“Imagine if Vancouver and Seattle, two cities with a projected combined 2040 regional population of nearly nine million people, were…able to maintain the cultural and life style characteristics that make each city so unique, but leverage the synergies of two strong economies such that one plus one equaled far more than two. Many factors play a role in the economic integration of nearby cities and communities, but none more so than transportation. Full economic integration can only happen when getting between two cities becomes seamless and so fast as to amount to little more than an afterthought…”
Art Pearce
Co-Chair, Transportation Subcommittee
Art Pearce is an experienced urban innovator with an extensive background in broad public-private collaborations utilizing transportation investment and mobility innovations to shape the future of cities. He has 26 years of experience envisioning and driving change in Portland’s transportation system: establishing policy, planning and delivering transformative investments, and overseeing people-based behavior change and mobility programs. He has a deep understanding of the challenges cities and city governments face in propelling change at an adequate pace, and the new imperatives presented by the crises of climate, and social and racial equity.
Art has been with PBOT since 1998. Prior to appointment as Deputy Director, he served as Policy, Planning & Projects Group Director and has been a member of the PBOT executive team since 2014. He currently oversees the Transportation Planning and Project Delivery, Mobility & Safety Programs, and Regional Projects and Streetcar divisions, with a staff of over 130 people.
Outside of work, Art is very active in outdoor sports including ski mountaineering, rafting, and backpacking, has represented Portland at the ultimate frisbee national championships, and can sometimes be been spotted playing mandolin and percussion in local music venues much to the chagrin of his wife and 17-year-old son.
Art has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University.