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• 41. [Article] Periodic Atlas of the Metroscape: Deciphering Who We Are - Trials and Tribulations of the American Community Survey

  This edition of the periodic atlas uses recent American Community Survey (ACS) data to examine the percent of persons living in poverty in the metroscape. This variable, along with the percent foreign ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Periodic Atlas of the Metroscape: Deciphering Who We Are - Trials and Tribulations of the American Community Survey Author: Merrick, Meg Year: 2011 This edition of the periodic atlas uses recent American Community Survey (ACS) data to examine the percent of persons living in poverty in the metroscape. This variable, along with the percent foreign born, those with a bachelor's degree or higher, and average commuting time are available for viewing in Google Earth at our website. Perhaps more important than the snapshot we can attempt to capture of poverty in our community, is the caution we can offer to policymakers who may depend on ACS data to address perceived problems. This atlas therefore serves twin purposes: giving our readers the best analysis available about an important social issue, while also providing a caveat about the verity of the information that analysts might rely on to make recommendations. The margins of error that result from the relatively small sample size in ACS data suggest that these data must be used with care. Title: Periodic Atlas of the Metroscape: Deciphering Who We Are - Trials and Tribulations of the American Community Survey Author: Merrick, Meg Year: 2011 This edition of the periodic atlas uses recent American Community Survey (ACS) data to examine the percent of persons living in poverty in the metroscape. This variable, along with the percent foreign born, those with a bachelor's degree or higher, and average commuting time are available for viewing in Google Earth at our website. Perhaps more important than the snapshot we can attempt to capture of poverty in our community, is the caution we can offer to policymakers who may depend on ACS data to address perceived problems. This atlas therefore serves twin purposes: giving our readers the best analysis available about an important social issue, while also providing a caveat about the verity of the information that analysts might rely on to make recommendations. The margins of error that result from the relatively small sample size in ACS data suggest that these data must be used with care. Close

• 42. [Article] Getting Your House in Order: A Model for African-American Financial Education

  The Portland Housing Center (PHC) is a national leader in educating and creating first time homebuyers, with outreach efforts that bring diverse households to its services. However, in 2010, PHC recognized ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Getting Your House in Order: A Model for African-American Financial Education Author: Bates, Lisa K., Triplett, Stacey Year: 2014 The Portland Housing Center (PHC) is a national leader in educating and creating first time homebuyers, with outreach efforts that bring diverse households to its services. However, in 2010, PHC recognized that African American customers were much less likely to buy homes, even when they received counseling. The Portland (OR) area’s African American homeownership rate was just 35% (compared to 65% for Whites) and actually declined from 2000 to 2010. Working with an African American advisory committee and with research guiding development, implementation, and evaluation, PHC developed a comprehensive program around outreach and services to African Americans in the Portland area. Central to this effort is Getting Your House In Order, a culturally specific financial education course developed and taught by African Americans for African Americans. Title: Getting Your House in Order: A Model for African-American Financial Education Author: Bates, Lisa K., Triplett, Stacey Year: 2014 The Portland Housing Center (PHC) is a national leader in educating and creating first time homebuyers, with outreach efforts that bring diverse households to its services. However, in 2010, PHC recognized that African American customers were much less likely to buy homes, even when they received counseling. The Portland (OR) area’s African American homeownership rate was just 35% (compared to 65% for Whites) and actually declined from 2000 to 2010. Working with an African American advisory committee and with research guiding development, implementation, and evaluation, PHC developed a comprehensive program around outreach and services to African Americans in the Portland area. Central to this effort is Getting Your House In Order, a culturally specific financial education course developed and taught by African Americans for African Americans. Close

• 43. [Article] Gentrification and Displacement Study: Implementing an Equitable Inclusive Development Strategy in the Context of Gentrification

  This study focuses on the effects on the housing market, particularly the loss of affordable housing. It builds upon earlier studies to consider a broader interpretation of displacement that encompasses ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Gentrification and Displacement Study: Implementing an Equitable Inclusive Development Strategy in the Context of Gentrification Author: Bates, Lisa K. Year: 2013 This study focuses on the effects on the housing market, particularly the loss of affordable housing. It builds upon earlier studies to consider a broader interpretation of displacement that encompasses not just when a household is forced to move by conditions that affect the dwelling, but also to take into account changes in the neighborhood as a whole. These neighborhood changes can result in a neighborhood’s inability to provide basic services that make it impossible to continue residency as a “voluntary” response. Housing in Portland is almost exclusively produced by the private sector, with a limited public sector role through regulation, incentives, and some direct construction. The study recommends a market-conscious approach to gentrification embracing new principles that allow for: An inclusive development paradigm with a racial/ethnic equity lens. A recognition of how public investments affect the private market. Ways to anticipate housing demand and market changes. Options for utilizing the public sector to regulate and engage a range of private development and community actors to minimize the effect Title: Gentrification and Displacement Study: Implementing an Equitable Inclusive Development Strategy in the Context of Gentrification Author: Bates, Lisa K. Year: 2013 This study focuses on the effects on the housing market, particularly the loss of affordable housing. It builds upon earlier studies to consider a broader interpretation of displacement that encompasses not just when a household is forced to move by conditions that affect the dwelling, but also to take into account changes in the neighborhood as a whole. These neighborhood changes can result in a neighborhood’s inability to provide basic services that make it impossible to continue residency as a “voluntary” response. Housing in Portland is almost exclusively produced by the private sector, with a limited public sector role through regulation, incentives, and some direct construction. The study recommends a market-conscious approach to gentrification embracing new principles that allow for: An inclusive development paradigm with a racial/ethnic equity lens. A recognition of how public investments affect the private market. Ways to anticipate housing demand and market changes. Options for utilizing the public sector to regulate and engage a range of private development and community actors to minimize the effect Close

• 44. [Article] Impact of the Urban Growth Boundary on Metropolitan Housing Markets

  As required by state law, Metro has conducted an "Urban Growth Report" and a "Housing Needs Analysis" to determine whether the currant Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) surrounding the Portland metropolitan ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Impact of the Urban Growth Boundary on Metropolitan Housing Markets Author: Mildner, Gerard C., Dueker, Kenneth, Rufolo, Anthony M. Year: 1996 As required by state law, Metro has conducted an "Urban Growth Report" and a "Housing Needs Analysis" to determine whether the currant Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) surrounding the Portland metropolitan area is sufficient to handle the increase in population and number of households expected over the next 20 years. Mr. Don Morissette commissioned Portland State University's Center for Urban Studies to assess whether the techniques used in theses two studies were appropriate and to assess the impact of the UGB on housing markets in the Portland metropolitan area generally. The focus will be be on the impact of the UGB and other land use regulations on the availability of land for development, the achievable density, as well as land and housing prices. As such, much of this report is a review and techniques used by Metro rather than primary data collection. However, some review of public data on housing construction, zoning, and prices was done as part of this study. Title: Impact of the Urban Growth Boundary on Metropolitan Housing Markets Author: Mildner, Gerard C., Dueker, Kenneth, Rufolo, Anthony M. Year: 1996 As required by state law, Metro has conducted an "Urban Growth Report" and a "Housing Needs Analysis" to determine whether the currant Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) surrounding the Portland metropolitan area is sufficient to handle the increase in population and number of households expected over the next 20 years. Mr. Don Morissette commissioned Portland State University's Center for Urban Studies to assess whether the techniques used in theses two studies were appropriate and to assess the impact of the UGB on housing markets in the Portland metropolitan area generally. The focus will be be on the impact of the UGB and other land use regulations on the availability of land for development, the achievable density, as well as land and housing prices. As such, much of this report is a review and techniques used by Metro rather than primary data collection. However, some review of public data on housing construction, zoning, and prices was done as part of this study. Close

• 45. [Article] A Pathway Linking Smart Growth Neighborhoods to Home-Based Pedestrian Travel

  Land development patterns, urban design, and transportation system features are inextricably linked to pedestrian travel. Accordingly, planners and decision-makers have turned to integrated transportation-land ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Pathway Linking Smart Growth Neighborhoods to Home-Based Pedestrian Travel Author: Gehrke, Steven R., Clifton, Kelly J. Year: 2017 Land development patterns, urban design, and transportation system features are inextricably linked to pedestrian travel. Accordingly, planners and decision-makers have turned to integrated transportation-land use policies and investments to address the pressing need for improvements in physical activity levels via the creation of walkable communities. However, policy questions regarding the identification of smart growth indicators and their connection to walking remain unanswered, because most studies of the built environment determinants of pedestrian travel: (a) represent the built environment with isolated metrics instead of as a multidimensional construct and (b) model this transportation-land use relationship outside of a multidirectional analytic framework. Using structural equation modeling, this Portland, Oregon study identifies a second-order latent construct of the built environment indicated by land use mix, employment concentration, and pedestrian-oriented design features. Study findings suggest this construct has a strong positive effect on the household-level decision to walk for transportation and discretionary trip purposes. Title: A Pathway Linking Smart Growth Neighborhoods to Home-Based Pedestrian Travel Author: Gehrke, Steven R., Clifton, Kelly J. Year: 2017 Land development patterns, urban design, and transportation system features are inextricably linked to pedestrian travel. Accordingly, planners and decision-makers have turned to integrated transportation-land use policies and investments to address the pressing need for improvements in physical activity levels via the creation of walkable communities. However, policy questions regarding the identification of smart growth indicators and their connection to walking remain unanswered, because most studies of the built environment determinants of pedestrian travel: (a) represent the built environment with isolated metrics instead of as a multidimensional construct and (b) model this transportation-land use relationship outside of a multidirectional analytic framework. Using structural equation modeling, this Portland, Oregon study identifies a second-order latent construct of the built environment indicated by land use mix, employment concentration, and pedestrian-oriented design features. Study findings suggest this construct has a strong positive effect on the household-level decision to walk for transportation and discretionary trip purposes. Close

• 46. [Article] The Cycling Gender Gap: What Can We Learn From Girls?

  In the U.S., women are far less likely to bicycle for transportation than men. Explanations include, among others, safety concerns (traffic and crime), complex travel patterns related to household responsibilities, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Cycling Gender Gap: What Can We Learn From Girls? Author: Dill, Jennifer Year: 2016 In the U.S., women are far less likely to bicycle for transportation than men. Explanations include, among others, safety concerns (traffic and crime), complex travel patterns related to household responsibilities, time constraints, lack of facilities that feel safe, and attitudes. This talk will explore how this gender gap emerges in childhood, using data from the Family Activity Study. The study collected data from 300 Portland families (parents and children) over two years, allowing us to see how things change over time. Title: The Cycling Gender Gap: What Can We Learn From Girls? Author: Dill, Jennifer Year: 2016 In the U.S., women are far less likely to bicycle for transportation than men. Explanations include, among others, safety concerns (traffic and crime), complex travel patterns related to household responsibilities, time constraints, lack of facilities that feel safe, and attitudes. This talk will explore how this gender gap emerges in childhood, using data from the Family Activity Study. The study collected data from 300 Portland families (parents and children) over two years, allowing us to see how things change over time. Close

• 47. [Article] Track Time and Monetary Costs of Transportation as a Comprehensive Performance Measure: Development and Application of Transportation Cost Index

  As federal and state policies place increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making, there is a gap in such measures of transportation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Track Time and Monetary Costs of Transportation as a Comprehensive Performance Measure: Development and Application of Transportation Cost Index Author: Wang, Liming Year: 2016 As federal and state policies place increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making, there is a gap in such measures of transportation and land use systems. This seminar reports the results from a research project aiming to fill the gap in the type of applications and policy areas covered by existing measures. Modeled after the popular Consumer Price Index, the project refines and develops a transportation cost index (TCI) measure for transportation and land use systems by tracking the time and monetary costs of transportation for households as they travel to satisfy their daily needs. The TCI can be used in applications ranging from monitoring historical and projected trends (benchmarking), to evaluating and comparing scenarios outcomes (scenario evaluation), and it is capable of representing policy areas not sufficiently covered by existing similar measures. The seminar will review similar performance measures, describe the rationale, design and implementation of TCI, and present results of its applications in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon, as well as nation-wide in the US. The project is sponsored by National Institute of Transportation Communities (NITC) and Oregon DOT. Title: Track Time and Monetary Costs of Transportation as a Comprehensive Performance Measure: Development and Application of Transportation Cost Index Author: Wang, Liming Year: 2016 As federal and state policies place increasing emphasis on using comprehensive transportation performance measures to guide transportation decision making, there is a gap in such measures of transportation and land use systems. This seminar reports the results from a research project aiming to fill the gap in the type of applications and policy areas covered by existing measures. Modeled after the popular Consumer Price Index, the project refines and develops a transportation cost index (TCI) measure for transportation and land use systems by tracking the time and monetary costs of transportation for households as they travel to satisfy their daily needs. The TCI can be used in applications ranging from monitoring historical and projected trends (benchmarking), to evaluating and comparing scenarios outcomes (scenario evaluation), and it is capable of representing policy areas not sufficiently covered by existing similar measures. The seminar will review similar performance measures, describe the rationale, design and implementation of TCI, and present results of its applications in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon, as well as nation-wide in the US. The project is sponsored by National Institute of Transportation Communities (NITC) and Oregon DOT. Close

• 48. [Article] Who is Making Ends Meet in the Portland Region? A Profile of Poverty and Self-Sufficiency among Greater Portland Families

  The Portland metro region economy is near a complete recovery from the damage of the Great Recession that began seven years ago. Unemployment in April of 2015 was 5.2 percent, cut in half from the 2011 ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Who is Making Ends Meet in the Portland Region? A Profile of Poverty and Self-Sufficiency among Greater Portland Families Author: Kimmell, Jamin, Martin, Sheila A. Year: 2015 The Portland metro region economy is near a complete recovery from the damage of the Great Recession that began seven years ago. Unemployment in April of 2015 was 5.2 percent, cut in half from the 2011 rate of 10.5 percent. The region ranked among the top 10 metro region areas in the nation for employment growth in 2014. Unfortunately, the benefits of this economic resurgence are not experienced equally. Ideally, economic recovery should lead to jobs and wages that enable Portland metro region families to earn enough to provide for their basic needs. Low unemployment cannot offer high quality of life if the jobs available do not pay adequate wages to make ends meet. Furthermore, public and nonprofit organizations are burdened by the demand on social services caused by families that cannot earn enough to cover basic needs like food, housing and health care. Many families in the Portland region do not earn adequate income to make up for the rising costs of life’s necessities, and self-sufficiency eludes far more families than is indicated by federal poverty statistics. Households headed by women or people of color, and families with children, are highly overrepresented among those who cannot make ends meet. Education can close part of this racial and gender gap, but it is not a panacea; other barriers persist for those families who are least likely to attain self-sufficiency. This study is a demographic analysis of self-sufficiency in the Portland metro region. Title: Who is Making Ends Meet in the Portland Region? A Profile of Poverty and Self-Sufficiency among Greater Portland Families Author: Kimmell, Jamin, Martin, Sheila A. Year: 2015 The Portland metro region economy is near a complete recovery from the damage of the Great Recession that began seven years ago. Unemployment in April of 2015 was 5.2 percent, cut in half from the 2011 rate of 10.5 percent. The region ranked among the top 10 metro region areas in the nation for employment growth in 2014. Unfortunately, the benefits of this economic resurgence are not experienced equally. Ideally, economic recovery should lead to jobs and wages that enable Portland metro region families to earn enough to provide for their basic needs. Low unemployment cannot offer high quality of life if the jobs available do not pay adequate wages to make ends meet. Furthermore, public and nonprofit organizations are burdened by the demand on social services caused by families that cannot earn enough to cover basic needs like food, housing and health care. Many families in the Portland region do not earn adequate income to make up for the rising costs of life’s necessities, and self-sufficiency eludes far more families than is indicated by federal poverty statistics. Households headed by women or people of color, and families with children, are highly overrepresented among those who cannot make ends meet. Education can close part of this racial and gender gap, but it is not a panacea; other barriers persist for those families who are least likely to attain self-sufficiency. This study is a demographic analysis of self-sufficiency in the Portland metro region. Close

• 49. [Article] Effects of Light Rail Transit in Portland: Implications for Transit-Oriented Development Design Concepts

  In the Portland, Oregon, region many local planners have embraced the neotraditional planning concept in the form of transit-oriented development (TOD). One of the primary components of transit-oriented ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of Light Rail Transit in Portland: Implications for Transit-Oriented Development Design Concepts Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Bianco, Martha J. Year: 1998 In the Portland, Oregon, region many local planners have embraced the neotraditional planning concept in the form of transit-oriented development (TOD). One of the primary components of transit-oriented development, light rail transit (LRT), has been in place in Portland long enough to provide data for analysis. Because neotraditional planners often emphasize LRT as a crucial element in decreasing auto use and in encouraging high-density development, this paper examines the effects of LRT in the Portland region including mode share, density, and property values. The empirical analysis provides evidence that light rail alone has not been sufficient to have an appreciable impact on development patterns, residential density, auto ownership, and transit modal behavior, although there has been some positive effect of rail on single-family property values. There has also been less of a decline in transit use and slower growth in two-car households in the LRT corridor as compared to a parallel bus corridor. The small positive effects of LRT may indicate the beginning of a self-selection in housing location choice wherein persons desiring rail transit choose to live where it is available. This assessment of the evidence in terms of impacts on development trends indicates the extent to which consumer preferences have responded to LRT investments. This kind of assessment is needed to provide the basis for estimating travel mode shares and market shares for dispersed and concentrated development forms. Examination of data suggests that it may be advisable for planners to entertain more modest expectations of LRT. Title: Effects of Light Rail Transit in Portland: Implications for Transit-Oriented Development Design Concepts Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Bianco, Martha J. Year: 1998 In the Portland, Oregon, region many local planners have embraced the neotraditional planning concept in the form of transit-oriented development (TOD). One of the primary components of transit-oriented development, light rail transit (LRT), has been in place in Portland long enough to provide data for analysis. Because neotraditional planners often emphasize LRT as a crucial element in decreasing auto use and in encouraging high-density development, this paper examines the effects of LRT in the Portland region including mode share, density, and property values. The empirical analysis provides evidence that light rail alone has not been sufficient to have an appreciable impact on development patterns, residential density, auto ownership, and transit modal behavior, although there has been some positive effect of rail on single-family property values. There has also been less of a decline in transit use and slower growth in two-car households in the LRT corridor as compared to a parallel bus corridor. The small positive effects of LRT may indicate the beginning of a self-selection in housing location choice wherein persons desiring rail transit choose to live where it is available. This assessment of the evidence in terms of impacts on development trends indicates the extent to which consumer preferences have responded to LRT investments. This kind of assessment is needed to provide the basis for estimating travel mode shares and market shares for dispersed and concentrated development forms. Examination of data suggests that it may be advisable for planners to entertain more modest expectations of LRT. Close

• 50. [Article] Understanding School Travel: How Residential Location Choice and the Built Environment Affect Trips to School

  This project investigates issues related to parents’ decisions about children’s school transportation. This has become an important area of research due to the growing concerns that increased reliance ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Understanding School Travel: How Residential Location Choice and the Built Environment Affect Trips to School Author: Yang, Yizhao, Schlossberg, Marc, Parker, Robert, Johnson, Bethany Year: 2010 This project investigates issues related to parents’ decisions about children’s school transportation. This has become an important area of research due to the growing concerns that increased reliance on private automobile in school travel has led to adverse health impacts on children and negative impacts on environment. This study examines school transportation in the context of where families live and how families make decisions about school travel in the process of choosing their residence. Using a middle-sized school district in Oregon State, we conducted a 5500-household survey and a number of interviews and focus groups. The study shows that parents considered school transportation in their residential location process; their intention to allow their children to walk or bike to school at this stage had significant impacts on later school travel behavior. While acknowledging school travel was not a priority when choosing a residential location, parents with strong preference for children walking or biking to school used residential location process consciously to live closer to school and in more walkable neighborhoods; but parents were also limited by housing opportunities around schools and in the community. This research suggests the needs for stronger coordination between community land us planning and school planning, and stronger emphasis on changing parents’ attitudes toward children walking or biking to school in programs around safe routes to schools. Title: Understanding School Travel: How Residential Location Choice and the Built Environment Affect Trips to School Author: Yang, Yizhao, Schlossberg, Marc, Parker, Robert, Johnson, Bethany Year: 2010 This project investigates issues related to parents’ decisions about children’s school transportation. This has become an important area of research due to the growing concerns that increased reliance on private automobile in school travel has led to adverse health impacts on children and negative impacts on environment. This study examines school transportation in the context of where families live and how families make decisions about school travel in the process of choosing their residence. Using a middle-sized school district in Oregon State, we conducted a 5500-household survey and a number of interviews and focus groups. The study shows that parents considered school transportation in their residential location process; their intention to allow their children to walk or bike to school at this stage had significant impacts on later school travel behavior. While acknowledging school travel was not a priority when choosing a residential location, parents with strong preference for children walking or biking to school used residential location process consciously to live closer to school and in more walkable neighborhoods; but parents were also limited by housing opportunities around schools and in the community. This research suggests the needs for stronger coordination between community land us planning and school planning, and stronger emphasis on changing parents’ attitudes toward children walking or biking to school in programs around safe routes to schools. Close