How to Update a TSP
A TSP can be prepared in different ways, but there are four phases that are always followed:
This TSP Guidelines site provides information on how to complete these four phases to successfully create or update a TSP for your community. The TSP Guidelines are based primarily on requirements and recommendations from the Transportation Planning Rule, or TPR (OAR 660-012), but they also incorporate the current best practices in long-range planning of a transportation system.
Requirements from the TPR will be designated with the word shall in the TSP Guidelines. Recommendations from the TPR or from current best practices are shown as either a should or a could in the TSP Guidelines. Although these TSP Guidelines are meant to support anyone preparing a TSP, it is recommended that those working on a TSP have a basic understanding of the TPR as well.
While the TSP Guidelines document the requirements and recommendations for preparing a TSP, they do not cover specific analysis procedures that may be used to meet those requirements. To review the Oregon-specific guidance for completing analysis during the Prepare Phase of the TSP, you will need to review ODOT's Analysis Procedures Manual (APM). The analysis procedures used to meet each requirement may differ for each TSP based on size of the community, whether travel demand models are available, and/or other factors.
Why do TSP Guidelines Differ Between Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Areas?
The TPR was updated by the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) in 2022 and 2023 to implement the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) program. These updates only apply to cities and counties in metropolitan areas. As a result, as discussed in OAR 660-012-0011, there are sections of the TPR that apply statewide, within metropolitan areas, or within non-metropolitan areas. All cities are either subject to the rules for metropolitan areas or non-metropolitan areas, but not both. Counties may have different applicable rules in different parts of the county based on metropolitan area boundaries.
You will see differences throughout the TSP Guidelines site for how to prepare a TSP for a transportation system within metropolitan areas versus non-metropolitan areas, including the following key differences:
- Within metropolitan areas, jurisdictions with more than 5,000 residents should designate Climate Friendly Areas (CFAs) prior to scoping the TSP (the Metro 2040 Regional Centers serve as CFAs within the Portland Metropolitan Area). If CFAs are not designated before scoping the TSP, they must be adopted prior to TSP adoption. Additional land use and bicycle parking requirements may also need to be met as outlined in the TPR.
- Special consideration is needed to understand the requirements for metropolitan areas versus non-metropolitan areas when scoping the TSP as their requirements differ for the prepare, adopt, and implement phases as described below.
- Within metropolitan areas, a major equity analysis is required for TSP updates. Guidance on this work is under development by the Department of Land Conservation and Development and is expected in 2024.
- Requirements for documenting the existing conditions and determining existing needs differ between metropolitan areas and non-metropolitan areas, including major differences in the required inventory documentation.
- Within metropolitan areas, the funding review has more specific requirements.
- There are differing requirements for developing solutions for metropolitan areas versus non-metropolitan areas. For example, some roadway projects may be subject to an enhanced review process that requires consideration of alternatives.
- Within metropolitan areas, there are required prioritization factors that must be used when evaluating alternatives and prioritizing projects.
- Within metropolitan areas, the development of the financially constrained list must follow a specific set of steps and make significant progress toward reducing climate pollution.
- Within metropolitan areas, performance standards must be adopted that meet the TPR requirements
- Within metropolitan areas, performance tracking must be completed based on performance measures and targets that meet TPR requirements