Clackamas County to Host Transportation Open House in Welches

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times

Residents in the Mount Hood area will have a chance to help shape transportation priorities in Clackamas County for the next 20 years during an open house in Welches.

Clackamas County will host an East County Transportation System Plan open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the Trees Room at Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. The event is co-hosted by the Hoodland CPO and will include Spanish interpreters on site.

The meeting is part of the county’s ongoing update to its Transportation System Plan, or TSP, a long-range planning document that guides transportation investments in unincorporated areas of the county through 2045. The plan covers roads, intersections, sidewalks, bike lanes, transit connections, and other transportation infrastructure.

“Roughly every 10 years, communities all across the state update their transportation system plans,” said Jeff Owen, principal transportation planner and ADA coordinator for Clackamas County Transportation and Development. “The intent is to help make sure that we’re planning for things that match with our growth forecast.”

County officials say more than 1,000 people participated in outreach earlier this year, helping identify transportation concerns and future needs throughout the county. More than 400 possible transportation projects have since been identified to improve safety, reduce congestion and improve travel throughout the region.

The county estimates about $633 million may be available for transportation improvements over the next two decades, though officials say identified needs far exceed expected funding levels. Public input gathered this summer will help prioritize which projects move forward.

Owen said the county is now entering a key stage in the planning process.

“We’re roughly about halfway through this project,” he said. “We’re just about to share a draft list of projects all around the county that the public can take a look at and comment on. It’s a great time to receive public input to help us get this right.”

The Transportation System Plan focuses primarily on roads and infrastructure maintained by Clackamas County in unincorporated areas, though the process also involves coordination with cities, regional agencies and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

For the mountain communities, that includes coordination involving U.S. Highway 26 and surrounding transportation corridors.

“Safety is a huge issue,” Owen said. “We’re absolutely looking at safety from a few different angles.”

He said projects under consideration are being evaluated using several criteria, including safety, fiscal responsibility, economic impact and local community needs.

Residents attending the June 18 Transportation System Plan open house in Welches will also be able to learn more about the county’s long-term goals for transportation planning through 2045.

County officials say the updated plan is built around six long-term goals that will guide how transportation projects are evaluated and prioritized throughout unincorporated Clackamas County. 

Safety and Health: promoting a transportation system that supports safety, health, and security.

Fiscal Responsibility: protecting and improving the existing transportation system while planning for future needs.

Local Business and Jobs:  supporting economic well-being for businesses, visitors, and residents.

Reduce Disparities: improving safe and reliable transportation access between communities and key destinations.

Sustainable: encouraging efficient use of resources while balancing environmental, economic, and community benefits.

Livable and Local: tailoring transportation policies and infrastructure projects to the unique needs of individual communities.

According to the county, the updated Transportation System Plan will help guide transportation decisions involving approximately 1,400 miles of paved roads, 239 miles of bike lanes and paths, six public transit agencies, and other transportation infrastructure throughout Clackamas County.

The June 18 meeting is one of several regional workshops being held across the county. A virtual open house will also be available from June 1 through July 13. More information is available through the county’s Transportation System Plan update page.

For more information or to sign up for meeting reminders, visit: https://www.clackamas.us/transportation/tsp-update