  metro is the regional government for the oregon portion of the portland metropolitan area. it is the only directly elected regional government and metropolitan planning organization in the united states. metro is responsible for managing the portland region's solid waste system, coordinating the growth of the cities in the region, managing a regional parks and natural areas system, and overseeing the oregon zoo, oregon convention center, portland'5 centers for the arts and the portland expo center. ==history and evolution== metro in its current form evolved from columbia region association of governments (crag) (1966â1978) and a predecessor metropolitan service district (msd) (1957â1966). measure 6, a 1978 statewide ballot measure established metro, effective january 1, 1979. in 1992 voters approved a home-rule charter that identified metro's primary mission as planning and policy making to preserve and enhance the quality of life and the environment, and changed the agency's name to metro. this charter was amended in november 2000 when ballot measure 26-10 was passed by voters, although the principal changes did not take effect until january 2003. the measure eliminated the executive office and reorganized executive staff. the position of executive officer, elected by voters, was merged with that of council presiding officer, chosen annually by fellow metro councilors, creating the position of metro council president.oppenheimer, laura (november 20, 2002). "bragdon to lead streamlined metro". the oregonian, p. c1. ==areas of responsibility==  *provi
1993_establishments_in_Oregon Government_agencies_established_in_1993 Local_government_in_Oregon Metro_(Oregon_regional_government) Metropolitan_planning_organizations Transportation_in_Portland,_Oregon Transportation_planning Urban_planning_in_the_United_States