For More Information Contact:
Shelley Snow, ODOT Public Affairs, 503-986-3438 or Cell: 503-881-5362
25-Year Transportation Plan Available for Public Review
The Oregon Transportation Plan, the state’s long-range multimodal transportation plan, is now ready for review and will be featured in several upcoming meetings open to the public. First developed in 1992, the Oregon Transportation Plan (OTP) guides the development of and investment in Oregon’s transportation system for the next 25 years. It addresses issues involving Oregon’s airports, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, highways, streets and roadways, pipelines, ports and waterways, public transportation and railroads.
The public is invited to review and comment on the plan the following meetings:
January 12, Redmond: Central Oregon Area Commission on Transportation, 3:00 p.m.
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Building, 2363 SW Glacier Place
January 19, Bend: Bend Metropolitan Policy Organization, 1:00 p.m.
Deschutes County Administration Bldg., DeArmond Rm., 1300 NW Wall St.
The plan is available online at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP/ortransplanupdate.shtml.
“Because transportation is the engine that drives Oregon’s economy, it’s important to have a document such as this to guide us in our decision making,” said Lorna Youngs, ODOT interim director. “With this plan, we have an excellent framework for prioritizing transportation investments throughout the state.”
In the next 25 years, Oregon’s transportation system faces an increasingly competitive global economy, growth in congestion and population, an uncertain global oil supply, global warming, security issues and inadequate funding.
After analyzing trends, transportation needs, projected revenues and possible transportation futures, the OTP Steering Committee concluded that transportation as we’ve known it in Oregon will have to change. In order to preserve Oregon’s standard of living and to continue to improve the state’s economy, Oregonians must change the way decisions are made about managing and funding transportation. Transportation, the OTP says, must be viewed as one unified system that connects modes and jurisdictions seamlessly and supports the state’s communities, economy and environment.
Analysis of projected revenues shows that providing for the future requires greater investment in the current system. Current resources do not provide for expected population and economic growth. Without change or additional funding, the focus will have to be on minimizing the deterioration of the current system.
The OTP analyses point to several key conclusions:
· To preserve our standard of living and continue improving our economy, the state must take a system-wide approach to prioritizing and funding transportation projects.
· Transportation-related organizations throughout the state must work together to make the most effective decisions about transportation.
· The state must use innovative approaches and technology to operate the transportation system more efficiently.
· The first priority for funding is to maintain and optimize what the state currently has. With additional funding, Oregonians can make strategic investments to enhance highway, roadway, public transportation and rail capacity.
“We all have choices that impact Oregon’s livability,” Youngs said. “The draft plan lays out a vision of a well-maintained, integrated, and seamless transportation system that offers choices. The plan looks at varied future revenue pictures and recommends continued focus on maintaining the transportation system, while finding new ways to optimize it through technology and better connection of the different modes. To be successful, new partnerships between transportation providers will be necessary. We are very excited about the things we can do when we all work together.”
The comment period ends March 1, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP/ortransplanupdate.shtml.
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