Transportation System Plan Update

Transporation System Plan Open House Schedule

Overview

The transportation planning process being implemented in Oregon and Deschutes County is in accordance with the current federal rulemaking under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).  This Act establishes a decision-making framework and cooperative processes in the investment of federal transportation funding and the efficient operation of the transportation system.

The major elements of the County's transportation planning processes are described below:

Oregon Transportation Planning Rule (OAR 660-12)

Deschutes County 20-year Transportation System Plan

Deschutes County Major Roads Capital Improvement Plan (MRCIP)

Federal Transportation Planning Requirements:

Partner and assist with Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) 

Deschutes County Transportation System Plan (TSP)

In an effort to remain prepared for the progressive future of Deschutes County and to meet various legislative requirements, Deschutes County, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Deschutes County, has developed the   Deschutes County Transportation System Plan.   The plan analyzes the current land use, traffic patterns and operations of all transportation modes in the County and develops projections of the future land use, traffic patterns and mode operations to the year 2020. Based on these projections, recommendations have been prepared addressing the needed improvements to the existing transportation system.

Major Road Capital Improvement Program (MRCIP)

The County develops and administers a Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which is the County’s short-range (3-year) investment plan.  It prioritizes all transportation related projects within the constraints of federal funding to be received over that period. The CIP is updated by the County Road Department every year and included as a component of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).   The current official MRCIP for the year can be accessed on the County Road Department.

Federal Transportation Planning Requirements

The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962 (29CFR part 450) required that all urbanized areas having a population of 50,000 or more designate a single agency to administer federal transportation funds. The agencies that were established are called Metropolitan Planning Organizations. According to the Federal law, the activities of an MPO must provide a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process. The MPO has the primary role and responsibility in ensuring that the transportation planning process is being carried out in accordance with current Federal and State regulations.   Bend has the only MPO in Deschutes County.

The Bend MPO

Based on the results of the 2000 U.S. Census, the Bend Urbanized Area exceeded 50,000 in population. Pursuant to federal goals, a Coordinating Committee was formed including members of Deschutes County, the City of Bend and the State of Oregon Department of Transportation. The Coordinating Committee prepared the necessary intergovernmental agreement with each of the jurisdictions and outlined the governance and structure of the forming metropolitan planning organization. The Governor of Oregon then designated the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization on December 18, 2002.

The BMPO organizational structure was designed so that it operates as a separate entity from all of the participating jurisdictions so that no single entity dominates the organization’s decision-making processes. The Intergovernmental Agreement specifies that the BMPO Policy Board shall make no decisions without representation from all parties. These decisions are made by consensus.

The Policy Board was established to guide the BMPO organization. The current Policy Board membership is:

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization is staffed by:

Tyler Deke, BMPO Manager

tdeke@ci.bend.or.us

(ph) 541-693-2113

Jovi Meyers, Program Technician

jmeyers@ci.bend.or.us

(ph) 541-693-2122