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Commissioners continue 6-year transportation plan after farmers press for pullouts and equipment rules
Summary
Public Works presented the Franklin County 2027'2032 6-year Transportation Improvement Program, highlighting new all-weather work on Sage Moor Road and countywide safety turnouts; farmers urged standards for slow-vehicle pullouts and an ordinance limiting long equipment trains. The hearing was left open for more public input and staff follow-up.
Public Works staff presented Franklin County's proposed 6-year Transportation Improvement Program (2027'2032) at the June 24 meeting and explained that the first four years of the program are fiscally constrained and eligible for state or federal funding. Staff highlighted two additions to this year's plan: all-weather improvements on Sage Moor Road (Glade North to SR-395) and a countywide turnouts program to improve safety for slow-moving farm equipment.
Commissioners and staff discussed specific corridors (including the Columbia River/Taylor Flats/Clark intersection), sight-distance and right-of-way issues, and the difficulty of estimating contributions when only one leg of an intersection is county jurisdiction. Commissioners and the county engineer (Craig Edman) noted engineering constraints (right-of-way, compaction, shoulder width) and the need for federal funding on some corridors.
Several farmers and residents provided public testimony. Kyle Merrill and others said long strings of farm equipment (15'20 rigs) create hazardous conditions on two-lane roads and urged the county to adopt standards and enforcement for pullouts so passenger vehicles can pass safely. Commissioner Didier suggested exploring an ordinance limiting the number of pieces of equipment that may travel together (for example, no more than five), and the engineer said the county would research precedents and bring back a rough draft standard.
Because of outstanding questions about engineering standards, right-of-way and funding, the board left the public hearing open and continued the item to the next meeting to allow more public input and to meet metropolitan planning area deadlines (staff noted a July 1 filing deadline for STIP inclusion).
