Cascades West
Area Commission on Transportation

The Cascades West Area Commission on Transportation (CWACT) provides a forum for local governments to communicate and collaborate on local, regional, and state transportation issues. The CWACT is chartered by the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) as an advisory body and provides input, advice, and recommendations to the OTC and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

The CWACT operates under the following Mission Statement:

The concerns of the CWACT shall include issues that affect the regional transportation system and its links to areas beyond the region. The Commission recognizes that developing and improving the transportation system is a long-term process. Therefore, CWACT strives to build and sustain the consensus and support for project priorities, plans, and policies that benefit the region’s transportation system.

All local governments within Benton, Lincoln, and Linn Counties are eligible to appoint an elected representative to serve on the CWACT. In addition, each County may appoint to the CWACT two private parties representing business and other transportation interests. The ODOT Area Manager also serves as a member of the CWACT. In addition to these voting members, the CWACT has a number of non-voting ex officio members, see the CWACT’s Bylaws for additional details.

The CWACT schedules bi-monthly meetings. Decisions are generally made by consensus. The CWACT Executive and Technical Advisory Committees meet bi-monthly, or as needed, to formulate proposals and recommendations for consideration by the CWACT. The 2018 Chair is Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist. The 2017 Chair was Lincoln County Commissioner Doug Hunt.

An important role of the CWACT is to solicit public input on transportation needs and to provide recommendations to ODOT and the OTC on project priorities for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The CWACT provides input on state transportation plans, policies, and programs, and maintains an inventory of transportation system improvement needs.