Building the Economy through Sustainable Transportation (BEST) is the first coalition in the state of Oregon with the sole purpose of advocating across modes for freight related projects and policies. Comprised of local businesses and business advocacy groups, BEST was formed to help facilitate economic growth, highway safety and reduced environmental impacts by ensuring an adequate infrastructure for the efficient movement of freight in the region.
In a time of constrained financial resources, critical freight projects are underfunded in the Portland metropolitan area and throughout the state. While the freight community has made strides in establishing policy groups such as the Portland Freight Committee and the Metro Regional Freight Committee, the need to create an advocacy voice for freight led to the formation of BEST.
BEST objectives will be reached through a mix of advocacy, educational outreach, and grassroots mobilization.
“Facilitating economic growth, highway safety and reduced environmental impacts by ensuring an adequate infrastructure for the efficient movement of freight in the Portland Metro region.”
“252,000,000 tons of goods are moved in the Portland region annually, accounting for 82% of the statewide volume.”
“Failure to invest in the transportation system for freight means potential loss to the economy of $844 million annually – That’s $882/household each year.” — Regional Cost of Congestion Study