Staff Report

Staff Report for Resolution No. 26-5614 1 STAFF REPORT IN CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-5614 FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPROVING THE WORK PLAN THE 2028 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Date: September 28, 2026 Department: Planning, Development & Research Meeting Date: October 8, 2026 Prepared by: André Lightsey-Walker, Senior Transportation Planner Presenters: Ted Leybold (Transportation Policy Director, Metro), André Lightsey- Walker (RTP Project Manager, Metro), Alfredo Haro (RTP Engagement Lead, Metro) Length: 30 minutes ISSUE STATEMENT Metro is updating the Regional Transportation plan that guides development of plans, policies and investments throughout the region. The Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) and Metro Council jointly share responsibility for developing and adopting an updated plan every five years. Adoption or amendment of the RTP is a land use action under the statewide land use planning program. As such, the Metro Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) serves in an advisory role to the Metro Council. The Work Plan establishes the scope, schedule, decision making process, engagement and consultation approach, technical activities, major deliverables and adoption milestones needed to complete the update by November 30, 2028. Completion by this date is necessary to maintain compliance with federal requirements and preserve the region’s eligibility for federal transportation funding. Approval of Resolution No. 26-5614 by JPACT and the Metro Council approves the work plan, establishes the process for developing the 2028 RTP, and directs staff to proceed with the second phase of the update. STRATEGIC CONTEXT & FRAMING The Regional Transportation Plan is greater Portland’s long-range blueprint for planning and investing in a safe, reliable and multimodal transportation system that serves people and businesses across the region. Under Federal law, the next update is due by November 30, 2028, when the current plan expires. Providing continued compliance with federal planning requirements ensures continued federal transportation funding eligibility for projects and programs in the region. Under state law, Metro is also responsible for developing a regional transportation system plan (TSP), consistent with the Regional Framework Plan, statewide planning goals, the Oregon Transportation Planning Rule (TPR), the Metropolitan Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Rule, the Oregon Transportation Plan (OTP), and by extension state modal plans. Metro Council initiated scoping for the 2028 RTP update on March 10, 2026, and reviewed the draft Work Plan and engagement approach on July 7, 2026. Between March and September Staff Report for Resolution No. 26-5614 2 2026, staff gathered input from Metro Council, regional advisory committees, county coordinating committees, local governments, transportation agencies, community and business partners, and regional, state and federal agencies. Feedback generally affirmed the direction of the Work Plan and proposed engagement approach while identifying opportunities to strengthen clarity, coordination and accountability. Revisions focused on accessible and geographically representative engagement, partner coordination, better distinguishing Tribal consultation, regional transportation needs, transparent project evaluation, financial constraints, climate analysis, expanding the timeline for the Call for Projects, and clarification of how this update aligns with updates to Future Vision and the Climate Smart Strategy and subsequent implementation through amendments to the 2040 Growth Concept and Regional Framework Plan. Staff also integrated the previously separate Work Plan and Engagement Plan into a single document. This allows the technical work, engagement, consultation, milestones and decisions to be presented as one coordinated process. JPACT approved the Work Plan and recommended Metro Council approval on September 17, 2026. MPAC recommended Metro Council approval on September 23, 2026. Summary of Scoping Engagement and Consultation Activities The RTP project team conducted a formal scoping process from March through September 2026 to gather input on the scope, priorities, engagement approach and decision-making process for the 2028 RTP update. The process included briefings, work sessions and discussions with policy, technical, community and jurisdictional partners throughout the region. Engagement and consultation activities included: • Scoping discussions with Metro Council, JPACT and MPAC to identify regional priorities and provide policy direction for the update. • Discussions with the Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee (TPAC), the TransPort subcommittee to TPAC, and the Metro Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) on the proposed Work Plan, engagement approach, technical work and performance evaluation process. • Discussions with county coordinating committees and their technical advisory committees in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties to incorporate local perspectives and strengthen coordination with cities and counties. • Consultation with federal, state, and regional agencies, including resource agencies and the Department of Land Conservation and Development, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality. • Engagement with Metro’s Committee on Racial Equity (CORE), Committee on Disability Inclusion (CODI) and Public Engagement Review Committee (PERC) to inform the project’s approach to racial equity, disability inclusion, accessibility and meaningful public participation. • A Community Leaders Forum of regionally representative CBO leaders to seek feedback on the plan’s goals and priorities for this update to address. Staff Report for Resolution No. 26-5614 3 • Two Regional Planning Workshop that brought together local, regional and state partners to discuss system- and project-level evaluation measures, initial findings from the transportation needs assessment and a proposed project assessment prioritization framework to meet state and federal requirements. • Individual conversations with more than 20 elected officials and business leaders. The Phase 1 Scoping Engagement and Consultation Report in Attachment 1 provides more detail. Input received through these activities informed revisions to the Work Plan and helped clarify regional priorities for the update to address and the technical analysis and engagement needed to support the update. The Work Plan was subsequently reviewed through the regional advisory committee process, including recommendations from TPAC, MTAC, JPACT and MPAC before consideration by Metro Council. Engagement and consultation will continue throughout the RTP update, including: • Regular briefings and work sessions with Metro Council, regional advisory committees and county-level coordinating committees at key milestones. • Regional Planning Workshops focused on major policy and technical topics. • Ongoing coordination and engagement with cities, counties, transit providers, ports, state and federal agencies, community organizations, business groups and county-level coordinating committees. • Consultation with federally recognized Tribes. • Community engagement designed to reach geographically diverse communities, communities of color, people with disabilities and others who have historically been excluded from transportation decision making. • Review and comment opportunities as draft policies, investment priorities and plan materials prior to key milestones. ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION Known Opposition None known. Scoping feedback generally supported moving forward with the Work Plan and ensuring meaningful, inclusive engagement opportunities result in feedback from communities across the region. Legal Antecedents Federal, state and regional requirements governing the RTP update are summarized in Resolution No. 26-5614. Anticipated Effects Approval will conclude the scoping phase and enables the 2028 RTP update to proceed to the next phase. The project team will develop a more detailed schedule of stakeholder engagement activities and discussions of TPAC, MTAC, MPAC, JPACT and the Metro Council. Financial Implications Funding for Phases 2 and 3 of the work plan (through June 30, 2027) is accounted for in the current adopted Metro budget and the FY 2026-27 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). Implementation of future phases of the work plan will be determined through future budget and UPWP actions. Staff Report for Resolution No. 26-5614 4 Advancing Racial Equity Equity will be integrated throughout engagement, including a dedicated Equity Framework analysis of major RTP elements, identification of transportation needs, project evaluation and development of regional policies and strategies. Staff will continue working with CORE, community organizations and other partners to understand how transportation conditions and proposed investments affect communities of color and other underserved and marginalized communities. Advancing Climate Action The RTP is a key tool for implementing 2040 Growth Plan, adopted in 1995, and the Climate Smart Strategy, adopted in 2014 and approved by the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) in 2015. The RTP can advance climate action by guiding long range transportation policies and investments toward a lower carbon and more resilient regional transportation system. The 2028 RTP update will consider how transportation investments can reduce climate pollution, expand access to lower carbon travel options, improve resilience and meet regional and state climate goals. Climate considerations will inform the identification of needs and potential solutions, evaluation of proposed projects and programs, and the plan’s investment priorities. The update will also communicate the tradeoffs, resources and additional actions needed to achieve adopted climate goals, and make recommendations for the Climate Smart Strategy update. Explicit list of stakeholder groups and individuals who will be involved. This information is described in more detail in the work plan. ACTION REQUESTED Adopt Resolution No. 26-5614, approving the work plan for the 2028 RTP update. POLICY OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-5614 as recommended by JPACT and MPAC. 2. Do not adopt Resolution No. 26-5614 and refer it back to JPACT with a recommendation for amendment. IDENTIFIED POLICY OUTCOMES Per Council and JPACT direction, the work plan affirms the five (5) RTP goals adopted in 2023 RTP as the foundation for the 2028 RTP (e.g., safety, equity, climate, mobility options and thriving economy) and reflects Council and JPACT policy and process priorities for developing the 2028 RTP. The update will develop a federal and state compliant plan that is financially realistic, advances the five RTP goals, and is responsive to community and regional needs and priorities. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 26-5614. ATTACHMENTS 1. 2028 RTP Scoping Feedback Incorporated into the Work Plan 2. 2028 RTP Engagement and Consultation Schedule through 2026 3. 2028 RTP Phase 1 Scoping Engagement and Consultation Report