Metro (Oregon regional government)

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Metro, formerly known as Metropolitan Service District, is the regional governmental agency for the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan area. It is the only directly-elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States.[1]

[edit] History and evolution

Metro in its current form evolved from Columbia Region Association of Governments (CRAG) (1966–1978) and a predecessor Metropolitan Service District (MSD) (1957–1966).[1] A statewide ballot measure established Metro in May 1978. It went into operation on January 1, 1979. In 1992 voters approved a home-rule charter that identified Metro's primary mission as planning and policy making to preserve and enhance the quality of life and the environment, and changed the agency's name to Metro. This charter was amended in November 2000 when Ballot Measure 26-10 was passed by voters. The measure eliminated the Executive Office and reorganized executive staff.

[edit] Areas of responsibility

See also: Land use in Oregon

[edit] Structure

Metro is governed by a council president (David Bragdon) elected region-wide and six councilors who are elected by district (Rod Park, District 1; Carlotta Collette, District 2; Carl Hosticka, District 3; Kathryn Harrington, District 4; Rex Burkholder, District 5; and Robert Liberty, District 6). Metro also has an auditor — currently Suzanne Flynn — who is elected region-wide. Each serves a four-year term. The council appoints a chief operating officer and an attorney.

[edit] Master plan

Metro's master plan for the Portland region includes transit-oriented development: this approach, part of the new urbanism, promotes mixed-use and high-density development around light rail stops and transit centers, and the investment of the metropolitan area's share of federal tax dollars into multiple modes of transportation. Metro's master plan also includes multiple town centers, smaller versions of the city center, scattered throughout the metropolitan area.

In 1995 Metro introduced the 2040 plan as a way to define long term growth planning. The 2040 Growth Concept[2] is designed to accommodate 780,000 additional people and 350,000 jobs by 2040. This plan has created some criticism from environmentalists, but few consider it a threat to Portland's legacy of urban growth management.

An April 2004 study in the Journal of the American Planning Association tried to quantify the effects of Metro's plans on Portland's urban form. While the report cautioned against finding a direct link between any single one policy and any improvements in Portland's urban form, it showed strong correlation between Metro's 2040 plan and various west-side changes in Portland. Changes cited include increased density and mixed-use development as well as improved pedestrian/non-automobile accessibility.

In fact, Portland's metropolitan area continues to sprawl, mostly because Clark County, Washington, across the Columbia River, does not have a strict urban growth boundary or growth control measures.[citation needed]

[edit] Cities served by Metro

Metro serves 25 cities in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties (as well as unincorporated parts of those counties):


[edit] Districts

Metro districts and the councilors representing them as of January 2009:

  1. Rod Park (Fairview, Gresham, Happy Valley, Maywood Park, Troutdale, Wood Village, Damascus and portions of East Portland)
  2. Carlotta Collette (a portion of southwest Portland and most of urban Clackamas County including Gladstone, Johnson City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Oregon City, Rivergrove and West Linn)
  3. Carl Hosticka (Deputy President) (portions of Washington and Clackamas counties and the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville)
  4. Kathryn Harrington (Northern Washington County, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Northwest Beaverton, Aloha, Bonny Slope, Raleigh Hills, West Slope, Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills)
  5. Rex Burkholder (Northwest Portland, North Portland, Northeast Portland, downtown Portland, a portion of Southwest Portland and a portion of Southeast Portland)
  6. Robert Liberty (portions of Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Portland)
  7. David Bragdon (Metro Council President, elected regionwide)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Carl Abbott Metro in the Oregon Encyclopedia
  2. ^ http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=231

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_(Oregon_regional_government)"