Clackamas County Transportation System Plan approved by County Commission sets priorities for 20 years

The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 11 unanimously approved a 20-year Transportation System Plan (TSP), largely following recommendations from the planning commission and staff.

"This transportation plan has evolved over more than two years with extensive public involvement," said County Commission Chair John Ludlow, "and will help continue to provide the safe and reliable transportation system our residents and businesses need and deserve."

The approved plan includes more than 300 transportation projects that were identified as being needed throughout unincorporated Clackamas County over the next 20 years, though funds are likely to be available for only a small percentage of the total.

The TSP also includes updated policies to guide development of the projects that:

• Look at the transportation system through a local perspective (rural and urban);
• Specifically address safety, health, equity and sustainability;
• Integrate transportation with land use;
• Address active transportation (bicycling and walking) and accessibility needs;
• Support the movement of freight; and
• Ensure compliance with national and local regulations, including a change of intersection and roadway performance standards.

The TSP was developed over the past two years with extensive public outreach and the leadership of a 22-member public advisory committee. The approved plan will now be drafted into an ordinance for the board to approve early in 2014 as part of the county's comprehensive plan. The draft text is at www.clackamas.us/planning/zdoproposed.html; the final text will be available at www.clackamas.us/planning/comprehensive.html.

For more information, contact transportation planning supervisor Karen Buehrig at karenb@clackamas.us or 503-742-4683.

Posted December 17th, 2013