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Staffers for regional government Metro have been given the go ahead to work on projects at the Oregon Zoo funded by a $125 million bond passed in 2008.

The Metro Council on Thursday passed a resolution authorizing zoo officials to move forward with late-stage design work and to line-up construction contracts for projects including new animal exhibits, educational facilities and sustainability measures. The resolution also authorized the zoo to proceed in securing land-use and development permits for any other projects funded through the bond.

In addition to expanding and upgrading the living facilities of such animals as the elephants, polar bears and chimpanzees, zoo officials will also be working to turn the Oregon Zoo into the greenest zoo in the country. Metro, which owns and operates the zoo, is tracking a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating for the project.

The project team will work from a 20-year master plan that has been developed over the past year. Projects noted in the first phase of development will move forward first. The highest priority project in the master plan, a new veterinary center, got under way last November and is expected to be finished in January.

The next project to move forward will be the construction of a new perimeter road and a new zoo train route in the spring of 2013 that will accommodate the construction of a new six-acre elephant habitat. Metro released its request for proposals for design consultants for the project Sept 20.

Oregon Zoo Director Kim Smith said the staff is extremely gratified that Metro Council approved the plan. She added that the master plan will be essential to making sure the projects are phased correctly and that the public’s money is spent efficiently.