One final push for Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities!
Sign on in support By May 18!
Let’s imagine a future with a smaller carbon footprint and more transportation options that don’t always require a car.
What if Oregon’s future housing and transportation projects were centered around justice, access, and tangible climate action?
That is more than just a possibility. It can be a reality if Oregon’s Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rulemaking process makes it through the finish line next week.
Over a year and a half ago, Oregon launched this rulemaking process, designed “to transform Oregon’s communities to be safe, equitable, sociable, and pleasant places where driving is not required, and the amount of driving is reduced.”
Now, it’s the home stretch!
Help get these rules passed so we see more Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities in Oregon, and soon!
What will these rules do?
To respond to housing costs and shortages, cities across the state are wondering where they should add more housing capacity. How they answer that question today has a huge impact on what Central Oregon will look like tomorrow.
Will we see more affordable housing options? Or will we see more costly, sprawling development?
Will we see more traffic congestion? Or will it get easier to walk, bike, or roll around town?
Will our average commute times get shorter or longer?
If adopted on May 19, these rules could give us an encouraging path forward.
First, these rules will designate climate-friendly areas in cities across Oregon.
Next, they’ll inform policies to direct new growth to those areas and prioritize more affordable housing options.
Following that, they’ll provide abundant, high-quality infrastructure for biking, walking, and transit options.
And we’re near the finish line!
The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) is set to adopt the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities Rules at their meeting on May 19. Until then, we need to continue to advocate for the strong, clear, and timely rules Oregonians are ready for.
Key advocacy updates
Cottage cluster housing can allow for more affordable housing options with a smaller carbon footprint.
1,300 supporters and counting
Over 1,300 local businesses, organizations, and Oregonians across the state stand in support of a more climate-friendly and equitable future for all. This community letter asks the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to ensure we deliver more Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities to Oregon - and soon.
Thanks to your input, during their March 31 hearing, LCDC sought adjustments that will help ensure the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rules are stronger, clearer, and implemented with urgency. This includes tools that help provide more affordable housing and better standards for delivering safe, accessible ways to bike, walk, and roll around town for all ages and abilities.
More money (coming soon!) for local climate planning
On March 30, the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) met to decide where to allocate $400 million of available federal funding for infrastructure projects and improvements across Oregon. We asked you to support funding for public and active transportation and bike and pedestrian projects that could increase public safety and accessibility and decrease our reliance on cars for transportation.
Although the final total allocations fell far short of what our community and thousands of Oregonians called for, OTC directed $15 million to local climate planning.
This will be pivotal in getting faster, on-the-ground implementation of the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rules in Central Oregon. We’ll take the win where we can find it and keep pushing our state agencies - particularly the Oregon Department of Transportation - for the changes we need to make our transportation system one that gets us to a truly climate-friendly and equitable future. Big boats take a long time to turn, and we will keep our hands on that wheel.
A protected bike lane improves safety and accessibility for cyclists.
Sustaining our advocacy for Bend’s Midtown Crossings
Overwhelming community support for Bend’s Midtown Crossings continues to grow. We’re proactively working with our partners throughout Central Oregon to bring the full vision for these three essential projects to life. We will need to continue the push and advocate to secure additional funding for Midtown Crossings, and we’ll let you know when your voice will have the most impact on the path ahead.
How you can help
If you haven’t already, add your name to this community support letter. We need to show Central Oregonians stand in solidarity for tangible climate action in our built environments. Can you help us get to 2,000 signatures?
Next, share this letter with people you know. We are starting to see the opposition mobilize, arguing these changes are coming too soon. But we know we don’t have another decade to wait to take real steps towards reducing Oregon’s emissions. Share this letter to friends, neighbors, and family and ask them to sign on in support.