Page 119 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

Roadway Freight Findings
Existing and Future Industrial Areas
Key industrial centers in Washington County are located in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard/SW 72nd, Tualatin/Sherwood,
and Wilsonville. “Regionally Significant Industrial Areas” with high growth potential are located in Hillsboro, Tualatin/
Sherwood, and Wilsonville. Mobility and reliability in accessing these locations should be improved, especially to the
regional freeway corridors.

Key Access Routes for Truck Movement
Cornelius Pass Road
Trucks traveling to the region’s ports often use Cornelius Pass Road to reach U.S. 30, where they either turn right to
reach Port of Portland terminals, or turn left to reach ports in St. Helens and Longview. Though Cornelius Pass Road
has some sharp curves, it is a designated freight route. Approximately 14 percent of the traffic on Cornelius Pass Road
is trucks. Cornelius Pass Road also serves as a hazardous materials route for cargo that cannot pass through the Vista
Ridge Tunnel. Germantown Road, though more direct for reaching Port of Portland terminals, is far less suitable for
large trucks due to sharp curves and steep grades. Despite this, trucks constitute five percent of the traffic on German-
town Road. Improved connections between the Washington County industrial areas and the river ports are needed; this
need is particularly important for transport of hazardous materials.

Tualatin-Sherwood Road
Tualatin-Sherwood Road has the
highest truck volume of any arterial
in Washington County, and is con-
gested during much of the day. The
railroad crossing at Boones Ferry
further affects freight traffic. Many of
the trucks using this road are access-
ing the industrial areas of Sherwood
and Tualatin, headed to/from Inter-
state 5 or Interstate 205. Travel time
along Tualatin-Sherwood Road is
extremely unreliable, creating a need
for improved freight reliability between
the industrial areas in Sherwood and
Tualatin, the Interstate system, and
the rest of the region. Tualatin-Sherwood Road

Gaps and Deficiencies
Washington County Truck Route designations generally reflect intuitive connections between economic activity areas
and regional highways, primarily using the arterial roadway system. In a capacity-constrained context the Truck Route
system may need to focus on identifying priority routes truck, facilities, and systems. The gaps and deficiencies most
often identified in previous studies for regional freight mobility in Washington County include:
• I-5 between I-84 and Wilsonville - grades and travel time reliability issues;
• U.S. 26 between I-405 and Brookwood Parkway – grades, travel time reliability issues, and hazardous
materials may not pass through the Vista Ridge Tunnel on Highway 26;
• Cornelius Pass Road - safety concerns; and

• Tualatin-Sherwood Road - reliability issues.

PART 3: TRANSPORTATION MODAL ELEMENTS 103
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016