Transportation for Oregon's Future

Current News

Transportation touches each one of us every day. But our transportation system is polluting, costly and often damaging to our communities. To move the state toward a more cost-effective and sustainable 21st century transportation system that supports both the economy and the environment, OEC is:

• Supporting the development of complete communities that are people-focused and planet-friendly. OEC helped pass legislation in 2009 and 2010 that launched the Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative, and we are working to implement the initiative in our role on the Statewide Transportation Strategy Policy Committee, as well as such outreach activities as Cutting Carbs workshops for transportation professionals to explore the leading edge of incorporating greenhouse gas considerations into transportation planning and land use planning.
• Identifying new sources of funding for transit and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure through our seat on the governor-convened Non-Roadway Transportation Funding Workgroup.
• Developing a new tool for transportation decision-making called "Mosaic: Value and Cost Informed Transportation Planning" that will result in better, more environmentally friendly solutions to transportation problems in our role on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program Stakeholder Committee.
• Serving on the Transportation & Land Use Committee of the Oregon Global Warming Commission, which produced transportation recommendations for the Roadmap to 2020, a plan for how the state can meet its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goals.
• Ensuring adoption of a low-carbon fuel standard, which will reduce the carbon content of Oregon's transportation fuel by 10% within 10 years of adoption. OEC helped pass legislation in 2009 giving the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission the authority to adopt this standard, and we are working to ensure its adoption in 2012.

Why Transportation?

Transportation is responsible for more than one-third of Oregon's global warming pollution and more than half of Oregon's air pollution.  Runoff from parking lots and roads pollutes our waters. And Oregon's open spaces and farmland are threatened by the sprawl that's associated with poorly planned transportation infrastructure.

By 2025 the state’s population will be 4.3 million --  about two more Portlands, eight more Salems, or 28 more Bends fitting somewhere into Oregon. That's a lot more people and a lot more traffic. Decisions about where to locate businesses and housing and how to provide transportation infrastructure and services will have a profound effect on our future. If we make the wrong decisions, we could worsen the climate crisis. If we make the right decisions, we will protect the climate and enjoy reduced infrastructure costs, greater energy independence, a wider range of less expensive transportation options, and a cleaner, healthier environment.

Additional Transportation Work

• OEC envisions a transportation system that is truly sustainable from an economic, environmental and social standpoint.
• OEC promotes real transportation solutions, including transportation alternatives, cleaner and more fuel efficient cars, alternatives to dirty diesel, and sustainably produced newable fuels.
• OEC's Drive Green Save Green campaign provides practical information on how to save money while protecting the environment at the same time.
• Our It's Not Cool to Idle at School toolkit engages young people in improving the air quality around their school.
• We help drivers take control of the fixed costs of driving such solutions as "pay-as-you-drive" insurance.
• OEC helped found Transportation for Oregon's Future, a network of organizations and businesses supporting a balanced transportation system for a strong economy and healthy communities. The network influenced the Jobs & Transportation Act of 2009 (state-level legislation).
• OEC led Clean Cars for Oregon, a coalition effort to ensure adoption of the clean car standards in 2006. These tailpipe emission standards were adopted to significantly reduce global warming pollution and air pollution from all new cars and light-duty trucks. In 2009, President Obama issued nationally uniform greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards. States like Oregon helped tip the balance.

image by flickr user FALHakaFalLin