Transportation
Completed
Plans and Projects
You will find previously completed transportation projects below. To view project details, please expand the content.
The Corvallis and Albany Area Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are two separate yet inextricably linked regions tied together by employment and residential development. However due to Oregon state land use regulations, the MPOs cannot address one of the biggest travel issues in the region—commuting between the two MPOs. With varying home prices and employment expansion, more than 10,000 people travel between the communities daily primarily in single occupancy vehicles. This project evaluated the regional multimodal connections on multiple scales to help local cities and counties plan across jurisdictions.
We evaluated pedestrian and bicycle networks on network completeness, network quality, and access to community destinations. While the historic core of both major cities in the MPO region are higher in completeness and quality, the edges of the MPO boundary and intercity connections are poor or non-existent. Additionally, while there are plenty of jobs and community destinations within the two MPOs, reaching them via low stress bicycle routes or connected sidewalks is challenging. Finally, if the fiscally constrained projects in both MPOs regional transportation plan were constructed, the network would be more complete.
OCWCOG’s Regional Park and Ride Plan (Plan) supports and advances Transportation Demand Management (TDM) in the Linn, Benton, and Lincoln County Region, and fosters a multi-modal transportation system, connecting communities, and local/regional transit.
View the Plan HERE.
Multiple local transportation planning documents throughout the OCWCOG Region have identified the need for additional park and ride sites to serve commuters and visitors. The Plan outlines a regional strategy for developing new lots to support a comprehensive park and ride system that serves travelers from our diverse and dispersed communities.
The Plan provides an overview of park and ride programs, and covers the existing conditions of the current park and ride lots in the Region. Survey results and stakeholder feedback provided a list of suggested locations for new lots and desired amenities. Implementation steps are suggested through a list of prioritization criteria, design guidance, and example processes from neighboring regions. Recommendations for park and ride program management is also provided, including data collection, public outreach, and marketing.
If you are interested in finding transportation options including, transit, carpool, or vanpool, visit the Get There Oregon website to connect to the Statewide trip planner and ridesharing database.
OCWCOG has spearheaded Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects in several communities in the Linn, Benton, and Lincoln County Region since 2013. SRTS is a national movement promoting bike and pedestrian safety, access, and education for elementary and middle school students. SRTS Action Plans that OCWCOG has helped develop include:
- Newport Intermediate School, Newport, 2014;
- Sweet Home Junior High, Sweet Home, 2015;
- Oceanlake Elementary, Lincoln City, 2015;
- Sweet Home School District / Oak Heights Elementary, Sweet Home, 2015; and
- Jefferson Elementary, Jefferson, 2018 (Albany Area Metropolitan Planning Organization).
OCWCOG received grant funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to support SRTS projects in Albany, Harrisburg, Jefferson, Lebanon, and Sweet Home through October 2019. The projects are being developed in collaboration with the participating schools and communities. Examples include mapping of bike and pedestrian routes, Walk and Bike to School Day group activities, “Bike Rodeos” featuring safety education and helmet fitting, and more.
Click HERE to access OCWCOG’s feature in the 2017 Oregon Safe Routes to School Annual Report.
Statewide Safe Routes to School resources and information:
OCWCOG received a grant to learn how to further involve older adults and people with disabilities in Lincoln County in transportation planning. Granted by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), OCWCOG staff conducted an online and paper survey. The survey asked a number of questions related to how engaged older adults and people with disabilities are currently, and how engaged they want to be, in transportation planning.
The end result was a report which includes best practices to share with government officials on how to include typically under-represented populations through transportation planning and construction projects. Please click HERE to view the report.
Spring 2018 – The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced the recognition of Marys Peak to Pacific as a Scenic Byway, along with two other scenic byways, bringing the State’s total to 29. The Scenic Byway designation is an outcome of years of planning, community outreach, and research along the whole corridor and involving design, natural resource protection, economic development, safety, and community standards.
OCWCOG, working closely with a broad group of partners, assisted in the designation of State Highway 34 as the Marys Peak to Pacific Scenic Byway, connecting I-5 near Tangent to the Coast in Waldport. Our Linn, Benton, Lincoln County Region now boasts three Scenic Byways, as the Marys Peak to Pacific Scenic Byway joins the Over the Rivers and Through the Woods Byway, together crossing from the Cascades to the Coast, and the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway that runs from Washington to California through Lincoln County. Utilizing these Byways takes travelers through the heart of our forests and trails; through wine, food, and spirits country; through our innovation corridor; through our working landscapes; and to the beautiful and economically powerful Oregon Coast.
Moving forward, OCWCOG will be working with the ODOT and Travel Oregon on marketing and future route enhancements for the Region’s new Scenic Byway.
Contact Us
Nick Meltzer
nmeltzer@ocwcog.org
541-758-1911