Sunrise Corridor visioning emphasizes people‑centered design; county seeks phased funding and community coalition

Clackamas County staff told the Board of County Commissioners Feb. 11 that the Sunrise Corridor Community Visioning Project has shifted from an earlier large, grade‑separated freeway concept to a systems‑based, people‑centered approach that breaks improvements into phases and emphasizes safety, multimodal connections and local access improvements.

Jamie Stazney, the county project manager, said the current refinement plan retains phaseable transportation elements while adding neighborhood actions, open‑space restoration and economic‑development strategies. "This time, it's different," Stazney said. "The project that we're doing, this visioning project is about people and co‑creating a vision for the whole community."

Why it matters: The Sunrise Corridor area is a five‑square‑mile confluence of industrial employers, residential neighborhoods and regional freight routes. Changes proposed in the refinement plan would affect freight routing, local traffic patterns, pedestrian and bicycle connections, potential developable land and public‑space restoration.

What the plan proposes

Systems and phasing: Staff described a systems‑based design that includes an access‑limited through facility for pass‑through traffic, a "safety and local connections" roadway to serve local trips and an upgraded Highway 212 with safer pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The plan uses a "split diamond" interchange concept near Rock Creek to route through‑traffic away from a sensitive industrial and school area and reduce local traffic impacts.

Safety, multimodal and placemaking elements: The project team estimates new walk and bike infrastructure (several miles of sidewalks, bike lanes and shared‑use paths), improved bus stops and four enhanced transit routes, intersection improvements at six locations, and new areas of stormwater treatment and open space that staff say could unlock roughly 27 acres for public use and 16 acres for development opportunities.

Funding and next steps: The visioning project was funded in large part with a $4 million legislative appropriation for community visioning work. Staff said the refinement plan breaks work into smaller, fundable phases and that the county has applied for a Metro grant (about $15 million) for improvements near Rock Creek; staff also said they are pursuing local urban‑renewal and state funding opportunities. Dan Johnson, county transportation development director, noted that Sunrise is a state facility under Oregon Department of Transportation jurisdiction and that implementation will require coordination with ODOT, Metro and Happy Valley. A NEPA reevaluation and updates to the 2010 record of decision are the likely federal permitting path if the refined approach moves into design.

Community engagement and coalition: County staff described three rounds of public engagement and said turnout was strong; staff hosted in‑language focus groups and a January open house that drew high participation. The project team plans to stand up a Sunrise Community Coalition to support implementation, outreach and advocacy.

Board reaction: Commissioners emphasized the project’s long history and the need to secure funding and regional partners. Staff said they will bring the final refinement plan and the visioning recommendations back to the board in late spring for acceptance and continued coordination.

Ending: County staff said the refinement plan will be finalized after steering‑committee and technical‑advisory reviews and returned to the Board of County Commissioners for acceptance in May–June; no board vote occurred at Feb. 11 meeting.