Community Transportation Academy

Students and an instructor in a classroom at Portland State University

The Community Transportation Academy helps community members to understand the agencies, plans, decisions, investments, and discussions that result in our transportation system. 

Do you want to learn more about transportation in Oregon and the Portland Region, including how you can make your voice heard and improve transportation in your community? The Community Transportation Academy, an updated version of the Portland Traffic and Transportation class, will be held at Portland State University (PSU) in Spring 2026. PSU is partnering with the Metro, TriMet and the Oregon Department of Transportation to deliver this 10-week class.

The course is open to any Oregon resident, and will cover statewide and local transportation topics, delivered by PSU transportation faculty/researchers and transportation experts from the Portland region and beyond. 

Classes will be on Tuesdays, 6 to 7:40 pm, starting March 31st 2026 through June 2, 2026.  Participants will be able to attend in person at the PSU campus, or join on-line. 

The class is being offered free of charge to community members; stipends are offered for eligible participants that can defray costs such as child care or transportation to attend the class.

The priority application deadline is February 16th. Apply here. 

Course instructors are Dr. Jennifer Dill, professor of Urban Planning and Director of the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC), and Nathan McNeil, Research Associate at TREC. Each session will also include one or more guest speakers, including practitioners and leaders involved in the shaping the transportation system.

Among the topics to be covered include: 

  • Key Transportation Concepts; 

  • Who are the decision-makers in transportation; 

  • The Transportation-Land Use connection; 

  • How transit connects and shapes communities; 

  • How streets are designed and operated; 

  • Designing Streets for Everyone including all ages and abilities; 

  • Safe streets and Vision Zero; 

  • Changing travel behavior with (non-infrastructure) programs; 

  • Transportation, health and the Environment; and

  • How you can get involved in transportation decision-making.