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Tualatin council adopts 2045 Transportation System Plan, prioritizing active transportation and updated cross-sections
Summary
The Tualatin City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 1451-25, approving the city's 2045 Transportation System Plan. The plan lists 113 projects, prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle investments, updates street cross-sections and moves a controversial intersection project to the unconstrained list for later study.
The Tualatin City Council voted unanimously to adopt the city's 2045 Transportation System Plan (TSP) and related amendments to the comprehensive plan and development code, approving Ordinance 1451-25 in a roll-call vote after a public hearing.
The ordinance updates the city's long-range transportation policy and project list to 2045. City staff and the plan's consultant told the council the update grew out of an extended public-engagement process and aligns local goals with new state requirements addressing multimodal travel and greenhouse-gas reduction. Staff said the plan includes a financially constrained project list the city can reasonably fund over the plan horizon, plus additional unconstrained projects for future consideration.
Erin (staff presenter) and Mike McCarthy, the city engineer, described how the plan prioritizes active transportation: roughly half of the identified projects support pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The plan includes 113 proposed projects across modes, an updated functional-classification map and revised street cross-sections that allow narrower travel lanes and wider planter strips to support tree growth and slower vehicle speeds. For residential streets, the code now offers three cross-section options, including a 28-foot option with parking on one side and a 20-foot option with no on-street parking where appropriate.
Council members and public commenters discussed a high-profile potential grade-separation project at the intersection of Boones Ferry Road, Twelfth/Sherwood Road and the railroad; staff explained a large grade-separation concept remains on the unconstrained project list and that a smaller at-grade intersection-improvement option remains on the constrained list. Nancy (a citizen advisory committee member) and another resident who spoke in favor told the council they supported the plan while urging caution about major grade separations that could create local barriers.
After public testimony the council moved to first and second readings by title and then to adoption. The final vote to adopt Ordinance 1451-25 was unanimous. The roll-call vote recorded the following positions: Councilor Sacco — aye; Councilor Hillier — aye; Councilor Reyes — aye; Councilor Gonzales — aye; Councilor Brooks — aye; Council President Pratt — aye. The ordinance number and legislative references read during the meeting were Ordinance 1451-25 with plan/amendment codes PTA 25-001 and PMA 25-001.
Why this matters: The 2045 TSP sets the city's project priorities for the next two decades and is the transportation element of Tualatin’s comprehensive plan. It guides which projects the city will pursue for grant funding and internal capital planning and reflects a policy shift toward multimodal street design and walkable neighborhoods.
What to watch next: Staff said adoption is followed by a detailed project prioritization and funding strategy; the city will bring project-level prioritization into its capital improvement planning and seek funding as appropriate. The council also asked staff to provide more detail on funding allocation within the portion of local funding associated with the TSP.
Ending: With ordinance adoption, Tualatin has a new 20-year transportation roadmap that emphasizes walking, biking and street-tree-friendly designs while retaining a menu of larger future investments for later study and funding.
