Get a seat at the transpo table: Consider joining Metro’s TPAC

A chance to be where a lot of
important stuff happens.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee, or “TPAC” as it’s known around here, is looking for four new community representatives. If you want to influence local and regional transportation projects, this is a great opportunity.

TPAC’s main role is to advise the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT), the panel of local elected bigwigs and agency execs that controls the federal transportation pursestrings in the Portland area. There are 21 people on TPAC, 15 of them are transportation professionals appointed by cities, counties, and agencies, and there are six at-large community members.

Metro says they’re looking for four new community reps who have some expertise in the following areas:

• the transportation needs of low income and minority communities, commonly referred to as environmental justice concerns;
• economic development, the economy, small business or freight movement;
• the needs of underserved communities such as the elderly and disabled and youth;
• health, air quality, and climate change connections to transportation.

It seems to me like bicycling can play a large role in all those bullet points.

These positions are for two-year terms (except for one that would fill a one-year term leftover from a vacancy) and TPAC meets monthly (from 9:30 am to noon on Friday’s) at Metro’s Lloyd District headquarters.

If you’re interested, check out the official announcement from Metro and peruse the TPAC page on their website. Applications are due by October 19th.