Page 36 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

Plan strategies that address air quality and climate change focus on (1) reducing vehicle trips and trip
lengths by moving more trips to active (transit, walk and bike) modes, increasing shared ride trips and reduc-
ing travel demand through telecommuting and land use planning, and (2) increasing and encouraging the
use of fuel efficient and zero-emission vehicles.

Land and Water
Washington County is host to significant terrestrial and aquatic resources, including the Tualatin River and
its tributaries, a number of regionally-significant wetlands, some of the most productive agricultural lands in
Oregon and upland areas of oak savanna and Douglas-fir forest. The value of these is multi-faceted: providing
fish and wildlife habitat, filtering and cooling runoff, cleaning the air and adding unquantifiable aesthetic and
economic value.

Washington County’s Community Development Code Article VII specifically addresses the impacts of trans-
portation projects on land and water resources, as well as other resources including cultural, visual and
recreational resources. Transportation project applicants must describe anticipated impacts on the natural,
built, and planned environment, and propose mitigation measures. Land and water resources in Washing-
ton County are documented in the county’s Rural/Natural Resource Plan and in mapping associated with
Metro’s Functional Plan Title 3 and Oregon’s Goal 5 (Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas and Open
Spaces).
ADOPTED TEXT tions pertaining to storm water and aquatic resources. In many areas of the county, this includes a permit
Transportation improvement projects must demonstrate compliance with applicable environmental regula-

from Clean Water Services. Elsewhere, appropriate city, regional, state and/or federal regulations apply; par-
ticularly when a project may disrupt a waterway, floodplain or wetland. State land use regulations also apply
in Exclusive Farm (State Goal 3) and Forest Districts (State Goal 4).

Plan strategies that address impacts to land and water resources focus on identifying natural resources
through existing planning and regulatory mechanisms, avoiding impacts to these resources if possible, and
– if impacts are unavoidable - reducing and mitigating them through context-sensitive design features and
enhancements.

Efficiency
The TSP addresses energy and resource conservation through vehicle fleet- based strategies such as encour-
aging the use of fuel-efficient or zero-emission vehicles and through the use of recycled or low-impact materi-
als in transportation projects.

Goal 4: Natural Environment
Create and maintain a transportation system that first avoids, then minimizes, then mitigates
impacts to the natural environment.

Objective 4�1 Reduce negative impacts of the transportation system on air quality and global climate�

• Strategy 4.1.1 Meet regional air pollutant and greenhouse gas reduction performance targets
by implementing the active transportation, travel demand management and accessibility strate-
gies in this plan.

26 PART 2: GENERAL TRANSPORTATION POLICIES FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016