Congressman Earl Blumenauer inspired more than 1200 planners, transportation professionals, elected officials, civic leaders and livable community advocates as he opened the 16th annual national Rail~Volution Conference with a stirring Keynote address.

Started in 1991 as the area's Regional Rail Summit, Rail~Volution is regarded as the nation's premier livable communities conference has traveled to more than a dozen cities throughout the country, routinely attracting participants from more than 200 cities in 42 states and 6 nations.

This year's conference showcased Portland through a series of 21 mobile workshops, 3 planning charrettes, and 65 stimulating workshops. One of the highlights of the conference was the energizing discussion of the Federal Partnership for Livable Communities with Deputy Secretary John Porcari of US DOT; Deputy Secretary Ron Sims of HUD; Senator Jeff Merkley, and Congressman Blumenauer.

Since Rail~Volution was last held in Portland in 1998 to help celebrate the opening of MAX' Blue Line, the Portland region has benefitted from the opening or extension of 8 rail lines: the original Portland Streetcar and 3 extensions; Airport MAX (Red Line); Interstate MAX (Yellow Line); WES Commuter Rail in  Washington County; and Clackamas County MAX (Green Line).

Congressman Blumenauer gives the keynote address for the 2010 Rail~Volution Conference in Portland, OR

Congressman Blumenauer at a Streetcar roudtable with Rail~Voluntion conference attendees from around the country.

Congressman Blumenauer at a discussion of the Federal Partnership for Livable Communities with Deputy Secretary John Porcari of US DOT; Deputy Secretary Ron Sims of HUD; and Senator Jeff Merkley moderated by David Goldberg, Communications Director for Transportation For America