Portland 2040 Analysis

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.

…bike more…

Bicycles’ mode share almost tripled between 1990 and 2005, and Portland has the most bike commuters of any city in the nation.

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 20050

2,500

5,000

7,500

10,000

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2,8503,5553,8853,8303,2074,5205,2255,6905,9106,0157,6868,2508,5628,87510,19278 84 86 103 113 143 166 183 213 222 235 251 254 257 259

Year:

Cyclists Per Day Bikeway Miles

Miles of BikewaysBridge Bicycle Traffic

1992:83 miles of bikeways

2,850 daily trips

Bridge Bicycle Traffic:Bikeway Miles:

2005:259 miles of

bikeways10,192 daily trips

…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.

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

140.00

160.00

180.00

New

Yor

k

Bos

ton

Was

hing

ton,

DC

San

Fra

ncis

co

Phi

lade

lphi

a

Chi

cago

Por

tland

Sea

ttle

Los

Ang

eles

Bal

timor

e

Den

ver

Atla

nta

Mia

mi

Hou

ston

Dal

las

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.

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Charlotte Columbus Orlando San Antonio Portland

UrbanSuburbanExurbanRural

Source: Nelson and Sanchez, 2003.

Growth by Density Category, 1990-2000

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.

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

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Good Transit &Mixed-Use

Good Transit Only Rest of MultnomahCo.

Rest of Region

Aut

o M

ode

Sha

re

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

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%%

of H

ouse

hold

Exp

endi

ture

s S

pent

on

Tran

spor

tatio

n .

The Regional Transportation PlanThe 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

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

-8%

-6%

-4%

-2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

Average Travel Distance Average ResidentialDensity

Infrastructure per DU

% C

hang

e, 2

040

Gro

wth

Con

cept

vs.

Bus

ines

s as

Usu

al .

Overall Impacts

Reduced CO2 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 CO2 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.

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?