2045 TSP: Enhanced Review of Select Roadway Projects

Overview

As PBOT updates the 2045 Transportation System Plan (TSP), it must conduct "Enhanced Review" for some roadway projects that increase capacity for automobiles. This state-mandated review prompts local agencies like PBOT to explore whether alternative solutions could solve the problem without expanding roadways, while ensuring that governing bodies have the information they need to make well-informed decisions about roadway investments. 

Explore more below to learn about the Enhanced Review process, the projects PBOT is reviewing as part of the 2045 TSP update, public involvement regarding these projects, and the work completed so far.

What is Enhanced Review?

Oregon updated its transportation planning rules in 2022 through the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities program. These updates help align statewide long-range transportation planning with the state's climate goals. One important component is the Enhanced Review of Select Roadway Projects, which is required of cities and counties in metropolitan areas when they consider adding certain roadway projects to their Transportation System Plan (TSP).

Enhanced Review is required prior to the approval of capacity-increasing projects such as new or expanded arterials or interchanges, additional travel lanes, or new auxiliary lanes over a half mile in length. The required review is not a ban on these projects, but it is a structured process to make sure the project is necessary. During Enhanced Review, planners must explore other ways to solve the problems the project would address, including through pedestrian and bike improvements, transit investments, additional transportation options, and system pricing.

If a project is selected to be recommended for authorization in the Transportation System Plan, PBOT must also illustrate the potential induced demand in driving expected for 20 years in the future resulting from the project's construction. The team must also summarize the expected additional maintenance costs of the project, who is responsible for maintenance, and how maintenance might be funded. Finally, PBOT must illustrate that the TSP's project list does not result in net-new driving (measured in vehicle miles travelled per capita) at the system level 20 years in the future.

If recommended for authorization, PBOT will compile all of the Enhanced Review work into an "Authorization Report" for public review, Planning Commission, and Portland City Council. Portland City Council has the final say in deciding whether to authorize the inclusion of any projects subject to Enhanced Review in the 2045 TSP.

Projects Subject to Enhanced Review

Through coordination with partner jurisdictions including the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), two candidate projects were identified as subject to the Enhanced Review process:

1. US 26 to I-405 Montgomery Street/Market Street Ramp, which would add a second lane to the US 26 eastbound to I-405 southbound ramp, creating an option lane to SW Market Street and close the Montgomery Street entrance.
2. I-5 Southbound Climbing Lane from the Marquam Bridge to the Multnomah Boulevard exit, which would add a southbound auxiliary lane for roughly 2.6 miles to I-5.

Both of these projects are sponsored by and located on facilities owned by ODOT. More information about these projects is available in the Draft Enhanced Review of Select Roadway Projects: Project Descriptions, Facility Impact Areas, and Equity Analyses.

If you have additional questions about these projects, please contact: 

Scott Turnoy, Principal Planner at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) at Scott.Turnoy@odot.oregon.gov

Review the draft report here

Map of Projects Subject to Enhanced Review

View full size image of A map of projects subject to enhanced review as part of the 2045 TSP update process as described elsewhere on this page.

Enhanced Review Steps

For each project subject to Enhanced Review, the project team must complete a series of steps including:

1. The designation of project limits and characteristics, including the length, number of lanes, and other key project features;
2. The designation of a facility impact area, including the notification and coordination with all affected jurisdictions within 2 miles of the proposed facility;
3. An engagement-focused equity analysis, considering the locations of concentrations of underserved community members in the facility impact area and the impacts of historical and proposed changes on those communities;
4. Develop a public engagement strategy ,leveraging the ongoing 2045 TSP update engagement process;
5. Conduct alternative reviews, including an "apples-to-apples" analysis (as feasible) for each project and any alternatives developed in state-defined modal categories with at least one final alternative bundle analyzed more rigorously against the proposed roadway project;
6. The selection of an acceptable alternative OR the completion of an authorization report to include the project in the TSP project list, which must include the calculation of 20-year maintenance costs and the measure of induced demand created by the project.

Any alternatives review and authorization report must be published and provided to the public and Portland City Council for consideration of approval. If approved, the roadway project can be added to the TSP project list, but the entire TSP project list then also must illustrate no net new Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) per capita in the horizon year at the system level. Additional information regarding the Enhanced Review process is available at ODOT's Transportation System Plan Guidelines webpage.

Timeline

2026

• August - September: Finalize facility impact areas with project partners and affected jurisdiction, and begin Enhanced Review community engagement
• September - December: Conduct alternatives reviews and choose whether to select an alternative or to complete an authorization report
• December: Complete any necessary supplemental analysis/modeling

2027

• January - February: Draft final report
• March - April : Share final report for public review alongside the 2045 TSP Public Review Draft

Community Engagement

The decision whether to include projects subject to Enhanced Review in the 2045 TSP Project list is ultimately Portland City Council's. However, in order to ensure that Portlanders can provide meaningful input into the process, Fall 2026 2045 TSP engagement will include the Enhanced Review process and candidate projects. More information about Fall 2026 engagement will be posted as opportunities become available on the 2045 TSP webpage and sent via email. 

Sign up for 2045 TSP updates

If you have any questions about Enhanced Review in the meantime, you can reach out to:

 Shawn Canny, City Transportation Planner and 2045 TSP Enhanced Review Lead at Shawn.Canny@portlandoregon.gov

Documents