Transportation Planning

The State of Oregon requires cities and counties to have 20-year plans for their major roads as well as other ways to travel such as air, bike, bus, and railroad.  The County’s Transportation System Plan identifies roadway segments and intersections that will need to be improved by 2030 based on future traffic volumes and current land use zoning.  The project list of the TSP prioritizes projects as high (needed within 0-5 years,) medium (6-10 years), or low (11-20 years).  Deschutes County Road Department uses the TSP to determine its capital improvement program (CIP), and system development charges (SDC). The County uses the SDCs collected on land use developments for improvements to intersections and roadway segments in the County’s network of arterials and collectors.  An example of an SDC-funded improvement is the roundabout at Powell Butte Highway/Neff-Alfalfa Market Roads.  Input from the public, population forecast, other local governments, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) guided the development of the TSP’s goals and policies as well as its project list.