The 2011 Legislature passed SB 264 during their regular session. SB 264 primarily addressed ODOT requirements regarding permitting of access to a state highway. However, the legislation also required ODOT to perform a review of the state highways that have been designated as Expressways by the Oregon Transportation Commission. The intent of this review was to ensure that the various highways with the Expressway classification are still appropriate.
During the fall of 2012, ODOT Regional staff led a process to review each of the State Highway Expressway segments along with the affected local jurisdictions. The result of this process is a list of recommended actions for consideration by the Oregon Transportation Commission. The recommendations include a number of segments or portions of segments to have the Expressway designation removed. There are also a few recommendations to add new segments that now function as Expressways. These recommendations are provided below. To aid in viewing these recommended changes, we have also provide a link to a GIS tool that you can use to view these changes, which is provided below.
ODOT has officially begun the public review phase of this work and is very interested in your comments and perspectives to these changes. You can provide comments to Nancy Murphy.
The Oregon Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at their March 20th, 2013 meeting in Salem, Oregon. Any comments received will be shared with the commission at this meeting.
April 17, 2013 OTC Packet