Planning and conservation › Transportation › Regional Transportation Plan › High capacity transit plan › Background and considerations
Discover how the High Capacity Transit System Plan relates to other land-use and transportation plans, and learn about some of the regional and global considerations that make such a plan important.
In 1982, Metro and TriMet created a long range regional transit system. Since then, the region has implemented or is in the planning stages of nine of the projects identified in that plan.
1982 long range regional transit system map
Map of current high capacity transit lines
The new plan will guide the next 30 years of the region's investments in high capacity transit – light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit or rapid streetcar. The plan, to be complete in spring 2009, will include a prioritized set of new high capacity transit corridors or improvements to the existing system.
This system plan will be developed in close coordination with the streetcar system plan that is under development by the City of Portland, TriMet's Transit Investment Plan and the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan currently being updated, and will ultimately be adopted as part of the Regional Transportation Plan. A plan for high capacity transit was last explored as part of the regional public transportation system component of the 2004 Regional Transportation Plan.
In the process of developing the plan, Metro, in coordination with TriMet and the cities and counties in the region, will define transit markets to be served, evaluate technical cost and ridership information, complete land-use and financial feasibility analysis and engage public and jurisdictional partners in the process.
The High Capacity Transit System Plan implements the 2040 Growth Concept and the Regional Transportation Plan, which include policies to connect the central city and regional and town centers with high capacity transit. These plans ultimately seek to make our region the greatest and most sustainable place to live, work and play. There are a rich array of amenties already accessible by transit and making new connections between great communities in our region, parks and trails enables us to enjoy sustainable, connected, creative and thriving places to live.
Watch videos of presentations given at workshops in summer 2008 to learn more about how the High Capacity Tranisit System Plan relates to other land-use and transportation plans.
Framing the region's transportation choices: 2040 Growth Concept
Learn more about the 2040 Growth Concept
Regional Transportation Plan
Learn more about the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan update
Learn more about issues affecting transportation and how high capacity transit can benefit regional greenhouse gas emission levels, conjestion levels and regional livability.
Watch the video of the presentation given to the High Capacity Transit Think Tank that examines regional and global trends in polution, gas prices and population.
Watch the video of the presentation given to the High Capacity Transit Think Tank that examines high capacity transit options around the world, and see how high capacity transit planning can benefit placemaking and community vitalization.
Metro transportation planning
503-797-1756
trans@oregonmetro.gov
(http://trimet.org/tip/index.htm)
(http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46134)
(http://www.rtc.wa.gov/hct/)
