Future 50: Creating a 50-year regional vision | Metro Page sections Use the left and right arrow keys to move between sections. Overview Project status: In progress Start date: June 11, 2025 Estimated completion date: May 31, 2027 Fifty years from now, the way people live, work and build their lives in the region will be the result of the choices we make today. As the regional government, Metro is setting the table to collaborate with cities, counties, communities, individuals and organizations across greater Portland to build a shared vision for the future. The Future Vision will set the course for policies, programs and projects that will work toward a better future for the greater Portland region. It will touch on a wide range of topics, from land use, transportation and our economy to housing, climate, nature, arts and culture. Shaping the future of the region Over the next 50 years, the greater Portland region will be shaped by our deep connections and our collective imagination. By building strong relationships today, we’ll forge communities that endure and thrive through change. Host a Future 50 conversation Download the Future 50 conversation kit and host a conversation. Future 50 conversations are an opportunity for open, thoughtful dialogue about what we value, what we hope for and what we want to pass on to future generations. This kit is designed to spark conversations – stories, aspirations and shared priorities – that will shape a bold, inclusive, and actionable 50-year vision rooted in the values of people who live and work in greater Portland. Future 50 conversation kit PDF 2.51 MB March 11, 2026 Stay updated Sign up to receive email updates about the Future Vision project. Background The Portland region had foresight 30 years ago to adopt the region’s first Future Vision and 2040 Growth Concept. These long-range plans helped guide how greater Portland has grown. Approved by voters in 1992, the Metro Charter calls for the adoption of a Future Vision that is “a long-term visionary outlook for at least a 50-year period.” The Future Vision is not a regulatory document, nor is it a plan, but it can form the basis for adopting new policies and influence plans. Metro adopted its Future Vision in 1995. The new future vision will serve as a renewed vision for the region. The 1995 Future Vision states a number of core values essential to shaping the region’s future. Many of these are still present in today’s planning and visioning from Metro and other governments and community organizations in the region, including: Acting to meet today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs Commitment to community, civic involvement and a healthy environment A healthy economy that provides stable family-wage jobs Some elements imagined in the Vision also continue to resonate: government initiatives and services that help to empower communities to meet the needs of their residents, a dynamic and diverse regional economy, active engagement in civic life, healthy communities with distinct identities, and a commitment to the unique landscape of the region. However, a lot has changed in the region since the last Future Vision in 1995. Developing a new Future Vision is an opportunity to come together and define what the future should look like for the communities in the greater Portland region. It is also an opportunity to incorporate topics that are critical today that were not present in the 1995 Vision, such as climate change, racial equity and a 21st-century technology like artificial intelligence. 1995 Future Vision report PDF 966.94 KB March 4, 1995 Stay updated Sign up to receive email updates about the Future Vision project. Timeline The Future Vision will be informed by research as well as extensive public engagement into 2027. This project includes three elements: Engagement, topics and trends research and vision drafting. Engagement Jan. 2026 through May 2027 Hearing from the community Winter 2026: Future Vision Youth Committee Kick Off Spring 2026: Regional Values Survey and Engagement Summer 2026: Youth Summit Early fall 2026: Vision Summit Late fall 2026: Regional Priorities Engagement Topic and trends research March 2026 through Oct. 2026 Understanding drivers of change that will shape the next 50 years Expert panels Research videos Vision creation Jan. 2026 through May 2027 Combining community values and priorities with research 2026-27: Future Vision Commission meetings and Future Vision recommendation 2026-27: Vision Tables Spring 2027: Council consideration Advisory committee The Future Vision will be guided by the Future Vision Commission and the Future Vision Youth Committee. The Metro Council is the final decision-making body and will vote to adopt the Future Vision upon completion. Future Vision Commission The Future Vision Commission is charged with developing and recommending a 50-year vision for the greater Portland region that will be foundational to future regional plans, policies and programs. The Commission consists of people from across the region that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, expertise and life experiences. Meet the Future Vision Commission Future Vision Youth Committee The Future Vision Youth Committee will help guide the vision, from housing and climate to arts, culture, transportation, and nature. Metro teamed up with Next Up and Blueprint Foundation to recruit 20 youth between the ages of 15 and 24 to help shape the direction of the vision while deepening their civic leadership skills and engaging with community members along the way. Meet the Future Vision Youth Committee Metro Council The Metro Council is the final decision-maker and will ultimately vote to adopt the Future Vision. They will also provide guidance on engagement, research topics and feedback at key milestones. The Metro Council will also receive recommendations on the Future Vision from the Future Vision Commission, The Future Vision Youth Committee, the Metro Policy Advisor Committee (MPAC) and the Committee on Racial Equity (CORE). Meet the Metro Council Future Vision Commission meetings See more events Meetings Future Vision Commission meeting May 14, 2026 4 to 6 p.m. Online and In Person Hidden Creek Community Center Meetings Future Vision Commission meeting June 11, 2026 4 to 6 p.m. Online and In Person Metro Regional Center Meetings Future Vision Commission meeting July 9, 2026 4 to 6 p.m. Online and In Person Metro Regional Center Stay updated Sign up to receive email updates about the Future Vision project. Give your input now Survey Help shape the future of the region Metro is bringing people together to create a 50-year vision for the region. Take the Future 50 survey to share what you value about the place you call home and what you hope for the future. Related stories News or story “The process is where the creativity is”: Metro invites artists to activate the launch of Future 50 Over the next year, Metro will merge research and extensive community engagement to create a 50-year vision for the greater Portland region. The Future Vision project’s lead artist, Subashini Ganesan-Forbes, reflects on artists as future-makers and bridges for connection. News or story Metro Council selects the Future Vision Commission The Future Vision Commission is charged with developing and recommending a 50-year vision for greater Portland. News or story Metro launches Future 50 project to create a 50-year vision for the greater Portland region Community members are invited to take a short survey about what they value about the region and what kind of future they want to see. Related projects See all projects Improvement Expo Future The Portland Expo Center has a complex history that needs acknowledgment. It also requires a long-term plan for financial sustainability. The Expo Future project exists to address these issues. Contact Future 50 project team [email protected] 503-797-1562