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Northwest Region- Region 2

Rockaway Beach Plan: Overview
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News
The Rockaway Beach City Council voted to adopt the plan on October 13, 2010. Click here  for a copy of the Plan and Appendixes.

Project Introduction
The City of Rockaway Beach Transportation Plan project is a long-range (20-year) plan led by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in coordination with the City of Rockaway Beach, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). Planning efforts started September 2009 within the City of Rockaway Beach city limits and urban growth boundary. 
 
The purpose of this project was to address key issues related to transportation in the Project Study Area, including safety at Highway 101 intersections, connectivity across Highway 101, connectivity within the Project Study Area off of Highway 101, and safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians.  

Background
The City of Rockaway Beach is located on and bisected by US Highway 101 (US 101) and the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad which runs parallel to the west side of the highway. The City has a permanent population of 1,375, but peak daily population can reach 5,000 during summer months. Transportation planning within the City must address the needs of the higher population during summer months.
 
The portion of the project study area west of US 101 between the highway and the Pacific Ocean is densely developed with beachfront housing, hotels, and some limited commercial development. This area is served by roads that create over 20 intersections on US 101 through the City. Only two of these intersections have turn lanes on the highway, and no intersections have traffic signals.
 
Each road connecting on the western portion of the City to US 101 must also cross the railroad. The closely-spaced intersections and railroad crossings, few turn lanes, and high levels of traffic during tourist season combine to create safety hazards at US 101 intersections, impede pedestrian crossing of US 101 and create traffic congestion on US 101 in the downtown area between North 3rd Street and South 3rd Street.
 
Development east of US 101 is clustered in three areas: Twin Rocks to the south, central Rockaway Beach between North 6th Avenue and South 7th Avenue, and the area north of Lake Lytle accessed via North 12th Avenue. There are no local street connections between these three areas, forcing travelers to use US 101 for many local trips.
 

Project Objectives
The City of Rockaway Beach Transportation Plan will:
  • Improve north-south connectivity to reduce reliance on US 101
  • Provide safe crossings on US 101
  • Provide safe routes for students to the Neah-Kah-Nie Middle and High Schools
  • Provide parking areas for visitors
  • Provide pedestrian routes to serve residents and the visiting population
  • Identify opportunities to consolidate rail crossings
  • Ensure that transportation facilities adequately serve residential and commercial lands
  • Draft ordinances that require development to install adequate transportation facilities
  • Identify funding mechanisms
These objectives apply to pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle modes of travel.
 

Schedule
The Assessment of Transportation Deficiencies and Needs phase (through October 2009) was presented to the Project Advisory Committee at the meeting on October 13 for feedback. The project team created Transportation Alternatives to meet the identified needs, with feedback from the PAC and the community at large through an Open House Meeting in February 2010. Alternatives have been identified, and draft recommendations are in the process of being finalized, along with code and plan amendments to support the recommendations with feedback from the PAC and the community at the second Open House on April 20. The recommendations and plan were presented to the Planning and City Commissions for adoption in the fall of 2010. On October 13th, the Rockaway Beach City Council voted to adopt the Rockaway Beach Transportation Plan.