Transportation For America policy breakfast
Last week, I co-hosted a policy breakfast with Transportation For America (T4 America) to discuss how our region can improve access to jobs. T4 America is an alliance of elected, business and civic leaders from communities across the country working to ensure that states and the federal government step up to invest in smart, homegrown, locally-driven transportation solutions. Metro, in partnership with the cities of Portland and Gresham, Washington County and TriMet, recently became a member of T4 America, and I’m excited about this opportunity to be part of the national conversation around smart transportation solutions.
The event featured public and private partners working on travel options for employees, including Metro’s Regional Travel Options program, Daimler, the Columbia Corridor Association and John Robert Smith, former Mayor of Meridian Mississippi and Chair of T4 America. Conversations focused on the challenges and opportunities of workers accessing employment and how we can effectively advocate for increased and stable transportation funding at the federal and state levels.
We heard about T4 America’s proposals for building resources to better connect employers and workers and there was good discussion about how our region and state can play a role in moving this conversation forward with Congress. T4America’s website has more information on these proposals. I look forward to continuing these conversations with our partners and helping to ensure our region can improve job opportunities and commute options for workers.