getting involved.

1 minute read

April 3, 2009, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Guiding the next generation of mass transit -- is the lofty aim of planners laying out the region's future. They envision scattered hubs of activity connected to other hubs. And if given a mass transit boost, some of those could blossom into vibrant destinations, where future residents live and work."

"How about a line from Portland to Tigard, or beyond to Sherwood? Why not connect Lake Oswego to Oregon City? And what about some small spurs off the existing system -- say to Forest Grove or Troutdale?"

"All are on the table but not for long. Routes that are included in the next three months in Metro's High Capacity Transit System Plan will get a massive political boost and qualify for a chance to seek federal money."

"Routes left out could be forgotten for decades."

"For the next three weeks, the public will have a chance to pick favorites among 29 segments, worth up to $25 billion, that made it through an initial round of screening. To make public involvement easier, and perhaps a little fun, Metro this week began offering Web users a chance to "build your own transit system" with a site that lets any computer user compile a collection of routes -- like a mini version of the popular SimCity computer game. "

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 in The Oregonian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee