Welcome to the Washington County Land Use & Transportation 4th Quarter 2024 Update - a newsletter for all things LUT!

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Happy New Year! The Farmington and River Roads Roundabout project is on schedule, despite heavy fall rains, and is open to all travelers.

Base paving and the north River Road connection were completed by Jan. 1.

We plan to do final paving, stripe the travel lanes, install a concrete center island and plant grass in the shoulders in time to fully open the roundabout on schedule in April.

The project is funded by the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP).

We’ve completed our Transit Development Plan (TDP) for FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 after gathering input through an online open house and from about 2,000 people at community events.

The TDP helps us make our transit funding decisions by identifying transit priorities for the next five years. The plan includes efforts to improve transit service throughout Washington County.  

Annual Report FY 2023-24: Working Together

Join Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation as we celebrate the accomplishments of our dedicated LUT employees, other County staff and our community partners by reviewing our data from FY 2023-24.

Through community and transportation planning, development review and permitting, and road engineering, construction and maintenance, our outstanding County employees and partners work together to keep our community safe, healthy, vibrant and thriving.

There's more ...

Landslide repair to continue through May

Our road crew members are prepped and ready to respond to wintery weather.

Staff had opportunities to learn or refamiliarize themselves with winter operations, like preparing plows and sanders and getting time behind the wheel. Crews also spend time driving our priority ice and snow control routes.

If Washington County gets hit by severe winter weather this year, crews will work around the clock in 12-hour shifts to help keep all travelers safe.

A policy outlining where and when roadside memorials are allowed went into effect for streets and roads in unincorporated Washington County this fall. 

The policy balances respecting the needs of loved ones following an incident with protecting safety in the right-of-way.

Roadside memorials are allowed up to 90 days after an incident if they follow our guidelines about where they are placed and what they are made of. Already-existing roadside memorials were allowed to remain an additional 90 days after the policy began.

Transportation News

The Century Boulevard Extension Project, connecting Main and Lois streets, is moving forward. Construction is expected to start this summer.

We are working with wildlife protection experts on environmental concerns. The project will include:

• Dark Sky-compliant LED streetlights that will not disturb nocturnal animals.
• Planting of at least 60 trees and shrubs once the construction is complete to replace the 47 trees - including street trees - that need to be removed for the project. 
• Planting of additional trees in front of Noble Woods Park in collaboration with Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department.
• Removal of the street trees starting in in February, which will minimize impacts to nesting birds.
• Mitigation of minimal wetland impacts within the existing drainage basin.

The project is funded by the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP).

Construction is starting on Banks intersection

Construction is starting on the Main Street (OR 47) Banks Road and Cedar Canyon Road intersection in the city of Banks. 

The project addresses growth needs as identified in the City of Banks Transportation System Plan. Work includes:

• Installing a traffic signal.
• Adding sidewalks along Main Street and Banks Road. 
• Installing a stormwater treatment pond and improved storm drains.
• Improving safety with 10 new or replacement street lights.

No road closures are planned. One lane will be closed to traffic intermittently from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays. Additional work will be scheduled on Saturdays, if needed. Construction will continue throughout the year. 

The project is expected to be completed in May 2026. It is funded by the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP).