The Oregon Statewide Model integrates the dynamic interaction between Oregon’s economy, land use, and transportation systems into one unified modeling tool. To address the complexity and challenges associated with the dynamic interaction, the Statewide Model is made up of eight sub-models:
- Economic Model: determines the growth of the state’s economy,
- Population Synthesizer,
- Location Model: allocates business productions and transactions,
- Aggregate Land Development – identifies land availability,
- Person travel,
- Commercial goods transport,
- External goods transport, and
- Transport Model: allocates trips to routes.
The model facilitates analysis of complex economic, land use, and transportation interactions. This tool supports decision makers when considering policy and transportation alternatives. Examples of analysis using this modeling tool include:
- Modeling a new north-south freeway in Eastern Oregon to evaluate whether population and traffic growth would be diverted from the Willamette Valley to the east side of the state. Modeling revealed a new freeway would not shift growth away from the Willamette Valley. This study was prompted by a legislative directive to ODOT to study the construction of such a freeway.
- Modeling the possible effects of a Newberg-Dundee bypass on inducing additional development in Yamhill County. The potential for induced growth resulting from the construction of the bypass has been a significant issue in the bypass planning process. The model was used successfully to evaluate the nature and general magnitude of induced growth effects. The results were very important to the land use exceptions process and subsequent court appeal.
- Modeling the economic effects of deteriorating bridges on the Oregon economy. The model was used to evaluate the economic effects of several approaches to the bridge problem, including no repairs and using load restrictions. Modeling revealed a program carefully staging the repairs of key bridges would provide 90% of the economic benefits of repairing all the bridges for nearly half the cost. This staging plan formed the basis of the Bridge Delivery Program funded by the Oregon Legislature.
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