City councils in Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village and Fairview, and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners have approved a new plan that calls for investing in local roads instead of building a major parkway between Interstate 84 and Highway 26.

The plan is called the East Metro Connections Plan — a $1 million study funded in 2009 by Metro and the four East County cities. It studied four possible routes that would connect I-84 and Highway 26, only to determine that money needed to create a true parkway out of those sites would be better spent improving major thoroughfares across the county.

A steering committee that conducted the study sent its results to local city councils, county commissioners and the Metro Council. All have approved the plan, except for the Metro Council, which will consider the plan Aug. 9.

The plan is described as a coordinated investment strategy in which future transportation investments support community values and economic development while making the most of East County assets — natural and recreation areas, historic downtowns and growing employment areas.

Local business and political leaders have said the plan’s strength is it allows East County cities to speak with a unified voice when applying for transportation funding.

The plan now will accompany existing local and regional transportation plans and capital improvement programs.