OAR 660-044-0000: Purpose

(1) This division implements Oregon Land Use Planning Goal 12 (Transportation) and the state goal in ORS 468A.205 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this division is to significantly, and as rapidly as possible, reduce climate pollutants that are causing climate disruption. (2) Cities, counties, metropolitan planning organizations, and the Metropolitan Service District serving the Portland metro area (Metro) are encouraged to take actions beyond the minimum requirements of this division to rapidly make large reductions in pollution. (3) This division requires cities, counties, and Metro to change transportation and land use plans to significantly reduce pollution from light vehicles. This division places specific requirements on Metro in recognition of its unique status in Oregon. This division also requires cities and counties within other metropolitan regions to work together to prepare a preferred land use and transportation scenario that describes a future set of desired transportation facilities, alternative future land use patterns, and policies that will reduce greenhouse gas pollution from light vehicles. This division requires the cities and counties within a metropolitan area to prepare a transportation and land use scenario plan that defines and implements a preferred scenario, identifies performance measures for tracking progress, and works to not only avoid or mitigate any impacts to underserved populations, but to improve outcomes for these communities over time. (4) This division aims to reduce inequities for underserved populations. The land use and transportation scenario planning process and the local implementation process must prioritize underserved populations so that the actions that reduce pollution also reduce the historic inequities from prior transportation and land use development.