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The Clackamas County Transit Development Plan (TDP) prioritizes areas for improved and increased transit throughout the county. With seven transit service providers in Clackamas County, there are still large areas of the county with no transit service, and existing service varies in frequency, access and connectivity. The TDP is being used to guide transit investments in the county.
- Plan vision: Provide guidance for an equitable, safe, convenient and connected transit network throughout Clackamas County that will support the health and well-being of Individuals, communities, the economy and the environment.
- Read the Transit Development Plan (2021)
Areas of Focus
The plan update focuses on three distinct parts of the county, each with their own unique needs. The areas are seen in the map below.
- Inside TriMet’s service district (gold area of the county)
- Includes most cities inside the Metro urban growth boundary (UGB), extending to Estacada; including a large portion of the rural area along Stafford Road
- Work to be done: detailed analysis and level of service information
- Unincorporated Clackamas County with no transit service (gray area of the county)
- Develop recommendations for how transit service providers can connect through these areas
- Work to be done: Review connections in areas outside the jurisdictions of current transit providers:
- Clackamas County with transit service from small providers (other colored areas of county)
- Develop recommendations for how transit service providers can connect multiple areas
- Work to be done: Coordinate with the small transit providers in the county:
- SMART (Wilsonville)
- CAT (Canby)
- SCTD (Molalla and surrounding area)
- Sandy Area Metro (Sandy)
Transit Service Providers in Clackamas County
- TriMet – northwestern portions of the county, with an extension to Estacada
- Sandy Area Metro (SAM) – Sandy
- Canby Area Transit (CAT) – Canby
- South Clackamas Transit District (SCTD) – Molalla
- South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) – Wilsonville
- Mt. Hood Express – Sandy to Timberline Lodge
- CCC Xpress Shuttle – Clackamas Community College (service to Oregon City and Harmony campuses from Clackamas Town Center MAX Station)
- #ClackCo Connects – Fare-free routes connecting locations in Clackamas County
Background
HB 2017-Keep Oregon Moving, created a new funding source for transit operations and capital expenditures, called the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF). In order to be eligible for STIF funds, agencies must have an adopted plan that identifies priority transit needs and investments. The Clackamas County Transit Development Plan (TDP) was born out of this need. Combining the needs of the small city providers in the county with the needs of the unincorporated areas between cities, the TDP is a single document that addresses investments in connections between service provider areas, and identifies ways in which coordination and cooperation can be improved throughout the Study Area. The TDP, which was formally adopted in 2021, is guided by and aligns with Metro’s 2018 Service Enhancement Plans and the Regional Transit Strategy. The TDP also provides guidance on ways to make transit service a more viable option to choice riders, identifies the types of transit facilities needed to support transit connections, brings forward innovative ways to provide service in rural and suburban locations, and provides input into land use actions that support transit.
Project Objectives
- Assess the transit level-of-service to identify gaps in transit service and coverage;
- Assess the connections between transit and land use and identify potential actions to improve land use transit-supportiveness;
- Identify opportunities to meet the transportation/transit needs of vulnerable populations and to provide access to destinations that are important to vulnerable populations;
- Identify transit equity issues that exist for low-income households and identify connections to provide better access to employment and housing for transit dependent populations;
- Enhance coordination between transit service providers and provide guidance on seamless access to transit options regionally by evaluating technology integration and fare uniformity;
- Provide strategic guidance for service improvements that will address the findings in the above assessments and improve the integration between systems from a c ounty perspective;
- Address issues emerging from Metro’s 2018 Regional Transit Strategy, such as implementation of the enhanced transit concept, transit expansion and first/last mile connections;
- Integrate a range of transit options, such as shuttles, express service, vanpools, micro transit and Transportation Network Companies (i.e., Uber and Lyft);
- Identify priority transit service enhancements that can be integrated into future STIF plans and TriMet planning, and other planning work or funding opportunities; and
- Preserve the function of state highways by expanding regional public transit availability and reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road.
Impacts of the Plan
The plan set the stage for improved and increased transit throughout the county. Since its initial adoption in 2021, the plan has been used to guide transit investments in the county, including new services such as the Estacada Shuttle serving Clackamas Community College students traveling to Oregon City and the CCC Xpress Shuttle connecting Clackamas Town Center, Clackamas Community College’s Harmony campus, downtown Oregon City, and Clackamas Community College’s Oregon City campus.
2026-27 Transit Development Plan Update
What will the plan update do?
- Enhance coordination between transit service providers operating in Clackamas County;
- Develop goals and objectives for an integrated transit framework, including both transportation services and other types of transit;
- Identify gaps in transit service and coverage;
- Identify barriers to access to transit and strategies for increasing transit ridership;
- Identify opportunities to meet transportation and transit needs for people who depend on transit including better access to employment and housing;
- Identify strategies to ensure that transit in Clackamas County is efficient and accessible;
- Provide recommendations related to the various types of transit:
- Fixed route transit – Recommended future investments to support ridership, service and coverage;
- Shuttles - Integrate findings from recent regional studies as well as developing Clackamas County-specific guidance for shuttle or micro-transit services;
- Transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities;
- Other transit options, such as vanpools, microtransit and on-demand rideshare apps;
- Identify priority transit service enhancements that can be integrated into future state and regional planning, and other planning work or funding opportunities; and
- Identify needed infrastructure investments, such as mobility hubs that are needed to support transit usage.
What’s new for this update?
- Focused transportation services needs assessment: The plan will include analysis of the needs and opportunities for transportation services that assist individuals with disabilities, older adults, and cost-burdened households.
- Board strategic goal: The Board of County Commissioners has identified a strategic goal for transit: “By 2027, the County will provide a plan for what efficient, accessible and affordable transit looks like in Clackamas County.” The TDP update will work to address this goal.
- Recent transit service adjustments: Adjustments to TriMet service in 2025 and 2026 will result in additional service gaps in the county. The TDP update will identify and explore these gaps and consider potential alternatives to backfill this service.
Timeline
Project will begin in January 2027. We expect the project to be complete by April 2028.
Get involved
There will be multiple ways to participate in the Transit Development Plan update:
Project Advisory Committee (applications to open in Spring 2027)
The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet regularly to review project information and plans, make suggestions, and recommend the final Transit Development Plan to the Board of County Commissioners. The committee will include agency stakeholders and residents from throughout the county, from residents who ride transit to transit agency representatives to members of community planning organizations. Meetings will be open to the public and include time for public comment.
Survey
In 2027, an online survey will gather feedback to help identify issues and service gaps for transit riders in the county and direct the plan development.
Focus Groups
Feedback from focus groups and small-group discussions will examine certain transit-related issues and gaps more closely.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on TDP update efforts:
- Join our email interest list below. You’ll receive updates about opportunities to be involved as well as news about key project milestones throughout the process.
- Contact Anthony De Simone, adesimone@clackamas.us, 503-742-4511 or
- Visit this page to stay up-to-date on project process and opportunities to provide feedback.
