Klamath County board adopts updated urban transportation plan

The Klamath County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt an updated Urban Transportation System Plan and to update references to that plan in the county Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code during a work session.

The update replaces the county nd city urban transportation element adopted in 2012 and identifies projects anticipated over the next 20 years. Matt, a presenter from Kittleston and Associates, said the update was intended "to stay compliant to the Oregon Transportation Planning Rule" and noted the plan reflects collaboration among the city, county and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), with ODOT identified as a funding partner.

The plan consolidates previously completed studies and adds new projects at intersection and corridor levels, task- and geometry-focused safety studies, and active-transportation projects. The consulting team and staff described the process as more than a year of work that included four advisory committee meetings with technical partners, two public open houses (including one in November), and hearings before the planning commission. The planning commission unanimously recommended approval in late January, and the city of Pine Falls held a separate adoption hearing in early March.

Dr. May, a county staff member, summarized the implementation step at the meeting: "The motion today is to ... simply adopt the urban area transportation plan update and update the references in the comprehensive plan and the land development code." He and other presenters said street-standard alignment between the city and county is being worked on but intentionally is not included in the TSP document; instead, the TSP will reference those standards for separate updates.

Presenters and commissioners acknowledged a substantial funding gap for the capital projects the plan lists over its 20-year horizon and said the county and its partners will need to pursue grants and other funding strategies. "A lot of very smart people did a lot of really good work to get this plan in place," the chair said before the board approved the motion by voice vote; all in favor signified by saying "aye," and the chair recorded the aye and declared the motion passed.

The formal motion on the record was to adopt the Urban Transportation Plan update and to update references to it in the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. The board approved that motion; staff and consultants said the next steps include coordinating referenced street standards updates and pursuing implementation funding.

The adoption closes the county's formal review steps described at the work session; presenters noted ongoing work will focus on aligning standards and pursuing funding for the projects the plan lists.