APPLY HERE: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d1c39e1d46224053b5012f0a42d0b6bb

The2045 Transportation System Plan (TSP) will guide transportation policies and investments for the City of Portland over a 20-year period. The 2045 TSP Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will:

• be advisory to the Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT),

• support project team staff by advising on key tasks throughout each phase of the 2045 TSP work plan, and

• focus on policies and outcomes of the technical analyses and providing valuable insight into community priorities. 

Background

The TSP is a requirement of Oregon’s statewide planning process and the transportation element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Under the state’s updated Transportation Planning Rules, developing the capital project list and considering revenue sources for both maintaining and improving the system will be more important than ever. The purpose of these new rules is to align transportation planning with the State’s equity and climate goals.

The Transportation System Plan:

• Is a blueprint for how we will invest in our transportation system for the next 20 years;

• Defines transportation policies that guide decision making;

• Integrates consideration of capital projects, asset management, program delivery and policy;

• Develops a list of projects and citywide programs along with a financial plan to implement them;

• Includes street classifications which guide how right-of-way should be managed to support our goals;

• Evaluates and establishes capital project priorities relative to the vision and goals the plan sets for our transportation system, informed by equitable public engagement and supported by technical analysis; and

• Is guided by state regulations that require the plan to demonstrate Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) reduction, equitable engagement, and project implementation that is possible with reasonable assumptions about funding.

Portland’s current Transportation System Plan includes strategies to:

• Support the City’s commitment to Vision Zero by saving lives and reducing injuries to all people using our transportation system;

• Help transit and freight vehicles to move more reliably;

• Reduce carbon emissions and promote positive health outcomes;

• Support a strong and diverse economy;

• Create great civic corridors, neighborhoods and other thriving places; and

• Design a multimodal system that supports all of the above goals.

Total number of advisory seats: Up to 30

Number of seats available: Up to 30

To be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work or do business in the City of Portland.

What we look for

PBOT staff will aim to achieve a range, diversity, and balance of the following representation among the CAC membership:

1. Geographic districts,

2. Property owners, 

3. Business owners or operators, 

4. Advocacy groups,

5. Community organizations,

6. Transportation interest groups, 

7. Civic institutions, and

8. Representatives from underserved populations (as stipulated per OAR 660-012-0125),

1. Black and African-American people;

2. Indigenous people (including Tribe, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hawaii Native);

3. People of Color (including, but not limited to Hispanic, Latina/o/x, Asian, Arabic or North African, Middle Eastern, Pacific Island, and mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity populations);

4. Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants and refugees;

5. People with limited English proficiency;

6. People with disabilities;

7. People experiencing homelessness;

8. Low-income and low-wealth community members;

9. Low- and moderate-income renters and homeowners;

10. Single parents/solo parents 

11. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or two-spirit community members; and

12. Youth and seniors.

 CAC members will need to additionally possess each of the following traits or abilities:

• Capacity to engage in the process within the estimated commitment articulated, including attending all or most of the meetings and participating fully in the discussions;

• Interest in sharing their own perspectives as well as respectfully learning and listening to other perspectives;

• Ability to critically evaluate technical information;

• Experience, skills, knowledge or perspective of: 

  • impacts of the transportation system on underserved populations and commitment to improving outcomes for those who have been underserved by the transportation system in Portland;

  • transportation policy, planning, projects, programs, operations, or financial sources;

  • a variety of transportation modes (transit, pedestrian, bicycling, modes of goods movement); and

  • neighborhood/geographic district, institution, business/commercial, or system transportation needs/ issues.

Estimated time commitment

We hope to kick off by the end of May 2025 and meet approximately seven (7) times, for two hours each, until anticipated formal legislative process by the end of 2027. Staff will attempt to arrange CAC meetings on weekday evenings at the start time and day of the week that work best for most CAC members. Most meetings are anticipated to by hybrid meetings, with in-person instances/options hosted at the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave Portland, OR 97204.

Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time. Staff will aim to distribute meeting materials one week in advance, but supplemental materials may be sent with minimal time to review, possibly as few as two days in advance.

Support

It is City policy to provide translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services to allow all CAC members (and members of the public wishing to attend CAC meetings) the right to meaningful access for their engagement. To that end, PBOT may distribute stipends offered/ funded by DLCD to support equitable engagement in the City’s 2045 TSP update (up to, but not guaranteed at, $500/calendar year per CAC member). These funds are intended to offset and reduce barriers to CAC engagement by underserved populations as defined in DLCD rules and are provided by DLCD.

In person meetings that take place during regular mealtimes may include light meals or snacks proportional to anticipated CAC member in person attendance. PBOT may additionally provide Smart Park parking vouchers, TriMet Hop Cards, or arrange rides through Broadway Cab for CAC members who need them to access in-person meetings or to attend hybrid meetings in person. 

Volunteer ethics

People who join this committee will become what we call “Public Officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fair and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “Conflict of Interest.” If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.