1. Portland 2040 Analysis

2. Portland residents drive less… While per capita vehicle miles traveled is increasing nationally at an average of 2.3% per year, VMT per capita in the Portland area is now declining thanks to reliable transit service, smart land-use planning, and public outreach programs.

3. …bike more… Bicycles’ mode share almost tripled between 1990 and 2005, and Portland has the most bike commuters of any city in the nation. 199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005 0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 2,8503,5553,8853,8303,2074,5205,2255,6905,9106,0157,6868,2508,5628,87510,192 788486103113143166183213222235251254257259 Year: Cyclists Per DayBikeway Miles Miles of Bikeways Bridge Bicycle Traffic 1992: 83 miles of bikeways 2,850 daily trips Bridge Bicycle Traffic: Bikeway Miles: 2005: 259 miles of bikeways 10,192 daily trips

4. …and take more transit. Per Capita Transit Trips, 2005 Source: National Transit Database, www.ntdprogram.gov Only 6 U.S. metropolitan areas have higher per capita transit ridership than Portland, and all are older cities with substantially larger populations.

5. In the past two decades, the majority of the Portland area’s population growth has taken place in urban areas that are close to existing destinations and easily served by transit, bike, and pedestrian networks. Why? Because we sprawl less. Source: Nelson and Sanchez, 2003. Growth by Density Category, 1990-2000

6. Portland’s per capita GHG emissions are falling. Metro has not yet conducted a region-wide GHG inventory, but the region’s most urban county lowered per capita GHG emissions due to transportation by 15%, and total per capita GHG emissions by 12.5%, and in between 1990 and 2004. Source: Portland Office of Sustainable Development, 2005.

7. Granting low-income residents access to transit is particularly important because they are significantly more likely to take advantage of it than average residents, leading to greater reductions in VMT. Metro Travel Behavior Survey

8. Residents of well-planned cities with good transit service spend less of their household budgets on transportation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005. Smart Growth Saves Money

9. The Regional Transportation Plan The latest update to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) reinforces the 2040 Growth Concept by ensuring that the transportation network allows residents, commuters, and freight easy access to regional centers. The plan’s goals focus on livability, public heath, and protecting the environment: 1.Foster Vibrant Communities and Efficient Urban Form 2.Sustain Economic Competitiveness and Prosperity 3.Expand Transportation Choices 4.Emphasize Effective and Efficient Management of the Transportation System 5.Enhance Safety and Security 6.Promote Environmental Stewardship 7.Enhance Human Health 8.Ensure Equity 9.Ensure Sustainability 10.Deliver Accountability

10. Overall, the 2040 Growth Concept shortens travel distances while increasing residential density. Since residents drive less, their cars emit fewer greenhouse gases. Overall Impacts

11. Reduced CO 2 Emissions In between 2005 and 2035, the shorter commutes created by the 2040 Growth Concept will prevent an average of 97,746 metric tons of CO 2 from entering the atmosphere each year. We would have to plant Douglas Fir forests over 27% of the area inside the UGB to sequester that much carbon.

12. Metro Assessment 1.What building blocks do these current metro programs address? 2.Which programs are active in your life/school/neighborhood? 3.Which programs do not have an impact in your area? 4.What sustainability measures do you think are missing?