Put people first when mulling transportation’s future

Originally featured as a guest editorial in the Forest Grove News Times. Written by Devon Downeysmith, Climate Communications & Outreach Director, Oregon Environmental Council.

Devon with her daughter, Diana

Devon with her daughter, Diana

As the mother to a nine-month-old baby, I think about the future more now than I ever did before. Recently several of our lawmakers — including my Forest Grove representative, Susan McLain — visited to hear what our community wants for our transportation future. Transportation is going to be a big issue in the upcoming legislative session, and with limited resources, our legislators have a big task when it comes to funding a package that meets our state’s needs. So what does a better transportation future look like?

We need to ensure that we can accommodate a growing community in ways that do not make us more dependent on cars and freeways. Many, like myself, commute into Portland for work. Max service to Forest Grove or rapid bus transit here would reduce driving and help us get to work faster. But also, my vision for Forest Grove includes a Pacific Avenue complete with electric charging stations, as well as state-level incentives for electric vehicles. These changes would make it easier for families like mine to get an EV to use as our Portland-commuting car, saving us money on gas and keeping our air clean. Click here to read more…

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