Key Program Elements

Visits may include some or all of the following options:

Sustainable development
transit-oriented, green development practices, LEED design, mixed-use, urban renewal and re-development

Transportation options
light rail, streetcar, tram, bikes, pedestrian walkways and trails

Shared governance
Oregon land use system, political leadership (local and regional), urban growth boundary

Creative economies
emerging arts and culture, sustainable food systems and urban farmland

Place-making
civic engagement, neighborhood activism, parks and greenspaces, social equity

Additional program elements may be considered.  Please discuss with program staff. :

Sample tour:

This example focuses on transit-oriented development and place-making

Day 1

Morning Welcome plenary: Dr. Ethan Selzer, Director, Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University. “Livability and Sustainability – A Future for All Cities”

Streetcar from PSU to Pearl District: Homer Williams, Williams & Dame. Transit-oriented development and the Portland streetcar

Luncheon and guest speaker “Sustainability and the Bottom Line - Successful Business Strategies,” Dennis Wilde, Gerding Edlen Design  

Streetcar from Pearl to City Hall

Afternoon City Hall: City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, Bureau of Environmental Services. “Policy to Practice – integrating sustainability goals throughout city services”

Panel discussion: Urban bike programs - Dr. Lynn Weigand, Director, Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and Mia Birk, Principal, Alta Planning and Design. “Making Portland Great for Walking and Biking”

Evening Dinner and guest speaker: Dr. Carl Abbott, Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, “Imagining Portland's Urban Growth Boundary: Planning Regulation as Cultural Icon”

Day 2

Morning Metro: “Livable Cities and Sustainable Agriculture Practices,” Comments by Metro Councilor Robert Liberty

“Integrating Transportation and Land Use Strategies: Focusing Growth in Urban Centers,” Andy Cotugno, Senior Policy Advisor, Metro.
 
Closure Luncheon, MAX line to PSU campus: informal debrief, knowledge sharing among host colleagues and delegation.