Page 21 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

The TSP responds to the UGB and Urban and Rural Reserve designations by focusing on transportation improvements
that accommodate growth within the existing adopted UGB. It is assumed that the land within the Rural Reserves will
not develop with urban uses within the planning horizon. For travel demand forecasting purposes, it was assumed that
by 2035 additional areas within the current UGB will have been developed; infill development and re-development will
have occurred in existing centers, corridors, and other appropriate locations in the urban area, and that the Urban Re-
serves will have been partially developed consistent with Metro’s land use forecast assumptions.

Population and Employment Trends in Washington County
As indicated in Figure 1-3, Washington County has grown considerably during the last 40 years. Since 1970 the popula-
tion within Washington County has increased by 71 percent, from 311,544 people to 532,620 people. Between 2000
and 2010 Washington County gained more than 87,000 new residents, a 20 percent increase. Over the past 40 years
Washington County employment increased by 29 percent, from 180,302 jobs to 232,019 jobs. Between 2005 and
2010 Washington County employment actually decreased 22 percent, from 284,000 jobs to 232,000 jobs, as a result
of the national recession. Job figures have since rebounded.

Washington County’s dramatic growth rate during the past 40 years is expected to slow down in the future, but continue
above the national average. By the year 2035, Washington County’s population is projected to increase 42 percent to
758,500 people. The projected average annual growth is approximately 1.4 percent per year for the 25-year period,
which is down significantly from the 2.8 percent annual average growth rate of the preceding 25 years.

Over the long term, Washington County is expected to continue to gain jobs at a relatively rapid pace with employ-
ment increasing at a faster rate than population. By 2035 Washington County employment is projected to increase to
382,000 jobs – 150,000 jobs above 2010 employment and 100,000 jobs above 2005 employment. The forecasted av-
erage annual employment growth is approximately 2.0 percent per year for the 25-year period 2010-2035, down slightly
from the 2.1 percent annual average employment growth rate of the preceding 25 years (1985-2010).

Figure 1-3: Washington County Population and Employment Trends – 1970-2040

PART 1: BACKGROUND 11
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016