Transportation for Oregon's Future
Oregon can lay the foundations for a strong, sustainable economy by building a healthy 21st Century transportation system that creates new family-wage jobs while reducing global warming pollution and increasing the livability of our communities.
Current News
Oregon can lay the foundations for a strong, sustainable economy by building a healthy 21st century transportation system that creates new family-wage jobs while reducing global warming pollution and increasing the livability of our communities.
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) and is also working to influence reauthorization of the federal surface transportation act.
OEC's deputy director Chris Hagerbaumer served on two committees (Vision and Governance) convened by Governor Kulongoski in 2008 to develop recommendations for the future of Oregon's transportation system.
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. The decisions we make today will have far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on our climate, our health and the livability of our communities.
OEC's Work
The Oregon Environmental Council envisions a transportation system that is truly sustainable from an economic, environmental and social standpoint.
OEC promotes real transportation solutions like better transportation choices [PDF], cleaner and more fuel efficient cars, alternatives to dirty diesel, and renewable fuels.
Read a joint letter urging the spending of federal economic stimulus dollars on green transportation infrastructure.
Read our comments on the Columbia River Crossing Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Read the letter that 1000 Friends of Oregon, Environment Oregon and OEC submitted to the Oregon Transportation, Global Warming, and Land Conservation & Development Commissions urging these commissions to act collaboratively to help Oregon residents drive less.
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 even help drivers take control of the fixed costs of driving through solutions like "Pay-as-you-drive" insurance.
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.
