OAR 660-012-0000
Purpose
(1)
This division implements Statewide Planning Goal 12 (Transportation) to provide and encourage a safe, convenient and economic transportation system. This division also implements provisions of other statewide planning goals related to transportation planning in order to plan and develop transportation facilities and services in close coordination with urban and rural development. The purpose of this division is to direct transportation planning in coordination with land use planning to:(a)
Promote the development of transportation systems adequate to serve statewide, regional and local transportation needs and the mobility needs of the transportation disadvantaged;(b)
Encourage and support the availability of a variety of transportation choices for moving people that balance vehicular use with other transportation modes, including walking, bicycling and transit in order to avoid principal reliance upon any one mode of transportation;(c)
Provide for safe and convenient vehicular, transit, pedestrian, and bicycle access and circulation;(d)
Facilitate the safe, efficient and economic flow of freight and other goods and services within regions and throughout the state through a variety of modes including road, air, rail and marine transportation;(e)
Protect existing and planned transportation facilities, corridors and sites for their identified functions;(f)
Provide for the construction and implementation of transportation facilities, improvements and services necessary to support acknowledged comprehensive plans;(g)
Identify how transportation facilities are provided on rural lands consistent with the goals;(h)
Ensure coordination among affected local governments and transportation service providers and consistency between state, regional and local transportation plans; and(i)
Ensure that changes to comprehensive plans are supported by adequate planned transportation facilities.(2)
In meeting the purposes described in section (1), coordinated land use and transportation plans should ensure that the planned transportation system supports a pattern of travel and land use in urban areas that will avoid the air pollution, traffic and livability problems faced by other large urban areas of the country through measures designed to increase transportation choices and make more efficient use of the existing transportation system.(3)
The extent of planning required by this division and the outcome of individual transportation plans will vary depending on community size, needs and circumstances. Generally, larger and faster growing communities and regions will need to prepare more comprehensive and detailed plans, while smaller communities and rural areas will have more general plans. For all communities, the mix of planned transportation facilities and services should be sufficient to ensure economic, sustainable and environmentally sound mobility and accessibility for all Oregonians. Coordinating land use and transportation planning will also complement efforts to meet other state and local objectives, including containing urban development, reducing the cost of public services, protecting farm and forest land, reducing air, water and noise pollution, conserving energy and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.(a)
In all urban areas, coordinated land use and transportation plans are intended to provide safe and convenient vehicular circulation and to enhance, promote and facilitate safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle travel by planning a well-connected network of streets and supporting improvements for all travel modes.(b)
In urban areas that contain a population greater than 25,000 persons, coordinated land use and transportation plans are intended to improve livability and accessibility by promoting the provision of transit service where feasible and more efficient performance of existing transportation facilities through transportation system management and demand management measures.(c)
Within metropolitan areas, coordinated land use and transportation plans are intended to improve livability and accessibility by promoting changes in the transportation system and land use patterns. A key outcome of this effort is a reduction in reliance on single occupant automobile use, particularly during peak periods. To accomplish this outcome, this division promotes increased planning for alternative modes and street connectivity and encourages land use patterns throughout urban areas that make it more convenient for people to walk, bicycle, use transit, use automobile travel more efficiently, and drive less to meet their daily needs. The result of applying these portions of the division will vary within metropolitan areas. Some parts of urban areas, such as downtowns, pedestrian districts, transit-oriented developments and other mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly centers, will be highly convenient for a variety of modes, including walking, bicycling and transit, while others will be auto-oriented and include more modest measures to accommodate access and circulation by other modes.(4)
This division sets requirements for coordination among affected levels of government and transportation service providers for preparation, adoption, refinement, implementation and amendment of transportation system plans. Transportation system plans adopted pursuant to this division fulfill the requirements for public facilities required under ORS 197.712 (Commission duties)(2)(e), Goal 11 and chapter 660, division 11, as they relate to transportation facilities. The rules in this division are not intended to make local government determinations “land use decisions” under ORS 197.015 (Definitions for ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and ORS 197A.300 to 197A.325)(10). The rules recognize, however, that under existing statutory and case law, many determinations relating to the adoption and implementation of transportation plans will be land use decisions.
Source:
Rule 660-012-0000 — Purpose, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=660-012-0000.