Portland council sends $5B transit measure to voters

(Source: Progressive Railroading 07/22/2020)

Portland, Oregon’s Metro Council last week approved a $5 billion regional transportation investment measure for greater Portland voters to consider on the November ballot.

Known as Get Moving 2020, the measure includes plans to extend the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon MAX light-rail system from downtown Portland to Tualatin. 

The measure would be the largest investment in Portland’s transportation system, and is expected to draw $2.8 billion in federal, state and local funds, Metro Council officials said in a press release.

“As we recover from this pandemic and return to school and jobs, we will need a transportation system that gets people where they need to go safely and reliably,” said Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. “We can rebuild our transportation system and our economy at the same time.”

To create Get Moving 2020, the council gathered public input on transportation priorities and concerns.