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Transportation Engineering

Transportation Engineering

Transportation Engineering

5-year Transportation Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Clackamas County is responsible for maintaining the integrity and safety of over 1,400 miles of county roads, 186 bridges, and nearly 200 traffic signals. This transportation system represents a $1 billion investment that must be continually maintained and improved to accommodate increasing demands.

The Transportation System Plan includes more than 300 capital transportation improvement projects needed over the next 20 years as defined through two years of public engagement.

The 5-Year Capital Improvement Program includes projects from the transportation system plan scheduled for construction between 2024–2028. These projects are either fully funded or have funds for preliminary planning and design. The capital improvement program includes schedules and funding sources for each project in the five-year plan (pages 9 – 15).

Projects can range from adding a sidewalk paving roads, upgrading traffic signals, adding turn lanes and even replacing bridges.

Of the 86 projects in the five-year capital improvement program estimated to cost approximately $220 million, about $16 million is funded through the Community Road Fund. These projects have been prioritized to improve safety and enhance capacity by upgrading roads, improving bridges and culverts, installing new signal systems and completing major repairs.

Sources of the projects include:

The plan outlines the county’s Transportation Equity Index and how the projects serve communities historically underserved or adversely impacted by the transportation system (pages 16 – 19).

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The Villages at Mt. Hood Pedestrian and Bikeway Implementation Plan

Plan overview

The project team, working with a Public Advisory Committee (PAC) and a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), analyzed current walking and bicycling conditions in order to:

  • Identify bicycle and pedestrian needs within The Villages at Mt. Hood
  • Develop a Safe Routes to School Plan for Welches Elementary and Middle School
  • Identify potential locations for additional or enhanced US 26 pedestrian crossings, including at-grade and grade-separated solutions, or enhancements to current crossings
  • Evaluate the feasibility of a multi-use path in the area

Funding

The County received a Transportation and Growth Management (TGM) grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create the Plan.

Safe Routes to Schools

As part of the Walk & Bike The Villages at Mt. Hood Plan, Clackamas County worked with community and school leaders to create a Safe Routes to School plan for Welches Elementary and Middle School. The plan examines conditions around the school and recommends solutions to improve safety and accessibility. The plan will create safer and more inviting opportunities for students and their families to walk and bicycle to school. Review the Safe Routes to School plan and Infrastructure projects plan.

Public participation

A 9-member Public Advisory Committee (PAC) was created to review materials and provide input and advice. The PAC met 3 times during the plan development and included community members and representatives from various groups, e.g. Sandy River Watershed Council, Rhododendron CPO, Mt. Hood Chamber, etc. An 8-member Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met 4 times and helped inform decisions related to traffic engineering, bicycle and pedestrian designs, etc. Public participation also included 2 open houses to give community members an opportunity to provide input on the Villages plan and recommended project solutions. About 29 to 39 people attended the first and second open house respectively. Attendees provided their feedback on such topics as pedestrian and bicycle needs, signage needs, traffic concerns, and recommended solutions and projects to improve access to transit and to multiple destinations including businesses, residences, Welches school, Post Office, etc. Public participation also included an online open house held for several weeks, news releases, articles in Citizen News, and postings to the project website. View the Community Outreach and Engagement Plan.

Walk & Bike The Villages at Mt. Hood Plan

Contact: Scott Hoelscher, Project Manager, scotthoe@clackamas.us, 503-742-4524

Updated: 6/8/17

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Roadway Standards

These Roadway Standards provide the criteria for design and construction of roadways, accesses, site development and integrated drainage facilities under the jurisdiction of Clackamas County. 

Clackamas County is interested in comments and suggestions for improvements to the Roadway Standards. Please contact us at engineering@clackamas.us or 503-742-4691 with suggestions or questions or to obtain the Standard Drawings in AutoCAD (dwg) format.

Roadway Standards Updated June 2020

Standard Drawings, updated June 2020

Associated Documents

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Checklists

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Glossary of Transportation Terms

Road Classifications

alley: an alley provides access to the rear of properties and may be public or private. Alleys should intersect local roads or connectors. Alleys are not for through traffic.

city streets: similar to County roads, except under the jurisdiction of a city.

collector: a road that is a principal carrier within neighborhoods or single land use areas. Collectors link neighborhoods with major activity centers, other neighborhoods and arterials and are generally not for through traffic. They carry low-to-moderate volumes of traffic at low-to-moderate speeds. New collectors should intersect minor arterials rather than major arterials. Examples:
Hill Road, Aldercrest Road, Howard's Mill Road

connector: a road that collects traffic from and distributes traffic to local streets within neighborhoods or industrial districts. Connectors are usually longer than local streets and carry low volumes of traffic at low speeds. Connectors primarily serve access and local circulation functions, and are not for through traffic. Traffic calming measures may be appropriate. A connector should connect to a collector or minor arterial. Examples: Oregon Trail Dr.; Sieben Creek Dr.

county roads: Public roads for which the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners has accepted maintenance responsibility.

functional classification: categorizing roads based on the type of service provided: freeway/expressway, major arterial, minor arterial, collector, connector or local road.

freeway/expressway: a highway that serves inter-regional and intra-regional trips, and carries heavy volumes of traffic at high speeds. Examples: I-205; the Milwaukie Expressway (Oregon Highway 224)

interstate highways: multi-lane federal highway that provides connections to major cities, regions of the state and other states. Interstate highways are major freight routes. Maintenance responsibilities belong to the Oregon Department of Transportation. There are two interstate highways in Clackamas County: I-5 and I-205.

jurisdictional classifications: a classification of roads based on ownership of the road.

local: a road designed to provide access to abutting property and to connect to higher order roads. New local roads should intersect connectors, collectors or, if necessary, minor arterials. Traffic calming measures may be appropriate. Local roads are inappropriate for through traffic.

major arterial: a road that primarily carries local and through traffic to and from destinations outside local communities; connects cities and rural centers, and carries moderate-to-heavy volumes of traffic at moderate-to-high speeds. Examples: Sunnyside Road, Boones Ferry Road

minor arterial: a road that primarily connects collectors to higher order roadways, and carries moderate volumes of traffic at moderate speeds. Examples: Oatfield Road, Beavercreek Road, Borland Road

private roads: roads owned by a private property owner. Public access and use is by permission of the property owner.

public roads: roads owned by the county or on a county easement that are not maintained by the county; maintenance responsibility lies with abutting property owners.

state highways: state-owned roads that provide the primary connections to larger urban areas, ports and major recreational areas that are not directly served by interstate highways. Maintenance responsibilities belong to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Examples in Clackamas County: Oregon Highway 213, Oregon Highway 224, Oregon Highway 99E

Design/Engineering Terms

capacity: the maximum rate at which persons or vehicles can be reasonably expected to traverse a point or uniform segment of a lane or roadway during a specified time period under prevailing roadway, traffic and control conditions; usually referred to as vehicles per hour or persons per hour. This is the standard used to determine when additional lanes need to be added.

centerline miles: miles of roadway measured without regard to the number of lanes or functional classification of the road.

design standards: those conditions that should be met when a new road is constructed or when a deficient section is improved. Standards include all relevant geometric and structural features required to provide a desired level of service over the life of the project —  generally 20 years beyond completion.

frontage road: a road that parallels the interstate to relieve traffic congestion caused by local trips.

interchange: a highway intersection allowing traffic to move freely from one road to another without crossing another lane of traffic.

level of service: a qualitative measure of traffic conditions generally described as speed and travel time, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort and convenience, and safety.

overpass: an elevated roadway that crosses over another thoroughfare.

right-of-way: the property for infrastructure including travel lanes, parking, bikeways, sidewalks, utilities, shoulders, etc.

Funding Terms

distribution formula: refers to the statutorily defined formula for allocating state motor fuel tax revenues to specific programs and entities.

system development charges: Fees collected when a permit for any new development is issued. These fees finance transportation capacity improvements, including stop lights, traffic signals, new lanes and new roads. These funds may not be used for maintenance.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF): Revenues generated by new growth within specified areas designated are urban renewal districts; used to construct capital improvements that solve transportation problems within the same areas.

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21): The 1998 federal transportation funding legislation that provided an emphasis on protecting the environment and reducing congestion, relying on the most efficient transportation mode, and providing increased flexibility to state and local governments on the use of federal funds.

Environmental Terms

Endangered Species Act (ESA): a 1973 act of Congress that seeks to protect various species of fish, wildlife and plants that have the potential of being rendered extinct as a consequence of growth without adequate conservation. The ESA is concerned with "species that are of aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, and scientific value to this nation and its people." Fourteen varieties of salmon and steelhead have been listed in this region. Once a species is listed, no one may "take" it (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in such conduct) without a permit. Federal agencies are required to ensure that any federal action, such as constructing a highway, is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or adversely modify critical habitat. Road projects that traverse critical habitat must be reviewed for their impacts on listed species.

in-water work period: a window of time in which construction is allowed within the banks of a stream or river, as specified by the ESA, when the water level is at its lowest and it is the least disruptive time for fish. Example: July 1– Sept. 30 is the in-water work period for Mt. Scott Creek.

riparian area: the banks of a river or stream.

Wetland: a lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, saturated with moisture. A natural wildlife habitat.

Maintenance Terms

chip seal: a sprayed-on application of an asphaltic emulsion, with a thin layer of aggregate spread over an existing surface. The emulsion improves or restores the waterproof condition of the old pavement surface and arrests any scuffing or raveling. The addition of a cover of aggregate over the sprayed-on emulsion restores and improves skid resistance.

cold mix: see Pugg Mix below.

contract overlays: work completed by private contractors when pavement rehabilitation is beyond routine maintenance. Rehabilitation activities include hot and cold recycling, structural overlays and reconstruction. Rehabilitation is intended to salvage, strengthen and modernize badly deteriorated pavement. Contract overlays and rehabilitation should provide for an additional 10–20 years of serviceability at reduced maintenance costs.

maintenance overlays: a process of applying hot asphaltic concrete to an average depth of 1 1/2 inches to create a new, smoother driving surface.

pavement structure: The combination of subbase, base, base course and surface course placed on a subgrade to support the traffic load and distribute it to the road bed.

pugg mix: Sometimes called cold mix, emulsified asphalt is mixed with aggregate at a site near the road to be resurfaced. Open-graded cold mix cures more slowly than hot asphaltic concrete and generally requires a load limit for a short period. A chip seal is often placed as a wearing surface. Where there may be turning movements or other special needs, the softer open-graded cold mix may be replaced with hot mix in critical sections.

reconstruction: Complete road reconstruction (i.e., remove and replace existing pavement) on essentially the present alignment for distance of at least 0.3 miles.

resurfacing, including shoulder improvements: adding an overlay in excess of 3/4 inch, plus appropriate improvements to shoulders such as adding material to bring them up to grade, widening or reconstructing shoulders.

routine maintenance: Includes all operating and maintenance activities that are conducted on a frequent and ongoing basis (e.g., cleaning and shaping drainage facilities, operating and replacing traffic control devices, maintaining roadside facilities, street sweeping, snow and ice control, grading unpaved roads, emergency pothole patching, and pavement joint sealing and skin patching).

Bridge Programs

bridge improvement: Major rehabilitation and strengthening and/or replacement of existing structures undertaken independently of improvements to the roadway.

bridge rehabilitation: Involves major structural modifications to an existing bridge including widening, substructure repair, superstructure strengthening, deck replacement or rehabilitation, and rail improvement.

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SE 90th Ave. Reconstruction

Total reconstruction of SE 90th Ave. roadway between SE Monterey Ave. and SE Causey Ave. due to poor roadway condition that requires ongoing maintenance. Includes improved lighting, storm drainage and ADA ramps. Street panels will be replaced at the SE Causey Ave. and SE 90th Ave. intersection including the crosswalk and the ADA ramp on the north side. 

Status

Construction complete

Updated: Oct. 22, 2021

Funding

  • Project estimate is $925,000
  • Funding is provided from County Road Fund, Water Environment Services funds and Lighting District funds.
Contact
Department Staff
Stan Monte
Construction Project Manager
503-742-4678
stanmon@clackamas.us
Jonathan Hangartner, PE
Project Manager
503-742-4649
jhangartner@clackamas.us

 

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Torbank Rd (River Rd – Trolley Trail) Sidewalks

Project description: Clackamas County has bicycle/pedestrian funds to enhance sidewalk facilities along SE Torbank Road in Oak Grove between River Road and the Trolley Trail. Most of the street has no sidewalks needed to provide safe routes for students, traveling to and from home and Oak Grove Elementary and other area schools. These pedestrian improvements will provide an important connection to an Essential Pedestrian Network and an existing sidewalk along the school’s frontage. Stormwater facilities will also be a part of this project, as well as paving from River Road to Oak Grove Elementary.

Updated: 12/3/19

Status: Completed

Contact: Jonathan Hangartner, PE, Project Manager, jhangartner@clackamas.us, 503-742-4649

Funding:

  • Project estimate is $622,000
  • Funding is provided from Clackamas County Road Funds and fees charged to developers.
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System Development Charges (SDC)

Transportation System Development Charges (TSDC)

Updated December 10, 2020

County Code, Section 11.03.030(J), states, "The Construction Cost Index shall be used by County staff to adjust the TSDC Rate Schedule each fiscal year, unless it is otherwise adjusted by the Board based on adoption of an updated Methodology or TSDC Capital Project List.

All Clackamas County TSDCs increased by 0.9498% effective January 1, 2021. The rates apply to building permits submitted on, or after, January 1, 2021. To view the current fees, please click here.

TSDCs are one-time fees assessed on new or expanded developments in unincorporated Clackamas County based on the number of vehicle trips a particular land use generates. The fees are set to cover the cost of transportation facilities needed to serve the new or expanded development and the people who will occupy or use the development.

TSDCs in unincorporated Clackamas County

Overview

A TSDC can be included in the final calculation of building permit fees for residential and commercial projects, if applicable.

  • A TSDC is included in the final calculation of building permit fees for commercial projects.
  • Any new single-family residence, accessory dwelling unit or manufactured home is assessed a TSDC.
  • Replacement dwellings are not charged a TSDC. County staff may require a replacement dwelling agreement to confirm the prior residence.
  • Residential accessory structures (garages, shops, etc.) are not charged a TSDC.
  • A guest home, as defined by ordinance, is not assessed a TSDC.

For more information, contact Wendi Coryell at wendicor@clackamas.us, 503-742-4657 or in Transportation Engineering on the third floor of the Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045.

Residential permits

TSDCs for new or expanded residential dwellings are as follows:

Type of developmentTSDC per unit
Apartment$3,237/dwelling unit
Mobile Home in Park$2,406/space
Condo/Duplex/Triplex/Quadplex/Townhouse$2,802/dwelling unit
Small Accessory Dwelling Unit
(200–449 square feet)		$1,414/ dwelling unit
Large Accessory Dwelling Unit
(450–900 square feet)		$2,829/ dwelling unit
Small Detached Single-Family Home
(dwelling units 1,699 square feet or less)		$4,053/dwelling unit
Medium Detached Single-Family Home
(dwelling units 1,700–3,000 square feet)		$4,622/dwelling unit
Large Detached Single-Family Home
(dwelling units more than 3,000 square feet)		$4,886/ dwelling unit

Commercial permits/statement of use

All commercial permits (including new uses, change of occupancy and tenant improvements) must include a completed Statement of Use form to be reviewed by the Engineering Division before the permit is issued so that any applicable TSDC rate can be determined. TSDC rates vary depending on the use of the structure. This form is needed to clarify the type of development and past use of the space.

The Statement of Use form must be completed in full and returned to the Engineering Division prior to permit issuance:

  • by email to Wendi Coryell at wendicor@clackamas.us
  • in person or by mail to the third floor permits lobby in the Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045.

Parks System Development Charges (PSDC)

Parks System Development Charges are one-time fees charged to new development to help pay a portion of the costs to meet parks and recreation needs created by growth. PSDC fees are set by the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD) based on the specific impact a development inside the NCPRD boundaries is expected to have on the District's population and employment.

Park System Development Charge Informational Handout

Other Fees

Building Codes Fees
County Code, Appendix A – Fees
Engineering Fees
Estimate Fee Worksheet (Commercial)
Estimate Fee Worksheet (Residential)
Planning & Zoning Fees
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