Communities deserve great transportation infrastructure that is accessible, welcoming, and safe. A fundamental step in planning for this infrastructure is establishing a long-range transportation vision, often called a Transportation Element, Transportation Master Plan (TMP), or Transportation System Plan (TSP). These plans forecast mobility needs over the coming decades, based on anticipated growth, demographic shifts, and adopted policies. Recently, we have partnered with agencies in both Oregon and Washington who have made updates to their transportation plans.

Routinely, agencies at the state and local levels are actively updating these plans to respond to statutory deadlines or fundamental needs of a community’s infrastructure. As they do so, many have been shifting their focus from a more traditional emphasis on vehicle capacity and roadway expansion to planning systems that are oriented around people. This includes setting goals related to improving conditions for walking and biking, making transportation safer for all, removing barriers to equitable access, and minimizing the impact of the transportation sector on climate change.

How do we apply our knowledge and expertise to adapt these plans to be relevant to current challenges? How do we create plans that are forward compatible – setting the table for the latest advancements in vehicle technologies, rideshare and public transportation services? How do we ensure that today’s plans better serve everyone by providing more equitable access to all major destinations?

Below are four examples from the Pacific Northwest of communities that have created innovative transportation plans:

Tigard, Oregon

With key themes like “completing our streets to serve everyone” and “breaking barriers with Oregon-217 crossings” the Tigard TSP shifted the city’s focus from widened roadways to more connected, accessible streets. This TSP is literally paving the way for a renewed capital focus and much more multimodal system development charge program. Learn more.

Kent, Washington

Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Kent kept its foot on the accelerator in developing an inclusive, equity-first TMP that shifts capital investment decisions to explicitly consider how traditionally underserved communities would benefit, to meaningfully involve these community members, and track progress towards the City’s equity goals over time. Learn more.

Issaquah, Washington

In 2020, the city used its Mobility Master Plan as a platform to dramatically shift the way it evaluates and prioritizes projects and, as a result, has revised its transportation trajectory. While historically a sleepy suburb of Seattle, Issaquah is proactively planning for change, including embracing transformation in Central Issaquah with the promise of a robust transportation system that integrates light rail, electrification, and flexible, shared modes. Learn more.

Bellevue, Washington

What you measure is what you get, and, in response, Bellevue is measuring its transportation system differently. Using its Mobility Implementation Plan to shift from vehicle-oriented metrics like intersection level of service to multimodal metrics like comfort, safety, and system completeness, Bellevue is creating a more inclusive vision for transportation that will benefit its changing community for decades to come. Learn more.

“Amazing. Fehr & Peers is able to pivot and respond, no matter what comes up.”

City of Kent

“Responsive, effective, and easy to work with.”

City of Issaquah

With many cities approaching the next renewal cycle for their long-range transportation plans, it could be the right time to evaluate needs versus wants and opportunities where a shift in focus and funding could help align projects to have greater impacts on community goals.