The Portland area could invest $34 million in transportation projects that create jobs, make safer streets and improve access to jobs for low-income and minority communities.

The Westside Trail will travel through urban and rural landscapes connecting the Willamette River near Forest Park to the Tualatin River at Tigard and King City – and neighborhoods, businesses and schools along the way.

Thanks to community feedback from open houses held last May, Metro and project partners have developed a proposed route for the 25-mile north-south trail. Want to share your input? Attend an open house on how the pedestrian and biking trail can safely connect to your community.

Drizzles got you down? Make the most of the season by creating a rain garden in your yard. It will help protect rivers and streams from polluted storm water, and add a beautiful feature to your yard. Metro natural gardening expert Carl Grimm shared top rain garden tips today on KATU’s AM Northwest.

Oregonians are throwing away less trash than ever before, according to a new state report.

Trick-or-treaters can fill their bags with goodies and learn about wildlife Oct. 27-28, during Howloween at the Oregon Zoo, presented by Sterling Bank. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free with zoo admission.

Members of the Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee unanimously agreed Monday to move forward on studies of bus improvements and light rail for the area, which is roughly a wedge of the region from downtown Portland out to Tigard, King City, Tualatin and Sherwood.

Portland area resident’s dedication to being America’s No. 1 bike city shined in September as they logged more than 1.25 million miles in the 2012 Bike Commute Challenge. During the month, 11,745 cyclists from 1,395 teams logged their trips to and from work during the challenge; a friendly competition between work sites to encourage people to bike to work.

It’s Walktober! Spearheaded by the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition and sponsored in part by Metro, this three-week celebration through the end of October encourages discovering your surroundings on foot.

Last Thursday, Tigard community members, elected officials and neighbors had reason to celebrate. Metro and the City of Tigard finalized the purchase of the Fields property – a major milestone that will help to close a key gap in the Fanno Creek Greenway, expanding opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to connect with nature in the city.

Want to witness the region's most beloved creatures in their epic journey through the rivers? Promise, there's nothing fishy here – it's just salmon season! This fall, Chinook salmon will complete their remarkable journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Sandy River, returning to their spawning grounds to start another generation of wild Oregon salmon. Join Metro at Oxbow Regional Park for a front row seat to one of nature's most amazing and fascinating events – the salmon homecoming. Metro naturalists will be on hand at the river’s edge to help spot spawning salmon and interpret their behavior and life cycle for two weekends from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 13, 14, 20 and 21.

Once salmon have matured at sea, they undergo drastic physical changes to leave salt water for their freshwater journey home. This is a fish on a mission! With a nose like a GPS unit, salmon use their sense of smell to guide them back to the very river or stream that was their original place of birth. The run up the river can be exhausting, requiring them to navigate hundreds of miles upstream against strong currents, over waterfalls and through rapids. Once they make it to the finish line, intense competition begins as their spawning ritual unfolds. Come see for yourself!

Oxbow Regional Park offers many opportunities for families to connect directly with nature. If you're not hooked by salmon - take part in a rafting trip on the Sandy River on Oct. 20, join Metro in a guided tour of a salmon restoration project at Happy Creek on Oct. 14, or learn about fungus in a mushroom class on Oct. 20, exploring Oxbow’s ancient forest.

Find out more about Salmon homecoming

Want to learn more about other native Pacific Northwest animals? Go to the Oregon Zoo Cascade exhibit

Learn about Metro’s Oxbow Regional Park