Page 11 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

Part 1 – Background

Part 1 provides information about why Washington County
has a TSP, how it is used, and the regulations and require-
ments that govern the plan’s contents. This section also
includes brief summaries of framework documents that
provide context or other information useful for the County’s
TSP; a summary of the existing transportation system and its
utilization, demographic trends, and forecasts for the year
2035; and a summary of the community input received dur-
ing the update of the TSP.

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
The transportation system serving Washington County
developed incrementally over time – starting with the routes
traveled by the Kalapuya people throughout western Oregon
hundreds of years ago. Early settlers built upon these routes,
bringing successive improvements to connect farms and for-
ests with local markets and beyond. Stagecoach routes and
plank roads gave way to railroads and paved roads. Automo-
biles now dominate the transportation system in Washington
County, supplemented with public transit and freight rail
facilities and services, and facilities for people walking and
biking. The County’s transportation system has been built
by multiple public agencies and private-sector transportation
providers. Much of the road/street network in Washington
County is characterized by “legacy” rural roads, linking local
street systems in communities in the County. Additional
roads have been built to serve suburban and urban growth in
the County; along with several large-scale highway and tran-
sit investments, including the MAX light rail transit line linking
Hillsboro and Beaverton with Portland (TriMet), and Highway
217 and Highway 26 (Oregon Department of Transportation).

Today the Washington County transportation system faces
many challenges. As the County has developed, traffic con-
gestion has increased on many roads and there has been
increased demand for alternatives to driving such as public
transit, bicycling, and walking. Many roads have not kept pace
with the increase in travel demand resulting from rapid growth
in population and employment in Washington County over the
past 20 years. Mobility and accessibility for people and goods
plays a significant role in the locational decisions of employ-
ers and residents, economic vitality, livability, safety, and the
natural environment.

PART 1: BACKGROUND 1
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016