Mpact Transit + Community Conference Returning to Portland to Celebrate 30 Years
April 22, 2025
Mpact Transit + Community Conference Returning to Portland to Celebrate 30 Years
Founded in 1995 in Portland as Rail~Volution
[Portland, Oregon, April 22, 2025] – The 2025 Mpact Transit + Community conference, founded in Portland in 1995 as Rail~Volution, is returning to Portland in October to celebrate 30 years. Stakeholders involved with the conference then and now are meeting in Portland this week to plan the 2025 conference and unveil the original artwork commissioned for the conference.
The 2025 Mpact Transit + Community conference will be in Portland, Oregon, October 26-29, 2025. Since its founding in Portland thirty years ago as Rail~Volution, the conference has become the leading national gathering focused on transit and transit-oriented communities. The conference, which changed its name to Mpact Transit + Community in 2022, is produced by Mpact, a national nonprofit organization. The 2025 local hosts are TriMet, the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation, and Oregon Metro, the same hosts as for the first national conference in 1995. The theme for the 2025 conference is The Evolving Livable City.
Stakeholders involved with the conference are in Portland to plan the 2025 conference, an effort that kicks off with an unveiling of the original artwork for the conference, by Portland-based artist, Mika Rane. For those in town this week, it is also an opportunity to reflect and look ahead.
Left: Program from the first national Rail~Volution conference in Portland in 1995.
Right: The 2025 Mpact Transit + Community conference artwork by Portland-based artist, Mika Rane.
The first national Rail~Volution conference in 1995 emerged from efforts led by then-City Commissioner Earl Blumenauer to engage community members in the vision for the first MAX light rail extension.
Congressman Blumenauer, who recently retired from the US Congress, said, “When this conference began as Rail~Volution, the goal was to make cities more vibrant by reintroducing rail and developing communities around it. Transit now comes in various forms and the conversation about livability also has evolved. The primary focus remains on involving community members, agency leadership and developers in leveraging investments to achieve maximum benefit. From the beginning, we have emphasized that the focus is not solely on the project, but also on the people and the communities outside the windows of the bus, train, or building.”
A conference that makes an impact
Over the years, the conference, which relocates to a different city annually, has influenced how communities throughout North America approach transportation, land use, and development. Every year, leaders, practitioners, and advocates from North America and beyond gather to explore new ideas and strategies for enhancing the entire community built around transit, from the various modes (bus, BRT, rail, and more) to housing, business, and economic development, as well as considerations for health, safety, sustainability, access to opportunity, and overall quality of life.
The 2025 conference arrives at a time when cities and transit agencies everywhere are grappling with challenges related to funding, the evolving role of downtowns and the necessity for diverse housing options. The conference will illustrate how cities, regions, and transit agencies are adapting, integrating new technologies and reaching out to other sectors to forge innovative partnerships. As it has since its inception, the conference will highlight the interplay of multimodal transportation, housing, and economic development in creating vibrant places for everyone to live.
“This conference truly focuses on championing transit-oriented communities as the most effective use of our resources, providing the best return on investment. It’s about sharing innovative tools and successful strategies for creating communities where both individuals and businesses can flourish. By considering transit, mobility, land use, and development as interconnected components, we pave the way for better opportunities and lower costs for everyone,” said Mpact Board President Diana Mendes.
Returning to Portland for the 30th anniversary
The Portland region will be highlighted throughout the conference, featured in several sessions and in more than 20 mobile workshops, where attendees will observe local projects and learn firsthand from the practitioners, leaders, and community members involved.
“Portland has always believed in the power of transit to shape better cities. Thirty years after hosting the first Rail~Volution, we’re honored to welcome Mpact back and reflect on how far we’ve come—and how much possibility lies ahead,” said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. “This is a moment to share lessons, forge new ideas, and recommit to building vibrant, inclusive communities connected by thoughtful investment and design.”
“I was lucky enough to attend the very first Rail~Volution — so much of what we envisioned 30 years ago has indeed come to fruition here in Portland,” said Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. “Our region is again at an inflection point. It is a time for big ideas and a bold vision. The Metro Council and I are thrilled to support Mpact. We look forward to collaborating with some of the brightest minds in transportation as we write the next chapter in innovative placemaking, community engagement and economic development.”
Portland has much to showcase, from its stunning natural beauty to neighborhoods with distinctive personalities and a vibrant, inventive cultural life. Recognized nationally for its forward-thinking urban planning in establishing an urban growth boundary, it is also renowned for its integrated transit system, which includes five light rail lines, 78 bus routes, paratransit service, community shuttles, the Portland Streetcar, an aerial tram, commuter rail and other modes of active transportation. The region continues to develop and enhance its already world-class bicycle network and is placing increasing emphasis on street-level infrastructure and neighborhood livability.
The multimodal Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, (the nation’s longest bridge built exclusively for public transit, pedestrians, and cyclists), the spectacular renovation of Portland International Airport, completion of TriMet’s A Better Red MAX extension and reliability improvements project, and the development of TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — bus service along key corridors are just a few of the more recent examples of Portland’s energetic efforts to bring the benefits of investments to all parts of the community. The region is also known for innovative policies aimed at increasing housing availability, advancing sustainability, and providing incentives for choosing multimodal transportation options.
“More fast, frequent bus service is coming to the Portland region. TriMet’s next FX line will be a game-changer for 82nd Avenue and the thousands of people who currently ride Line 72. Not only will the high-capacity service ease crowding on the busiest bus line in all of Oregon, it will also help riders get to their destinations faster,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “When we launched FX2-Division in 2022, it cut roundtrip travel times for riders significantly We couldn’t have done it alone. Metro and the Portland Bureau of Transportation played huge roles in the transit-signal priority technology that speeds up buses, and partnerships will make the difference in the success of the 82nd Avenue Transit Project as well.”
Mpact: 30 years in the making
Thirty years ago, when people interested in improving cities gathered in Portland for the first Rail~Volution, there was excitement about demonstrating that development around transit could succeed in revitalizing urban areas and reducing suburban flight, as well as altering how federal programs allocated funding for transportation and land use. Today, ideas about transit-oriented development have become increasingly mainstream, with widespread acknowledgment of their economic development potential.
Over the past thirty years, the conversation about transit and livability has evolved. Continuing to demonstrate how transit acts as a catalyst with a high return on investment, the conference also focuses on harnessing technology and integrating multiple, evolving modes. The goal is to deliver an integrated transportation system that not only sparks revitalization but also ensures that communities – residents and businesses – benefit and see their vision of a great future realized. This is different yet similar to thirty years ago: it remains about ensuring that each project serves the vibrant, diverse, and hopeful community outside the window.
Kammy Horne, Mpact’s CEO, thrilled to bring the 30th conference to Portland, reflects, “As we look back on the challenges that our organization was built upon and celebrate the incredible successes we’ve achieved across the US and Canada, we’re excited to convene and plan for the next decade of transit-oriented development!”
Registration for Mpact Transit + Community 2025 will open on June 20. Sponsor and exhibitor opportunities are available now.
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Contact:
Mpact: Hilary Reeves, hilaryr@mpactmobilityorg, 612-486-5617
TriMet: Tia York, 503-962-6403, YorkT@TriMet.org
Metro: Kelsey Kuhnhausen, 971-469-6986, kelseyk@oregonmetro.gov
City of Portland: Dylan Rivera, 503-577-7534, dylan.rivera@portlandoregon.gov