Page 13 - Wash Co First and Last Mile Background Report

TECHNICAL MEMO #1

2.0 Transportation Context

Washington County is home to a variety of transportation services in the Portland metro region.
Many of the more urban areas of the County are well connected by a variety of travel options,
but the vast majority of commuters and residents drive alone to work. The County—particularly
the urban areas—are rapidly growing with increasing numbers of employees and residents,
heightening the need for transportation options. This section details commute travel patterns,
followed by a summary of existing travel options—transit, biking, walking, and other services—
available in Washington County.

2.1 Commute Travel Patterns

Washington County is a critical economic generator for the state of Oregon. Home to over
600,000 people and nearly 300,000 jobs, the County attracts a large number of trips from
throughout the Portland metropolitan region and beyond. To date, driving alone has been the
primary mode of travel for the majority of residents and employees in the County. As growth
proceeds in the coming decades, congestion on key thoroughfares like US 26 will worsen if
current trends continue, presenting an opportunity for increasing transit ridership.
Figure 2-1 illustrates the work locations for residents who work in Washington, Multnomah,
Clackamas, and Clark Counties. Metro recently conducted a regional snapshot of transportation,
which revealed that the number of Washington County working residents (230,000) who work in
the County (52 percent) and who work outside the County (48 percent) is almost evenly split.
The largest portion of Washington County employees who live outside of the County commute
from Multnomah County.
Figure 2-1 Work Locations of Portland Metro Region Working Residents

FIRST AND LAST MILE
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