Washington County TSP 2035 • Existing Conditions and Future Needs Report **DRAFT 10/1/12** Chapter 5: Goods Movement and Aviation Washington County is often dubbed “the Economic Engine of Oregon.” Led by established industry clusters in high‐tech, clean tech and activewear, Washington County is home to over 232,000 jobs and the highest average weekly wages in Oregon.1 Critical to maintaining and raising this status is the efficient movement of goods by road, rail, and air. This chapter discusses existing conditions and future needs for roadway freight, freight rail, and air cargo. General aviation and pipelines are also covered. 5.1 ROADWAY FREIGHT CONNECTIONS This section deals primarily with the transport of freight on roadways because it is the only mode of freight travel over which Washington County has control. Although it is recognized that significant amounts of freight are also transported by rail and pipeline, and to a much lesser extent air, the planning for these modes is done by private companies or other government agencies. Rail, pipeline, and air modes are more specifically discussed as separate elements later in this chapter. Given the close connection between freight movement and economic growth, it is critically important for Washington County’s freight connections to provide efficient and reliable access for the transport of goods. To keep pace with regional trade volumes that are expected to double by 20352, the Washington County Transportation Plan must identify and address gaps and deficiencies in the freight network. The following section identifies key freight connections and summarizes existing freight needs. Also included are previous findings regarding freight system needs from the Metro Regional Transportation Plan, the Metro Regional Freight Plan, and the ODOT Portland Region Economic Corridor Evaluation Report. Freight is transported via intermodal, roadway, rail, air and marine facilities. Each of these modes provides an important element of goods movement in Washington County and the Portland Metro region. While all modes are important the majority of freight is moved via roadways, as approximately 67% of freight tonnage in the Portland Metropolitan area moved by truck in 20003. The following section identifies freight roadway designations and truck demand in Washington County. 5.1.1 Freight Route Destinations The Countywide Through‐truck route system is an important element of the plan. To provide for the most efficient transport of freight and to minimize impacts on residential neighborhoods, through‐truck routes are designated primarily on Arterial and Collector roads, However through‐truck route designations in this Plan encourage the use of these routes for through‐truck travel, but do not restrict through‐truck travel or local pickup and delivery by truck to these routes. The primary purpose of designating through‐truck routes in this plan is to ensure that any future improvements on these roads provide for the safe and efficient movement of trucks. 1 County Employment and Wages in Oregon – Fourth Quarter 2011, U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2012. 2 Regional Freight Plan, Metro, June 2010, pg. 32 3 2035 Regional Transportation Plan, Metro, June 2010, pg. 1‐17 1 Chapter 5 • Goods Movement and Aviation **DRAFT 10/1/12** 2035 Transportation System Plan Through-Truck Æ ¤£26 Ä 47 Routes Ä Æ Æ Ä 47 Æ 6 Ä Existing Route 6 26 ¤£ Proposed Route Æ Ä Study Area* Æ Ä 47 8 ¤£26 Rural Washington County Æ 8 Ä Æ Ä 26 Æ Ä ¤£ Ä Æ Æ 8 8 Ä 219 Æ Ä Æ Ä 10 Æ 47 217Ä 210 * Additional through-truck route Æ 10 Ä 5 designations to be determined Æ Ä § ¨¦ by further study. Ä Æ Æ Ä 210 Æ Ä 99 219 210 ¨¦§5 Æ 219Ä ¨¦§205 This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for, or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying Æ Ä purposes. Users of this information should review or consult the 99 primary data and information sources to ascertain the usability of the information. Care was taken in the mapping but there are no warranties for this product. However, notification of any errors will be ¯ appreciated. 1 inch represents 30,000 feet Department of Land Use and Transportation 0 15,000 30,000 Long Range Planning Division Feet J:\Workgroups\GISPlanning\TSP_2035\ExistingConditions\September2012\ThroughTruckRte_CoW.mxd Figure X October 01, 2012 Washington County TSP 2035 • Existing Conditions and Future Needs Report **DRAFT 10/1/12** Hazardous Materials The transport of hazardous materials is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 390‐397, and is not governed by local jurisdictions. Hazardous materials include a variety of substances, ranging from radioactive and medical wastes to gasoline. The transport of non‐ radioactive hazardous materials requires that vehicles transporting these materials comply with any routing designations of a state, be placarded or marked and not go through or near heavily populated areas, places where crowds are assembled, tunnels, narrow streets or alleys, except where there is no practicable alternative. The transport of radioactive materials is generally restricted to designated preferred routes on interstate highways, beltways or bypasses, where alternative routes have not been designated by a state. Transport of hazardous materials is permitted on all Through Truck Routes within the County, however the Vista Ridge tunnel (on US 26 near downtown Portland) is closed to such traffic. As a result, hazardous materials are frequently transported via Cornelius Pass Road. Regional Freight System Freight (i.e., truck) route designations are applied at the state, regional, county and local level. ODOT, Metro, Washington County as well as cities in Washington County each have their own designations that reflect the needs for transporting goods within and through the respective agency jurisdictions. Roadways on these routes should be designed, constructed, and maintained to support the efficient movement of freight. The 1999 Oregon Highway Plan identifies the State Highway Freight System. In Washington County, this designation is applied to all freeways (I‐5, US 26, and OR 217) as well as OR 99W and OR 6. At the regional level, Metro identifies a more‐detailed set of significant freight infrastructure. The Metro Regional Freight Network in Washington County is illustrated below. It identifies main roadways and road connectors for freight trucks, railroad lines, rail yards, marine facilities, and airports. The map also identifies major employment areas, industrial areas, and urban areas that are most likely to generate freight traffic. 3 Chapter 5 • Goods Movement and Aviation **DRAFT 10/1/12** 2035 Transportation System Plan Regional Æ ¤£26 Ä 47 Freight Network Ä Æ Æ Ä 47 Æ 6 Ä Main railroad lines 6 ¤£26 Branch railroad lines and spurs Ä Æ Æ Ä Main roadyway routes 47 8 ¤£26 Main roadway routes (proposed) Æ 8 Ä Road connectors Æ Ä 26 Æ Ä ¤£ Ä Æ Æ 8 8 Ä Road connectors (proposed) 219 Æ Ä Æ Ä 10 Æ 47 217Ä 210 Rail yards Æ 10 Ä 5 Marine facilities Æ Ä ¨¦§ Ä Æ Æ Ä 210 Æ Ä 99 219 Airports 210 ¨¦§5 Rural Washington County Æ 219Ä ¨¦§205 This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for, or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying Æ Ä purposes. Users of this information should review or consult the 99 primary data and information sources to ascertain the usability of the information. Care was taken in the mapping but there are no warranties for this product. However, notification of any errors will be ¯ appreciated. 1 inch represents 30,000 feet Department of Land Use and Transportation 0 15,000 30,000 Long Range Planning Division Feet J:\Workgroups\GISPlanning\TSP_2035\ExistingConditions\September2012\MetroFreight_CoW.mxd Figure X October 01, 2012 Washington County TSP 2035 • Existing Conditions and Future Needs Report **DRAFT 10/1/12** 5.1.2 Truck Demand Truck Counts Counts of truck traffic have been taken at various locations within Washington County. These provide an understanding of truck operation within the county, but only at the points where the counts are taken. Specific path information about truck trips is extremely limited. For operational purposes, FHWA classifies vehicles into the following 13 categories: Figure 5‐3: FHWA Vehicle Classifications Source: FHWA Washington County vehicle classification counts, use this classification scheme, and describe trucks as class 4 through 13. 5 Chapter 5 • Goods Movement and Aviation **DRAFT 10/1/12** Washington County TSP 2035 • Existing Conditions and Future Needs Report **DRAFT 10/1/12** Vehicle Classification Counts have been taken at most Washington County count stations over the last 5 years. Count locations with Highest Truck Volumes: • Tualatin‐Sherwood Rd, W of Boones Ferry (5,948 trucks in 2007, and 4,085 trucks in 2012)4 • Cornelius Pass Rd, N of Cornell (2,172 trucks in 2007, 2,359 trucks in 2012) • Glencoe Rd, S of Beach (1,916 trucks in 2007, and 1,647 trucks in 2012) • Murray Blvd, S of Allen (1,882 trucks in 2007, and 1,657 trucks in 2012) • 185th Ave, N of Cornell (1,725 trucks in 2007, and 1,730 trucks in 2012) • Roy Rogers Rd, S of Scholls Ferry (1,723 trucks in 2007, and 1,587 trucks in 2012) • Scholls Ferry Rd, W of Nimbus (1,718 trucks in 2007, and 1,742 trucks in 2012) Count locations with Highest Truck Percentages: • Clark Hill Rd, S of Farmington (24% in 2007, and 14% in 2012) • Grahams Ferry Rd, S of Cahalin St (22% in 2007, and 20% in 2012) • Roy Rd, N of Cornelius‐Schefflin (22% in 2007, and 27% in 2012) • Cipole Rd, N of Tualatin‐Sherwood (19% in 2007, and 17% in 2012) • Tonquin Rd, S of Oregon St (18% in 2007, and 12% in 2012) • Sellers Rd, S of Hwy.