Page 136 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING CONTEXT
State of Oregon
Active transportation is a critical component of transportation planning at all levels of government in Oregon. The Or-
egon Statewide Planning Goal 12 (Transportation) states, among other things, that a transportation plan must:
• Consider all modes of transportation,

• Avoid principal reliance on any one mode,
• Conserve energy, and
• Meet the needs of the transportation disadvantaged.

Mandates for active transportation are found explicitly and implicitly throughout other State of Oregon transportation
plans and policies, as summarized below.

• The Transportation Planning Rule (1991) requires local jurisdictions to include a bicycle/pedestrian
component in their transportation system plans, and to establish a network of walking and biking facilities
throughout the plan area.

• The Oregon Transportation Plan (2006) calls for a “balanced” transportation system and communities that
provide “transportation choices.”

• The Oregon Highway Plan (1999) requires state highways to accommodate alternative modes.
• The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (1995) calls for the integration of bicycle and pedestrian modes
into all transportation planning and design activities, and provides design guidelines for bicycle and pedes-
trian facilities.

ADOPTED TEXT ORS, OAR and the Oregon Transportation Plan establish that bicycle facilities are required on all Collector or
Complete Streets
higher classification roadways (except freeways) when those roads are constructed or reconstructed. Excep-
tions are provided where a bikeway is not safe, where cost is excessively disproportionate to need or where
there is an absence of need due to sparse population or other factors. Likewise these requirements include
constructing sidewalks along new urban streets and along existing urban streets when they are reconstruct-
ed. Roadways within Washington County are required to be consistent with these complete street regulations.
All projects are to be implemented in compliance with these and other applicable rules and regulations.

Metro
Metro’s 2014 Regional Transportation Plan relies heavily on active transportation modes to achieve regional land use
and transportation goals. RTP Goal 3 – Expand Transportation Choices – includes the following objectives:
• Achieve modal targets for increased walking, bicycling and use of transit (19 percent, 3 percent and 10
percent mode shares, respectively) and reduced reliance on automobile and drive alone trips;
• Reduce vehicle miles traveled per capita; and
• Provide affordable and equitable access to travel choices and serve the needs of all people and business-
es, including people with low income, children, elders, and people with disabilities, to connect with jobs,
education, services, recreation, social, and cultural activities.

The 2014 RTP designates preferred networks for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes across the region. In Washing-
ton County, the regional pedestrian network focuses on mixed-use corridors, existing and planned regional trails, and
pedestrian districts. The regional bicycle network includes many of these same corridors and trails, but adds “commu-
nity bikeways” that would take the form of lower-traffic bike boulevards. The regional transit network includes existing

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