Metro (Oregon regional government)
Encyclopedia
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
.
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, although the principal changes did not take effect until January 2003. The measure eliminated the Executive Office and reorganized executive staff. The position of Executive Officer, elected by voters, was merged with that of council presiding officer, chosen annually by fellow Metro councilors, creating the position of Metro council president. As of 2002, the agency had about 700 employees.
The agency's first president was David Bragdon
, who served in the office from January 2003 until September 2010.
According to the 2010 census, the average district population is 248,362 and the current population is as follows:
Since the 2010 census revealed districts 2 and 4 populations changed by more than 5%, Metro boundaries had to change. In May 2011, Metro announced changes in its district boundaries, ensuring that effective January 2013 all districts are within 3.5 percent of the average district population. The changes include the following:
As July 2011, the start of Metro's 2011-12 fiscal year, Metro had a $389 million total budget, down 9.7% from the previous year; allowed headcount was 750, down seven employees from the previous year.
, and six councilors who are elected by district (Shirley Craddick, 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
.
, 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 transport
ation. 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 is designed to accommodate 780,000 additional people and 350,000 jobs by 2040. This plan has created some criticism from environmentalist
s, 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.
, Multnomah
, and Washington
counties (as well as unincorporated parts of those counties):
As of January 2013, the districts will change:
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
portion of the Portland metropolitan area
Portland metropolitan area
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S...
. It is the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization
Metropolitan planning organization
A metropolitan planning organization is a federally-mandated and federally-funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
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). Measure 6, a 1978 statewide ballot measure established Metro, effective January 1, 1979. In 1992 voters approved a home-rule charter that identified Metro's primary mission as planningLand use in Oregon
Land use in Oregon are the evolving laws affecting land ownership and its restrictions in the U.S. state of Oregon.- Timeline :* 1822: Henry Schenck Tanner's map of the U.S...
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, although the principal changes did not take effect until January 2003. The measure eliminated the Executive Office and reorganized executive staff. The position of Executive Officer, elected by voters, was merged with that of council presiding officer, chosen annually by fellow Metro councilors, creating the position of Metro council president. As of 2002, the agency had about 700 employees.
The agency's first president was David Bragdon
David Bragdon
David Bragdon is a politician in the U.S. states of Oregon and New York. From 2003 to 2010, he was president of Metro, a regional government entity in the Portland metropolitan area, and had been a Metro councilor since January 1999...
, who served in the office from January 2003 until September 2010.
According to the 2010 census, the average district population is 248,362 and the current population is as follows:
| District | Includes (as of 2010) | 2010 Population | Change since 2000 census |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairview Fairview, Oregon As of the census of 2000, there were 7,561 people, 2,831 households, and 1,936 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,360.8 people per square mile . There were 3,116 housing units at an average density of 972.9 per square mile... , Gresham Gresham, Oregon - Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile... , Maywood Park Maywood Park, Oregon Maywood Park is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon. The name came from a comment made by the wife of the man who developed the original subdivision, E.F. Taylor, who remarked one winter night how attractive the woods were in May... , Troutdale Troutdale, Oregon Troutdale is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, north of Gresham and east of Wood Village. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,962.... , Wood Village Wood Village, Oregon Wood Village is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. Despite the name, Wood Village is classified as a city.-Geography:... , Happy Valley Happy Valley, Oregon Happy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the... , Damascus Damascus, Oregon Damascus is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 2004, the city is located east of Happy Valley and Interstate 205 and west of Boring. The area that later became the city had a population of 9,022 in 2000... , Boring Boring, Oregon Boring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 212. It is approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland. The town is roughly twenty-two miles southeast from downtown... and portions of East Portland East Portland, Oregon East Portland was a city in the U.S. state of Oregon that was consolidated into Portland in 1891. It was founded on a land claim by James B. Stephens in 1846, who bought a land claim from John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company... |
253,858 | |
| 2 | Gladstone Gladstone, Oregon Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and... , Johnson City Johnson City, Oregon Johnson City is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It was a manufactured housing community owned entirely by one man, whose residents voted to incorporate by a 49 to 10 vote on June 16, 1970... , Lake Oswego Lake Oswego, Oregon Lake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in... , Milwaukie Milwaukie, Oregon Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in... , Oregon City Oregon City, Oregon Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon... , Rivergrove Rivergrove, Oregon Rivergrove is a city in Clackamas, Oregon, United States. A small portion of the city extends into Washington County. Its name comes from a combination of the Tualatin River, which forms its southern border, and Lake Grove, a community that is now part of Lake Oswego... , West Linn West Linn, Oregon West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste... , a portion of Southwest Portland and unincorporated parts of Clackamas County, including Stafford Stafford, Oregon Stafford is an unincorporated community, classified as a hamlet, of approximately 2,200 residents in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The community consists of approximately , located in a rough triangle south of Lake Oswego, east of Tualatin, and west of West Linn... north of I-205 |
230,157 | |
| 3 | Most of Beaverton Beaverton, Oregon Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city... and all of Durham Durham, Oregon Durham is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 1966, the city is surrounded by Tigard and Tualatin and is adjacent to the Bridgeport Village shopping complex. The population was 1,382 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,395 residents.-History:The city was named... , King City King City, Oregon King City is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Its name was picked arbitrarily by the Tualatin Development Company, Inc., which used a royalty theme in naming the city streets. The population was 1,949 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate was 2,350 residents.- History:Created as... , Sherwood Sherwood, Oregon Sherwood is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Located in the southeast corner of the county, it is a residential community in the Tualatin Valley southwest of Portland. The population was 11,791 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 16,115 residents... , Tigard Tigard, Oregon Tigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area... , Tualatin Tualatin, Oregon Tualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard... and Wilsonville Wilsonville, Oregon Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in... , plus portions of Stafford south of I-205 |
248,541 | |
| 4 | Northern Washington County, including cities of Cornelius Cornelius, Oregon Cornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 10,895 residents.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... , Hillsboro Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the... , Forest Grove Forest Grove, Oregon Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County... , and northwest portion of Beaverton, plus communities of Aloha Aloha, Oregon Aloha is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 49,425.-History:... , Bonny Slope Bonny Slope, Oregon Bonny Slope is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Bonny Slope lies on Thompson Road north of Beaverton and northwest of Portland.... , Bethany Bethany, Oregon Bethany is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It is situated north of U.S. Route 26 near Beaverton, about four miles northwest of Cedar Mill, and is within the Portland metropolitan area... , Raleigh Hills Raleigh Hills, Oregon Raleigh Hills is a census-designated place and neighborhood within the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It is located in the southwest hills in Washington County, with Beaverton to the west, West Slope to the north, and Progress and Garden Home to the south... , West Slope West Slope, Oregon West Slope is an unincorporated suburb of Portland, Oregon, U.S. and a census-designated place. It is in Washington County, to the west of Portland's West Hills neighborhood, to the northeast of Raleigh Hills and south of U.S... , Cedar Mill Cedar Mill, Oregon Cedar Mill is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, mostly north of U.S. Route 26 and west of the Willamette Stone... and Cedar Hills Cedar Hills, Oregon Cedar Hills is a census-designated place and neighborhood in Washington County, Oregon, near the intersection of highways Oregon Route 217 and U.S. 26... |
272,566 | |
| 5 | All of North and Northwest Portland and portions of Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Portland (including downtown Downtown Portland Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found.... ) |
245,890 | |
| 6 | Portions of Southwest, Southeast and Northeast Portland | 239,159 | |
Since the 2010 census revealed districts 2 and 4 populations changed by more than 5%, Metro boundaries had to change. In May 2011, Metro announced changes in its district boundaries, ensuring that effective January 2013 all districts are within 3.5 percent of the average district population. The changes include the following:
- District 1 will no longer include Happy Valley (now in District 2) and Maywood Park (moved to District 5);
- District 2 will include all of the Stafford areaStafford, OregonStafford is an unincorporated community, classified as a hamlet, of approximately 2,200 residents in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The community consists of approximately , located in a rough triangle south of Lake Oswego, east of Tualatin, and west of West Linn...
within Metro’s jurisdiction (the portion of Stafford south of Interstate 205 was previously in District 3); - District 4 will be entirely within Washington CountyWashington County, Oregon- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
. - District 5 will also include an area in Washington County north of U.S. 26U.S. Route 26 in OregonIn the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 26 is a major cross-state state highway, connecting U.S. Route 101 on the Oregon Coast near Seaside with the Idaho state line east of Nyssa. Local highway names include the Sunset Highway No. 47, Mount Hood Highway No. 26, and John Day Highway No...
and north and east of the Beaverton city limits (the Cedar Mill areaCedar Mill, OregonCedar Mill is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, mostly north of U.S. Route 26 and west of the Willamette Stone...
), which was previously in District 4. - District 6 will be entirely within Multnomah County.
As July 2011, the start of Metro's 2011-12 fiscal year, Metro had a $389 million total budget, down 9.7% from the previous year; allowed headcount was 750, down seven employees from the previous year.
Areas of responsibility
- It provides land use planningLand use planningLand-use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy encompassing various disciplines which seek to order and regulate land use in an efficient and ethical way, thus preventing land-use conflicts. Governments use land-use planning to manage the development of land within their...
and is responsible for maintaining the Portland-area urban growth boundaryUrban growth boundaryAn urban growth boundary, or UGB, is a regional boundary, set in an attempt to control urban sprawl by mandating that the area inside the boundary be used for higher density urban development and the area outside be used for lower density development.An urban growth boundary circumscribes an...
, a legal boundary which separates urban from rural land, and is designed to reduce urban sprawlUrban sprawlUrban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
. It coordinates with the cities and counties in the area to ensure a 20-year supply of developable landLand developmentLand development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
. - It is the metropolitan planning organizationMetropolitan planning organizationA metropolitan planning organization is a federally-mandated and federally-funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities...
for the area, responsible for the planning of the region's transportation systemTransportation in Portland, OregonLike transportation in the rest of the United States, the primary mode of local transportation in Portland, Oregon is the automobile. But Portland's reputation as a well-planned city is due to Metro's regional master plan in which transit-oriented development plays a major role...
, though TriMetTriMetTriMet, more formally known as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, is a public agency that operates mass transit in a region that spans most of the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon...
operates most of the region's buses and the MAX Light Rail system. - It manages several park facilities, including Blue Lake Regional ParkBlue Lake Regional ParkBlue Lake Regional Park is a public park in Fairview, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The park, near the south shore of the Columbia River in Multnomah County, includes many covered and uncovered picnic areas, playing fields for sports such as softball, and infrastructure related to lake recreation...
, Cooper Mountain Nature ParkCooper Mountain Nature ParkCooper Mountain Nature Park is a nature park in the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. Opened in 2009, the park is owned and operated by Metro, the regional government in the Oregon portion of the metro area. The park is named after Cooper Mountain, the primary geological...
, and Oxbow Regional ParkOxbow Regional ParkOxbow Regional Park is a natural area park located ten miles southeast of Troutdale along the Sandy River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Owned and operated by Metro regional government, it hosts a yearly festival celebrating salmon.-Recreation:...
, Howell Territorial Park, Glendoveer golf courseGolf courseA golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, the Sauvie IslandSauvie IslandSauvie Island, in the U.S. state of Oregon, originally Wapato Island or Wappatoo Island, is the largest island along the Columbia River, at 26,000 acres , and the largest river island in the United States...
and Gleason Memorial Boat Ramps, Chinook Landing Marine Park, the Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural AreaSmith and Bybee Wetlands Natural AreaSmith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is a public park and nature reserve between the Columbia Slough and the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon. At about , it is one of the largest urban freshwater wetlands in the United States. Metro, the regional government for the Oregon part of the Portland...
, Government Island, Beggars-tick Wildlife Refuge, and 14 pioneer cemeteries in Multnomah CountyMultnomah County, OregonMultnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
, including Grand Army of the Republic CemeteryGrand Army of the Republic Cemetery (Portland)The Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery is a cemetery for American Civil War veterans in the U.S. city of Portland, Oregon. It is located at S.W. Palatine Hill Road and S.W. Boones Ferry Road, next to River View Cemetery....
, Lone Fir Cemetery and Gresham Pioneer CemeteryGresham Pioneer CemeteryGresham Pioneer Cemetery, founded in 1859, lies on the east side of Southwest Walters Road in Gresham, Oregon, United States. The cemetery is bordered by the Springwater Corridor Trail and Johnson Creek on the south and by Escobar Cemetery, adjacent on the west and not clearly separated from...
. - It is responsible for maintaining a closed landfillLandfillA landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
, St. Johns Landfill, and owns and operates two garbage, hazardous waste and recyclingRecyclingRecycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
transfer stations. - It owns and operates the Oregon Convention CenterOregon Convention CenterThe Oregon Convention Center is a convention center in Portland, Oregon. Opened in 1990, it located on the east side of the Willamette River in the Lloyd District neighborhood. It is best known for the twin spire towers which provide light into the building's interior and for housing the world's...
, Oregon ZooOregon ZooThe Oregon Zoo, formerly the Washington Park Zoo, is a zoo in Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located southwest of Downtown Portland, the zoo is inside Portland's Washington Park, and includes a narrow-gauge railway that connects to the International Rose Test Garden inside...
, Portland Center for the Performing ArtsPortland Center for the Performing ArtsThe Portland Center for the Performing Arts is an organization within Metro that runs venues for live theatre, concerts, cinema, small conferences, and similar events in Portland, Oregon, United States....
, and Portland Metropolitan Exposition CenterPortland Metropolitan Exposition CenterThe Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, usually referred to as the Expo Center, is a convention center located in the Kenton neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Opened in the early 1920s as a livestock exhibition and auction facility, the Expo Center now hosts over 100 events a year, including...
. - It is responsible for planning for regional fish and wildlife habitat protection.
- It has the authority (so far, un-exercised) to take over operation of the regional transportation authority, known as TriMetTriMetTriMet, more formally known as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, is a public agency that operates mass transit in a region that spans most of the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon...
. - It is responsible for the region's Geographic Information SystemGeographic Information SystemA geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
(GIS) and maintains the Regional Land Information System (RLIS).
Structure
Metro is governed by a council president elected region-wide, currently Tom HughesTom Hughes (Oregon politician)
Tom Hughes is a politician and former educator in the U.S. state of Oregon. He is the president of Metro, a regional government in the Portland metropolitan area. A native of Hillsboro, he served as on that city's planning commission and city council before serving two terms as mayor from 2001 to...
, and six councilors who are elected by district (Shirley Craddick, 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
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
and an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
Master plan
Metro's master plan for the Portland region includes transit-oriented development: this approach, part of the new urbanismNew urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
, promotes mixed-use
Mixed-use development
Mixed-use development is the use of a building, set of buildings, or neighborhood for more than one purpose. Since the 1920s, zoning in some countries has required uses to be separated. However, when jobs, housing, and commercial activities are located close together, a community's transportation...
and high-density development around light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
stops and transit centers, and the investment of the metropolitan area's share of federal tax dollars into multiple modes of transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
ation. 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 is designed to accommodate 780,000 additional people and 350,000 jobs by 2040. This plan has created some criticism from environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
s, but few consider it a threat to Portland's legacy of urban growth management
Growth management
Growth management is a set of techniques used by government to ensure that as the population grows that there are services available to meet their demands. These are not necessarily only government services...
.
An April 2004 study in the Journal of the American Planning Association
American Planning Association
The American Planning Association is a professional organization representing the field of city and regional planning in the United States. The APA was formed in 1978 when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Planners and the American Society of Planning...
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.
Cities served by Metro
Metro serves 25 cities in ClackamasClackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, Multnomah
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
, and Washington
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
counties (as well as unincorporated parts of those counties):
- BeavertonBeaverton, OregonBeaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
(district 3) - CorneliusCornelius, OregonCornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 10,895 residents.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
(district 4) - DamascusDamascus, OregonDamascus is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 2004, the city is located east of Happy Valley and Interstate 205 and west of Boring. The area that later became the city had a population of 9,022 in 2000...
(district 1) - DurhamDurham, OregonDurham is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 1966, the city is surrounded by Tigard and Tualatin and is adjacent to the Bridgeport Village shopping complex. The population was 1,382 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,395 residents.-History:The city was named...
(district 3) - FairviewFairview, OregonAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,561 people, 2,831 households, and 1,936 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,360.8 people per square mile . There were 3,116 housing units at an average density of 972.9 per square mile...
(district 1) - Forest GroveForest Grove, OregonForest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
(district 4) - GladstoneGladstone, OregonGladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and...
(district 2) - GreshamGresham, Oregon- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile...
(district 1) - Happy ValleyHappy Valley, OregonHappy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the...
(district 1) - HillsboroHillsboro, OregonHillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
(district 4) - Johnson CityJohnson City, OregonJohnson City is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It was a manufactured housing community owned entirely by one man, whose residents voted to incorporate by a 49 to 10 vote on June 16, 1970...
(district 2) - King CityKing City, OregonKing City is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Its name was picked arbitrarily by the Tualatin Development Company, Inc., which used a royalty theme in naming the city streets. The population was 1,949 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate was 2,350 residents.- History:Created as...
(district 3) - Lake OswegoLake Oswego, OregonLake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
(district 2) - Maywood ParkMaywood Park, OregonMaywood Park is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon. The name came from a comment made by the wife of the man who developed the original subdivision, E.F. Taylor, who remarked one winter night how attractive the woods were in May...
(district 1) - MilwaukieMilwaukie, OregonMilwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
(district 2) - Oregon CityOregon City, OregonOregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
(district 2) - PortlandPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
(districts 1, 2, 5, and 6) - RivergroveRivergrove, OregonRivergrove is a city in Clackamas, Oregon, United States. A small portion of the city extends into Washington County. Its name comes from a combination of the Tualatin River, which forms its southern border, and Lake Grove, a community that is now part of Lake Oswego...
(district 2) - SherwoodSherwood, OregonSherwood is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Located in the southeast corner of the county, it is a residential community in the Tualatin Valley southwest of Portland. The population was 11,791 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 16,115 residents...
(district 3) - TigardTigard, OregonTigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
(district 3) - TroutdaleTroutdale, OregonTroutdale is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, north of Gresham and east of Wood Village. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,962....
(district 1) - TualatinTualatin, OregonTualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard...
(district 3) - West LinnWest Linn, OregonWest Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste...
(district 2) - WilsonvilleWilsonville, OregonWilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
(district 3) - Wood VillageWood Village, OregonWood Village is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. Despite the name, Wood Village is classified as a city.-Geography:...
(district 1)
Districts
Metro districts and the councilors representing them as of February 2011:- Tom HughesTom Hughes (Oregon politician)Tom Hughes is a politician and former educator in the U.S. state of Oregon. He is the president of Metro, a regional government in the Portland metropolitan area. A native of Hillsboro, he served as on that city's planning commission and city council before serving two terms as mayor from 2001 to...
(Metro Council President, at-large)
- Shirley Craddick (Fairview, Gresham, Happy Valley, Maywood Park, Troutdale, Wood Village, Damascus and portions of East Portland)
- 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)
- Carl Hosticka (Deputy President) (portions of Washington and Clackamas counties and the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville)
- Kathryn Harrington (Northern Washington County, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Northwest Beaverton, Aloha, Bonny SlopeBonny Slope, OregonBonny Slope is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Bonny Slope lies on Thompson Road north of Beaverton and northwest of Portland....
, Raleigh Hills, West Slope, Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills) - Rex Burkholder (Northwest Portland, North Portland, Northeast Portland, downtown Portland, a portion of Southwest Portland and a portion of Southeast Portland)
- Barbara RobertsBarbara RobertsBarbara Kay Roberts is an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, she served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995. She is the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to that office. A Democrat, Roberts was also the first woman to serve as majority...
(portions of Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Portland)
As of January 2013, the districts will change:
- District 1 will include all of FairviewFairview, OregonAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,561 people, 2,831 households, and 1,936 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,360.8 people per square mile . There were 3,116 housing units at an average density of 972.9 per square mile...
, GreshamGresham, Oregon- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile...
, TroutdaleTroutdale, OregonTroutdale is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, north of Gresham and east of Wood Village. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,962....
, Wood VillageWood Village, OregonWood Village is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. Despite the name, Wood Village is classified as a city.-Geography:...
and DamascusDamascus, OregonDamascus is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 2004, the city is located east of Happy Valley and Interstate 205 and west of Boring. The area that later became the city had a population of 9,022 in 2000...
, BoringBoring, OregonBoring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 212. It is approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland. The town is roughly twenty-two miles southeast from downtown...
and unincorporated areas in Multnomah County east of Gresham and Troutdale. It will also include all of Portland east of 122nd Ave.East 122nd Avenue (MAX station)The East 122nd Avenue station is a MAX light rail station in Portland, Oregon. It serves the Blue Line and is the 17th stop eastbound on the Eastside MAX branch.The station is at the intersection of E 122nd Avenue and Burnside Street...
(and east of 112th Ave. south of Foster Road). District 1 will no longer include the cities of Happy Valley (now in District 2) and Maywood Park (now in District 5). - District 2 will include all of Happy ValleyHappy Valley, OregonHappy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the...
, GladstoneGladstone, OregonGladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and...
, Johnson CityJohnson City, OregonJohnson City is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It was a manufactured housing community owned entirely by one man, whose residents voted to incorporate by a 49 to 10 vote on June 16, 1970...
, Lake OswegoLake Oswego, OregonLake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
, MilwaukieMilwaukie, OregonMilwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
, Oregon CityOregon City, OregonOregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, RivergroveRivergrove, OregonRivergrove is a city in Clackamas, Oregon, United States. A small portion of the city extends into Washington County. Its name comes from a combination of the Tualatin River, which forms its southern border, and Lake Grove, a community that is now part of Lake Oswego...
and West LinnWest Linn, OregonWest Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste...
, along with many unincorporated areas in northern Clackamas County. It will also include a portion of Southwest Portland and unincorporated Multnomah County to the east and south of Interstate 5Interstate 5Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
and south of SW Canby Street east of Brier Place. The district will include all of the Stafford area within Metro’s jurisdiction (the portion of Stafford south of Interstate 205 was previously in District 3). - District 3 will include all of BeavertonBeaverton, OregonBeaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
to the south of Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway/Farmington Road east of Watson St., south of Broadway between Watson St. and Cedar Hills Blvd., and to the south of Tualatin Valley HighwayTualatin Valley HighwayThe Tualatin Valley Highway No. 29 is an Oregon highway which passes through the Tualatin Valley, between the cities of McMinnville and Beaverton...
west of Cedar Hills Blvd. It also includes of DurhamDurham, OregonDurham is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 1966, the city is surrounded by Tigard and Tualatin and is adjacent to the Bridgeport Village shopping complex. The population was 1,382 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,395 residents.-History:The city was named...
, King CityKing City, OregonKing City is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Its name was picked arbitrarily by the Tualatin Development Company, Inc., which used a royalty theme in naming the city streets. The population was 1,949 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate was 2,350 residents.- History:Created as...
, SherwoodSherwood, OregonSherwood is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Located in the southeast corner of the county, it is a residential community in the Tualatin Valley southwest of Portland. The population was 11,791 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 16,115 residents...
, TigardTigard, OregonTigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, TualatinTualatin, OregonTualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard...
and WilsonvilleWilsonville, OregonWilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
, plus the unincorporated communities of AlohaAloha, OregonAloha is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 49,425.-History:...
(south of Tualatin Valley Hwy., which was previously in District 4), Raleigh HillsRaleigh Hills, OregonRaleigh Hills is a census-designated place and neighborhood within the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It is located in the southwest hills in Washington County, with Beaverton to the west, West Slope to the north, and Progress and Garden Home to the south...
(south of Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.), Bull MountainBull MountainBull Mountain may refer to:* Intel's Bull Mountain hardware random number generator.* Bull Mountain, Oregon, a hill and an unincorporated community in Oregon, United States....
, Garden HomeGarden Home-Whitford, OregonGarden Home-Whitford is a census-designated place consisting of the neighborhoods of Garden Home and the smaller Whitford area in Washington County, Oregon, United States. They are located in the southwest hills of Portland, near Beaverton. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 6,931.-...
and MetzgerMetzger, OregonMetzger is a census-designated place, in Washington County. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 3,354. Its name is derived from the German word for "butcher".- History :...
. It will no longer include any portion of Stafford. - District 4 will include all of Forest GroveForest Grove, OregonForest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
, CorneliusCornelius, OregonCornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 10,895 residents.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and HillsboroHillsboro, OregonHillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
. It will also include a portion of Beaverton and unincorporated areas in Washington County to the north of Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy./Farmington Rd. east of Watson St., north of Broadway between Watson St. and Cedar Hills Blvd., and to the north of Tualatin Valley Hwy. west of Cedar Hills Blvd., except for the community of Cedar MillCedar Mill, OregonCedar Mill is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, mostly north of U.S. Route 26 and west of the Willamette Stone...
lying north of U.S. Hwy. 26 and north and east of Beaverton city limits, which will become part of District 5. District 4 will include the unincorporated communities of Aloha (north of Tualatin Valley Highway), Raleigh Hills (north of Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway), Bonny SlopeBonny Slope, OregonBonny Slope is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Bonny Slope lies on Thompson Road north of Beaverton and northwest of Portland....
, BethanyBethany, OregonBethany is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It is situated north of U.S. Route 26 near Beaverton, about four miles northwest of Cedar Mill, and is within the Portland metropolitan area...
, West SlopeWest Slope, OregonWest Slope is an unincorporated suburb of Portland, Oregon, U.S. and a census-designated place. It is in Washington County, to the west of Portland's West Hills neighborhood, to the northeast of Raleigh Hills and south of U.S...
and Cedar HillsCedar Hills, OregonCedar Hills is a census-designated place and neighborhood in Washington County, Oregon, near the intersection of highways Oregon Route 217 and U.S. 26...
. District 4 will be entirely within Washington County. - District 5 will include all of North and Northwest Portland, all of Southwest Portland north of U.S. Hwy. 26 (including downtownDowntown PortlandDowntown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
), and all of Northeast Portland north of Interstate 84Interstate 84Interstate 84 may refer to:*Interstate 84 , a freeway extending from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Sturbridge, Massachusetts at the Massachusetts Turnpike *Interstate 84 , a freeway extending from Portland, Oregon to Echo, Utah...
and west of 122nd Ave. District 5 will include Maywood ParkMaywood Park, OregonMaywood Park is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon. The name came from a comment made by the wife of the man who developed the original subdivision, E.F. Taylor, who remarked one winter night how attractive the woods were in May...
, which was previously in District 1. District 5 will also include an area in Washington County north of Hwy. 26 and north and east of the Beaverton city limits (the Cedar Mill area), which was previously in District 4. - District 6 will include all of the east side of Portland south of Interstate 84 and west of 122nd Ave. (except for the portion south of Foster Rd. and east of 112th Ave., which will be in District 1). District 6 will also include all of Southwest Portland south of U.S. Hwy. 26, west and north of Interstate 5 and north of Canby St. east of Brier Pl. District 6 will be entirely within Multnomah County.
See also
- Clatsop ButteClatsop ButteClatsop Butte is an upland butte lying directly south of Powell Butte in southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. Clatsop Butte City Park, which occupies part of the butte, is at coordinates at an elevation of...
, East ButtesEast buttesThe East Buttes are made up of several extinct volcanoes in and around Gresham, Oregon, United States, which are part of the Boring Lava Field. The Boring Lava Field became active at least 2.7 million years ago, and has been extinct for about 300,000 years.... - Mike BurtonMike Burton (politician)Michael Burton was Executive Officer of Metro, a regional government in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, from 1995-2003. He was a member of the original Metro Council and served until 1982...
, a former head of Metro - PaintCarePaintCarePaintCare is a non-profit program created by the American Coatings Association in cooperation with the state of Oregon and officially launched on July 1, 2010 to manage the reuse, recycling and disposal of leftover paint...
and MetroPaintMetroPaintMetroPaint is a recycled-content latex paint that has been produced in Portland, Oregon, USA by Metro since 1992.Metro receives post-consumer latex paint from garbage customers. Technicians inspect the paint for recyclability: recyclable paint is sorted by color, and unrecyclable paint is...
, paint recycling efforts involving Metro - Regional Arts & Culture CouncilRegional Arts & Culture CouncilThe Regional Arts & Culture Council is an agency that oversees arts activity throughout the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon, United States. It was established as an independent 501 nonprofit organization in 1995, replacing a bureau that had been shared by the City of Portland and Multnomah...
, partially funded by Metro - Springwater Trail, a trail partially managed by Metro
External links
- Official website
- Metro entry in the Oregon Blue BookOregon Blue BookThe Oregon Blue Book is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. As Governor Ted Kulongoski notes in his introduction for the 2005–2006 edition, it "provides...