Metro’s next Regional Transportation Plan should be setting us up for a safer, habitable future. Instead, it doubles down on cars by doubling our new roadway spending and cutting transit investment to a third of our last plan. Groups big and small criticized the plan and suggested improvements. Their efforts were ignored, and Metro has submitted the plan to Metro Council with only a handful of changes.
On November 30th, Metro Council will vote on the plan. Extinction Rebellion and the Eco-Socialists of the DSA encourage you to write your councilor and tell them to vote no. Scan the QR code below and you’ll be able to send your councilor a message with just a few clicks. Also if you’d be willing to testify at Metro meetings either Nov. 16 or 30th, let us know at info@xrpdx.org.
We will be holding a Rally on Nov. 30th in the Plaza outside the Metro chambers with speakers and theatre starting at 9:30 am and will be visible inside the chambers as well with messaging. Click on https://actionnetwork.org/events/reject-the-rtp-rally?source=direct_link&referrer=group-portland-dsa-ecosocialist-working-group to RSVP.
Wear Red! Join XaRt this Sunday 11/26, 1-4 pm at the 350pdx offices next to the Rebuilding Center for an ART BUILD in preparation for this rally.
Metro’s modeling of emissions and safety in 2018 failed to predict rising fatalities and record-high GHG emissions. Metro publicly recognized this failure, but declined to meaningfully change their modeling for the 2023 RTP – and used the outcomes to claim the 2023 plan will meet our climate and safety goals.
Why Say “No ” to this R.T.P.? Hundreds of public commenters demanded more funding for safety improvements and clean transportation options. Despite this, barely half of the plan’s roadway projects provide a claimed safety benefit. Airport Road’s $118 million grade separation project eclipses all of the safety spending on Lombard, Powell, Division, Stark and Barbur combined – and it has priority over most of those projects.
It’s widely agreed among urban planners that expanding roads induces demand for travel. Adding lanes results in more people driving, and driving farther. Emissions and crashes rise. Metro could, under state law, demand audits of projects that would expand roads. Instead, they have greenlit 130 new lane miles in the Metro area over the next 7 years without any effort to make sponsors justify the costs. It commits to cars, not people. Safety is an afterthought. Metro’s using a broken model, and they know it. Tell Metro – Stop This RTP!
