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.

Metro invites you to help finalize the vision for the regional strategy that will make it easier and safer to walk, ride a bicycle and access transit at a community open house, Thursday, May 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Metro Council Chamber.

Citing a need for an organization focused on regional infrastructure development – specifically for projects that support job creation – leaders of the Community Investment Initiative this week presented the clearest picture yet of their project.

The changes, including some road widening projects that got a chilly reception from the Metro Council, were approved unanimously without much substantive discussion at Wednesday's meeting of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee. Meanwhile, a public comment report on the projects showed little opposition to the proposals that received the most attention from the Metro Council.

Metro is creating an Advisory Committee to support the development of Metro’s agency-specific equity strategy and encourages interested individuals to apply.

The proposals – specifically two road widening projects in Hillsboro, one on Interstate 5 near Tigard and another along Interstate 205 in East Portland – raised questions about how wide is too wide for Portland region roadways.

What will your community look like in 2035? How will our choices today shape how we live, work and get around in the future? Metro wants your opinion.

But without more money to fund those plans, region might not make state's tailpipe emission reduction targets

Regional leaders were brought up to speed on Metro's tailpipe emissions reduction plan Wednesday, as staff working on the Climate Smart Communities project briefed the Metro Policy Advisory Committee.

The emissions study, in its second phase, is a look at how to address a state mandate to curb greenhouse gases from cars, pickups and SUVs in the Portland region. With improvements to fuel economy only partly closing the gap to the state mandate, planners are trying to figure out how to get people to drive less.

Metro is asking the public to weigh in on project list changes for the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. Public comments on proposed amendments will be taken through April 8.

Metro is asking the public to weigh in on project list changes for the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. Public comments on proposed amendments will be taken through April 8.