Crook County approves 2025 Transportation System Plan, adds Juniper Canyon widening and Powell Butte priorities

The Crook County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt ordinance 3-54, the 2025 Transportation System Plan (TSP), after the board’s second public hearing on Oct. 15, 2025. Staff and consultants presented updates that added Juniper Canyon widening alternatives, language addressing agricultural freight mobility and revised cost estimates provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

The plan, described by Community Development Director John Eisler and senior planner Katie McDonald, is a 20-year planning document meant to set long-term priorities for safety and mobility projects. Consultant Ryan Farncomb said the county added three alternatives for Juniper Canyon (including widening the segment from Davis Loop to Highway 380) and incorporated ODOT’s updated cost assumptions, including a revised cost estimate of $6,000,000 for a Powell View Highway (Oregon 126) roundabout.

During the hearing, residents from Powell Butte and surrounding areas urged swift movement to funding and implementation. Melissa Pearson, a long-time Powell Butte resident and local organizer, said the Powell Butte Post Office/Highway 126 intersection is “the number one priority” identified in recent county outreach and pledged ongoing community support for project development. Gary Likens described lengthy wait times at local intersections and increased heavy-truck traffic from rock quarries that he said has made rural roads more dangerous. Applicant and longtime participant Craig Kilpatrick praised the planning process and urged the board to continue collaborative work on remaining rezones.

Resident Cherry Dugan questioned whether traffic studies fully capture local conditions, citing past crashes and local-school and daycare traffic patterns; staff and commissioners responded that including these projects in the TSP is a necessary step to qualify for state and federal funding and to get ODOT’s attention. Commissioners repeatedly framed the adoption as a prerequisite to pursuing grants and other funding mechanisms, such as system development charges.

Commissioner motioned, seconded, and the board voted to accept the planning commission’s recommendation and approve ordinance 3-54 and the 2025 TSP as presented. The board noted that this action is legislative and that additional project-level design, funding and environmental review will follow. The meeting record remains open until the close of the second hearing record as required for land-use actions.

The board’s approval places the Powell Butte priorities and Juniper Canyon widening on the county’s formal priority list, enabling staff to pursue grant opportunities and coordination with ODOT.