Delivering a State of the Region address at the City Club of Portland's Friday Forum, Hughes focused on the economy in his 28-minute speech, talking about bringing jobs to the Portland region and having employees ready to fill them.

Metro Councilors voted unanimously Thursday to approve changes to the region's transportation plan, setting the stage for road, trail and bike projects from Troutdale to Tualatin to Hillsboro.

For anyone who lives, works or travels through the southwest part of the region, a community forum on May 23 will be a chance to weigh in on potential transportation, parks and nature projects planned for the area.

The Southwest Corridor plan is studying land use, transportation and community investments in the southwestern wedge of the region, from downtown Portland out to Beaverton in the northwest and Tualatin in the southeast. While the project includes looks at housing, economic development and parks, the transit element will likely receive the most study from regional policymakers. How much study, though, is a decision that elected officials from cities like Sherwood, Tualatin and Tigard, as well as agencies like TriMet, Metro and ODOT, are scheduled to make this July.

Help Metro and cities across the Portland metropolitan area select proposed bike, pedestrian and freight projects as part of the Regional Flexible Funds program. These proposed projects are located in all three area counties – some provide local improvements and some provide benefit to the whole metropolitan region. Public comments on which bike, pedestrian, transit, road and freight projects to fund are being taken through 5 p.m. on June 7. Project descriptions are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian.

Cutting tailpipe emissions is a nationwide priority. The Portland region's commitment to emissions reductions has been long evident in its progressive history of land use planning.

The entrance and spur trail are part of a Main City Park renovation project completed about a month ago, designed to link the Springwater Corridor to Gresham's downtown.

Regional leaders have about a month to screen applications for a $474 million federal transportation grant program, with hopes of having one project in the region to forcefully endorse.

Join Metro and Drive Less Save More this May to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle during National Bike Month. Whether riding to work, school, running a few errands or taking a long spin around the region’s many bike paths, riding your bike can help you save money, stay healthy and keep our air clean.

On Thursday, May 2 at 4:15 p.m., the Metro Council will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The hearing will occur during the Metro Council meeting in the Council chamber at Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Avenue.

The Metro Council will vote on the amendments at the Council meeting on May 16.

The RTP is updated every four years, as required by federal law. In between full updates to the RTP, it may be necessary to amend the plan in response to changing local conditions and newly adopted plans. To be eligible to build a project with federal funds the project must first be amended into the RTP.

Proposed changes to the RTP project list include projects in Washington County, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland, East Multnomah County and Oregon Department of Transportation projects along Interstate 205. Comments will also be received on analysis of how these changes may affect regional air quality.

Learn more about proposed project list changes and view the decision-making timeline