Advisory Committee Minutes  (1989-present)
                                                              

Advisory Committee Agenda (March 2007)

The Oregon Legislature created the Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee (HCRH AC) in 1987 (ORS 366.550) to make recommendations to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) concerning the historic highway. Membership includes representatives from ODOT, OPRD, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Oregon Tourism Commission.  Six private citizens are on the committee, two from each of the three counties (Multnomah, Hood River and Wasco)--one appointed by the Governor and one appointed by each county.  The current Chair is Bill Pattison.  Staff for the committee is Kristen Stallman (503-731-4957).

 

A Master Plan for the HCRH was completed in 1996 and can be obtained from Jeanette Kloos.  It details plans for restoration of the portions of the HCRH that are open to motor vehicle traffic and adaptive reuse as a multi-use trail of the portions that were abandoned during construction of Interstate 84.  OPRD is responsible for management of the HCRH State Trail--contact Jack Wiles.

 

The first project, between Tanner Creek and Eagle Creek opened in 1996.  Work was completed in 2000 on the Hood River to Mosier Section, which received a Gorge Stewardship Award for conservation and a Federal Highway Administration Environmental Excellence Award for Historic and Archeological Preservation. 

 

The Highway is part of the Oregon Scenic Byway Program   It is also a National Scenic Byway All-American Road and a Legacy Millennium Trail.  The Highway is a National Historic Landmark.  The Historic Columbia River Highway Restoration Partnership (ODOT, OPRD, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area office of the USDA Forest Service, Western Federal Lands Highway Division of Federal Highway Administration, the HCRH Advisory Committee and the Friends of the Columbia Gorge) received an Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2002.  The HCRH State Trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2002.