Item A - Freight Rte Analysis - Laserfiche WebLink

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B. Balancing Interests in the 1999 Oregon Highway Plan The 1999 policies, along with amendments adopted in January 2004, carefully balance the interests of freight and other long-distance travelers with the interests of communities that the highway runs through. Mobility interests are served by the OHP freight routes and Expressways. OHP freight routes on Statewide Highways have higher mobility standards, that is, they allow less congestion. In urban areas, the mobility standard is .05 v/c higher on Statewide Freight Routes than on Statewide Non-Freight Routes. Expressways also have higher standards. Management plans are required for Special Transportation Areas (STAs) and Urban Business Areas (UBAs) on OHP and Regional freight routes in order to meet the needs of freight interests as well as the local community. Special Transportation Areas have lower mobility standards, allowing more congestion. iii. Implications and Significance of Oregon Highway Plan Freight Route Designation A. Implications The 1999 OHP policies were also examined for implications if additional routes are included into the existing system, especially if they are classified as Regional or District Highways. The following was identified: · The 1999 Highway Plan envisions freight routes as a subset of--having higher priority--than other NHS Statewide Highways and is used to guide investment and management decisions. · The roadway classification system is a hierarchy from Statewide to Regional to District. The management objective of each is different and this is highlighted below. Additions of Regional and District Highways to the State Highway Freight System could undermine the hierarchy of the classification system which is also used to guide management and investment decisions. o The management objective of State Highways is to provide safe and efficient, high-speed, continuous-flow operation. o The management objective of Regional Highways is to provide safe and efficient, high-speed, continuous-flow operation in rural areas and moderate to high-speed operations in urban and urbanizing areas. A secondary function is to serve land uses in the vicinity of these highways. o The management objective of District Highways is to provide for safe and efficient, moderate to high-speed continuous-flow operation in rural areas reflecting the surrounding environment and moderate to low-speed operation in urban and urbanizing areas for traffic flow and for pedestrian and bicycle movements. · If Regional and District Highways are included in the State Highway Freight System, either the highway mobility standards should be changed to reflect the additions or those routes will not enjoy one of the benefits of being OHP freight routes. If the standards are changed, local plan amendments and zone changes will be held to a higher standard of review for mobility standards. · Any investment strategy for OHP freight routes could be diluted with too expansive a system that does not clearly articulate a classification system that guides ODOT priorities for system investment and management. Funding limitations, of necessity, require the department to prioritize investment opportunities and needs. DRAFT September 1, 2004 3