Transportation planning strives for Oregonians to travel and meet their employment, educational, recreational, shopping, and other needs in safe, easy, healthy, affordable, and enjoyable ways. Goal 12 of the statewide planning goals, along with the Transportation Planning Rules (TPR) provided in OAR 660-012, provide local jurisdictions guidance on transportation planning in Oregon. The TPR applies specifications of other statewide planning goals related to transportation planning in order to plan and develop transportation facilities and services in close coordination with urban and rural development.
People need to get around their communities using a safe, efficient, and welcoming system of roads, bikeways, and walkways. Transportation plans help communities implement a vision to meet their diverse transportation needs. Transportation System Plans assess how people move through the area and identify key goals for improvement. The plans include strategies and policies to improve the community's transportation infrastructure and diverse transportation options.
Local Transportation System Plans
Cities build Transportation System Plans (TSPs) to address local transportation needs and challenges. These plans are guided by both the statewide Oregon Transportation Plan and the applicable Regional Transportation Plan.
DLCD can assist local planners by assessing your jurisdiction’s TSP. This assessment can help lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive TSP update. The larger update can be supported through a grant offered through the
Transportation Growth Management Program. Our staff can also help you find solutions to transportation issues that may not require a TSP update.
Go to the
TSP Assessment page for more information.
Oregon Transportation Plan
The Oregon Transportation Plan identifies statewide transportation challenges and opportunities. It also lays out general policy strategies and goals that guide location-specific and mode-specific transportation plans.
The Oregon Transportation Plan is managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
When a city or county's proposed comprehensive plan amendment includes zone changes, the city or county must consider potential changes in traffic flow due to the rezoning. If the change affects traffic, the city or county must assess whether or not the transportation system planned in the TSP can handle the changes. If it cannot, then either the proposed amendment or the TSP must be updated to account for the anticipated changes.
DLCD's
FAQ on this requirement explains why this is necessary, how cities and counties have handled it in the past, and provides answers to other common questions.
Some cities may choose to highlight transportation choices in certain areas where new development is desired. A Multimodal Mixed-Use Area (MMA) allows cities to select specific areas for future development without addressing the potential congestion caused by the development. These areas are specially designated to encourage walking, biking, or public transit. For example, buildings can be more densely built as there are fewer off-street parking requirements.
Read our guide on designating MMAs, what the designation means, and how to make it happen in your community.
MMA Information & Guidance for Local Governments
Some cities may choose to highlight transportation choices in certain areas where new development is desired. A Multimodal Mixed-Use Area (MMA) allows cities to select specific areas for future development without addressing the potential congestion caused by the development. These areas are specially designated to encourage walking, biking, or public transit. For example, buildings can be more densely built as there are fewer off-street parking requirements.
Read our guide on designating MMAs, what the designation means, and how to make it happen in your community.
MMA Information & Guidance for Local Governments
Oregon's Transportation and Growth Management Program (TGM) supports community efforts to expand transportation choices for people. Linking land use and transportation planning, TGM works in partnership with local governments to create vibrant, livable places in which people can walk, bike, take transit and drive where they want to go. TGM is a partnership between DLCD and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). See the
TGM Program page for more information.
The Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative (OSTI) is a statewide effort to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from transportation while creating healthier, more livable communities and greater economic opportunity. OSTI must address how the energy landscape is changing, how we will continue to power transportation and sustain a strong economy. OSTI is led by several state agencies, including DLCD and ODOT. Take a look at the
OSTI web page to learn more.