The 2040 Growth Concept emphasises co-ordination of land use and transport in order to preserve the region’s locational advantage as a relatively uncongested hub for trade. It also states that the preferred form of regional growth is to contain growth within a carefully managed urban growth boundary' (UGB), a land-use planning line to protect farms and forests from urban sprawl and orient growth in the form of infill and redevelopment with higher density where it is appropriate. The UGB has been expanded more than 30 times since it was first drawn up, in accordance with forecasts of land supply needs. In its quality as an MPO, Metro is also tasked with preparing a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which evaluates federal, state and local funding for transport improvements, estimates project costs and proposes funding strategies.