Page 36 - FY Annual Report 2017-18

VISIT GETUSTHERE.ORG —
A COMMUNICATION PARTNERSHIP

To help travelers navigate the construction areas
and detours, Washington County, Willamette Water
Supply Program, Clean Water Services and the city
of Tigard have partnered to create a one-stop
website: GetUsThere.org.

175th Avenue The website, launched in May 2017, includes
a mobile-friendly, interactive map of all projects—
both existing and future. It also includes a project
list in text/table form.
Roy Rogers Road area projects: “Though we are all working to minimize the

CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIPS SAVE MONEY, REDUCE INCONVENIENCE inconvenience, we understand that Roy Rogers-
area travel is challenging right now,” said Andrew
Singelakis, Director, LUT. “We encourage the
In FY 2017–18, orange traffic cones started popping up proactively address transportation needs before the growth. The County is issuing bonds to fund its
public to visit GetUsThere.org to get updates.”
in the area east of Roy Rogers Road. traffic arrives than it is to address it after the fact.” portion of the improvements—about $93 million,
two-thirds of the estimated $140 million total.
While those traffic cones signal “road construction” to Washington County is responsible for seven of the 13 The bonds will be paid off by leveraging revenue
travelers, they also signal “partnerships,” as Washington projects in the area. Two projects on 175th Avenue—a growth from the County’s Major Streets Transpor-
County and other agencies collaborate to complete 13 roundabout at the Kemmer Road intersection and a wid- tation Improvement Program (MSTIP).
projects in the area. ening project between Scholls Ferry Road and Alvord
Lane—started in FY 2017–18. These projects, and the “This partnership is the funding portion of our
The construction projects are fueled by development, Roy Rogers Road widening project, which started in proactive approach to address the road improve-
which is expected to generate significantly more traffic October 2018, are funded by the County’s MSTIP Bond- ments before development generates addi-
in coming years.
ing Cost-Sharing Program. tional traffic,” said Andrew Singelakis, LUT Direc-
“Washington County and all our partners are trying to The cost-sharing program was developed in partner- tor. “While the current construction impacts are
get these roads and water and sewer lines improved ship with the cities of Hillsboro, Tigard and Beaverton significant, those impacts would be worse if
before the development is completed,” said Russ to fund improvements to existing roads—like 175th and we delayed.”
Knoebel, Principal Engineer. “It’s more efficient to
Roy Rogers—in areas of anticipated high population Continued on page 35

33 | Partnering for the Future LUT Annual Report FY 2017–18 LUT Annual Report FY 2017–18 Partnering for the Future | 34