APPENDIX J
Overview of Compliance with Transportation Planning Rule
(State Planning Goal 12)
Appendix J
Overview of Compliance with Transportation Planning Rule
(State Planning Goal 12)
This appendix describes the requirements of Oregon’s Transportation Planning Rule (TPR), specifically
Section 660-12-045—Implementation of the Transportation System Plan (TSP). It also describes
Medford’s existing policies, standards and plans that are designed to meet the TPR requirements, and it
identifies policy inconsistencies or changes needed to address the TPR. This memo also reviews the
City’s existing Comprehensive Plan policies for needed changes to implement the TSP.
Transportation Planning Rule
A major goal of the TPR is reducing reliance on the automobile and encouraging pedestrian, bicycle, and
transit facilities as part of a multi-modal transportation system. For MPO areas, the TPR establishes three
objectives for reducing automobile vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita:
1. No increase within 10 years
2. A 10 percent reduction in 20 years
3. A 20 percent reduction in 30 years.
These objectives are to be achieved by increasing the share of non-automobile trips (pedestrian, bicycle or
transit), reducing the number of single occupant vehicle trips, increasing average vehicle occupancy, or
reducing the number of trips and/or length of trips required through more intensive land use and/or a
better mix of land uses.
Table 1 cross-references TPR requirements and Medford’s code provisions and other applicable
regulations and plan language. Each section is described below.
Table J-1
TRP Implementation Measures
Issue
Medford Comprehensive Plan and Land
TPR Citation Development Code
Land Use Approvals for
Transportation Projects
Access Control
Protecting Future
Operations
Airports
045 (1)
10.314 and 10.337 – Not adequate
045 (2) (a)
045 (2) (b)
Article IV – Adequate
10.453 – Needs revision
045 (2) (c)
Coordinated Review
Conditions of Approval
045 (2) (d)
045 (2) (e)
10.349-10.355 – Adequate for TPR, need OAR
revisions
10.146 - Adequate
10.460-10.466 - Adequate
Notification
Consistency with TSP
Bicycle Parking
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Facilities
045 (2) (f)
045 (2) (g)
045 (3) (a)
045 (3) (b)
10.146 - Adequate
Comprehensive Plan and 10.227 – Adequate
10.747-10.751 - Adequate
10.464–10.466 - Adequate
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Table J-1 Continued
TRP Implementation Measures
Issue
Off-site Improvements
Internal Pedestrian
Circulation
Design Support for
Transit Routes and
Transit Access
Preferential Carpool
Parking
Transit Oriented
Development
Demand Management
Program
Parking Plan
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Plan for Developed
Areas
Street Standards
Medford Comprehensive Plan and Land
TPR Citation Development Code
045 (3) (c)
045 (3) (e)
10.291 – Could be improved
10.772-10.776 - Adequate
045 (4) (a) and 10.806-10.808 - Adequate
(5) (d)
045 (4) (d)
10.809 - Adequate
045 (4) (g) and 10.235 and 10.270 – Could be improved
(5) (a)
045 (5) (b)
RVTD Program – City could take action to
improve compliance
045 (5) (c)
10.741-10.746 – Not Adequate
Included in TSP - Adequate
045 (6)
045 (7)
Included in TSP - Adequate
Land Use Approvals for Transportation Projects
The TPR [660-12-045(1)] requires that local governments amend their land use regulations to implement
their adopted TSP and to clarify the land use approval process for transportation-related projects.
Medford does not specifically identify transportation projects as permitted or conditional uses in its
zoning. Each zone should allow transportation improvements listed in the TSP as an allowed use. The
residential use table does permit pedestrian, transit and bicycle facilities as an allowed use. Additional
provisions for transportation projects not in the TSP could be made with the development of
corresponding criteria. The LDC does include a provision in 10.205 that indicates that “land use issues
decided at the time of approval of the TSP do not have to be reexamined at the time of project
development.” This section does not appear to meet the full intent of this TPR requirement.
Suggested Code Language
Add a section to both the residential and commercial use tables that permits the following use:
•
“Transportation projects that comply with the Transportation System Plan.”
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Protecting The Existing and Future Operation of Facilities
Access Control
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(a)] requires local governments to adopt access control measures, such as
driveway and public road spacing, median control, and signal spacing standards that are consistent with
the functional classification of roads.
The Medford Land Division Code currently addresses these issues in Article IV – Public Improvement
Standards and Criteria. This section appears to meet the intent of this TPR requirement. These standards
will be updated as part of the adoption of the TSP.
Protecting Future Operations
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(b)] requires local governments to adopt standards to protect future operation of
roads, transit ways and major transit corridors.
The City of Medford currently requires that all development comply with an adopted neighborhood
circulation plan [10.453] and with the Street Classification Map [10.431]. Section 10.453 should be
expanded to include transit ways and major transit corridors. The section should amended to refer to
future road and transit developments specified in the TSP.
Suggested Code Language
Add the following language to 10.453 (shown as underlined):
•
All development shall comply with an adopted neighborhood circulation plan, including transit and
pedestrian facilities in that plan, when such a plan is available for the project area.
Add the following language to 10.454:
•
Such conceptual neighborhood circulation plans shall identify the function of proposed streets, transit
ways, major transit ways, pedestrian circulation and bicycle routes, and design criteria shall be
applied as per this chapter.
Airports
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(c)] requires local governments to adopt measures to control land uses within
airport noise corridors and imaginary surfaces. The Medford LDC adequately addresses these
requirements in sections 10.349 to 10.355.
In addition to the TPR requirements there are OAR requirements [660-013] that pertain to airport
planning. OAR 660-013-0040 requires that local jurisdictions adopt a map showing the airport boundary,
location of runways and other features and future areas of expansion.
Neither the LDC nor the Comprehensive Plan references the maps and figures required by OAR 660-0130040. The City could choose to adopt the Airport Master Plan, or portions of the Master Plan to meet the
requirements of the OAR.
Process for Coordinated Review of Land Use Decisions
Coordinated Review
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(d)] requires local governments to create a process for coordinated review of
future land use decisions affecting transportation facilities, corridors or sites.
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The LDC includes a section on referral to other agencies for review [10.146] including RVTD and
ODOT. This language appears adequate to meet this section of the TPR.
Conditions of Approval
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(e)] requires local governments to adopt land use regulations that create a
process for applying conditions to development proposals to minimize impacts and protect transportation
facilities, corridors, or sites.
The LDC requires applicants to complete a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) and to maintain a level of
service D [10.460-10.466]. These requirements appear adequate to meet this section of the TPR.
Notification
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(f)] requires regulations calling for notification of the following to public
agencies providing transportation facilities and services, MPOs and the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT):
• Land use applications that require public hearings
• Subdivision and partition applications
• Other applications that affect private access to roads
• Other applications within airport noise corridors and imaginary surfaces that affect airport operations.
The LDC includes a section on referral to other agencies for review [10.146] including RVTD and
ODOT. This language appears adequate to meet this section of the TPR.
Consistency with TSP
The TPR [660-12-045(2)(g)] requires regulations assuring that amendments to land use designations,
densities, and design standards are consistent with the functions, capacities and levels of service of
facilities identified in the TSP. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that a comprehensive plan
amendment, zoning ordinance amendment or zone change considers the impact on traffic and is
consistent with the TSP.
Medford’s Comprehensive Plan requires that any changes to the Comprehensive Plan be judged on
“compatibility of the proposed change with other elements of the Comprehensive Plan” [Review and
Amendment Procedures] The LDC requires that zone changes be “consistent with the Oregon
Transportation Planning Rule (OAR 660) and the General Land Use Plan Map designation.” [10.227].
This language appears adequate to meet this section of the TPR.
Safe and Convenient Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation
Bicycle Parking
The TPR [660-12-045(3)(a)] requires bicycle parking facilities as part of the multi-family residential units
of four units or more, new retail, office or institutional developments, and all transit transfer stations and
park and ride lots. Bicycle parking is thoroughly addressed in LDC sections 10.747 through 10.751.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
The TPR [660-12-045(3)(b)] requires on-site facilities that accommodate safe and convenient pedestrian
and bicycle access from within new subdivisions, multi-family developments, planned developments,
shopping centers, and commercial districts to adjacent residential areas and transit stops, and to
neighborhood activity centers within a half mile of the development. The TPR also provides that single-
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family residential developments shall generally include streets and access ways; and that pedestrian
circulation through parking lots should generally be provided in the form of accessways.
“Safe and convenient” means that the bicycle and pedestrian routes, facilities and improvements have all
the following characteristics:
•
•
•
They are reasonably free from hazards, particularly types or levels of automobile traffic that would
interfere with or discourage pedestrian or cycle travel for short trips.
They provide a reasonably direct route of travel between destinations, such as between a transit stop
and a store.
They meet the travel needs of cyclists and pedestrians considering destination and length of trip; and
considering that the optimum trip length of pedestrians is generally a quarter to half mile. [660-12045(3)(d)]
The language found in sections 10.464 through 10.466 meet these TPR requirements.
Off-site Improvements
The TPR [660-12-045(3)(c)] requires that off-site improvements that are required as a condition of
approval include pedestrian and bicycle improvements, including bicycle ways along arterials and major
collectors.
Section 10.421, General Development Design Standards and Criteria indicates that all developer
improvements must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted plans (including
presumably the TSP). In addition, section 10.291 lists the conditions of approval for site plan and
architectural review and includes “requiring the installation of appropriate public facilities…” but does
not specifically mention pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Both sections could be improved to
include language referring to pedestrian and bicycle off-site dedications.
Suggested Code Language
Include the following language in Section 10.291:
•
(2) Requiring the installation of appropriate public facilities and services, including bicycle and
pedestrian facilities, and dedication of land to accommodate public facilities when needed.
Include the following language in Section 10.421:
•
The developer shall design and improve all streets, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, storm drains,
sewers, waterlines, accessways and other public easements which are part of the development, and
those off-site public improvement necessary to serve the development consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, Transportation System Plan or any specific plan thereof….
Internal Pedestrian Circulation
The TPR [660-12-045(3)(e)] requires internal pedestrian circulation within new office parks and
commercial developments to be provided through clustering of buildings, construction of accessways,
walkways and similar techniques.
LDC sections 10.772 through 10.776 meet this TPR requirement.
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Transit Access and Facilities
For urban areas where the area is already served by a public transit system, the TPR [660-12-045(4)]
requires support of transit by requiring land use regulations for the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Transit routes and facilities shall be supported through appropriate measures such as bus stops,
pullouts, optimum road geometrics, or parking restrictions.
New retail, office and institutional developments should include transit routes and facilities and
convenient pedestrian access to transit through walkways and connections.
Designate pedestrian districts for areas planned for a mix of uses likely to support a relatively high
level of pedestrian activity.
Allow existing developments to redevelop portions of parking areas for transit oriented uses where
appropriate.
Ensure that new roads can be adequately served by transit.
Designate transit supportive land uses along existing or planned transit routes.
The LDC currently has a number of code sections that do a good job of meeting this TPR requirement.
Those sections are 10.806 through 10.808.
Other TPR Provisions
Preferential Carpool Parking
The TPR [660-12-045(4)(d)] requires that designated employee parking areas in new developments shall
provide preferential parking for carpools and vanpools.
Section 10.809 meets this TPR requirement.
Transit Oriented Development
The TPR [660-12045(5)(a)] requires local governments to adopt land use and subdivision regulations that
allow transit-oriented development on lands along transit routes. “Transit oriented development” is
defined as a mix of residential, retail and office uses and a supporting network of roads, bicycle and
pedestrian facilities focused on a major transit stop. A key component is high-density residential
development close to a transit stop with supporting neighborhood commercial uses.
Medford’s PUD code allows developers to build higher density developments anywhere in the City if
they meet certain criteria. The PUD also allows some mixing of uses. The City is currently working on
establishing four TOD districts within the City that will substantially fulfill the intent of this requirement
by focusing higher density, mixed-use development along transit corridors and around major transit stops.
However, there is nothing within the current PUD, land division code or non-PUD development that
mentions transit oriented development or gives preference to transit oriented development.
Suggested Code Language
Add the following language to 10.230 A:
•
9. To promote the development of Transit Oriented Design along designated transit corridors and
within designated TOD areas.
Add the following language to the use table [10.314] for residential uses:
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•
Allow up to 20 percent commercial development in the MFR 20 and 30 zones when the zone is
adjacent to a designated or planned transit route.
Demand Management Program
The TPR [660-12-045(5)(b)] requires local governments to implement a demand management program to
meet the VMT reduction standards. Demand management programs are designed to change travel
behavior in order to improve the performance of transportation facilities and reduce the need for
additional road capacity. Possible actions include, but are not limited to, promoting the use of alternative
modes, ride-sharing and vanpool programs, and trip-reduction ordinances.
Within the Medford UGB, the leader in developing and implementing TDM strategies is the Rogue
Valley Transportation District (RVTD). RVTD currently promotes a full range of several TDM strategies
including: education programs, trip reduction incentives, the “bikes on buses” program, carpools,
vanpools, telework, park-and-ride service, employer outreach and other strategies. In addition, RVTD is
actively engaged in developing a Transportation Management Association (or TMA) within the Medford
area to assist large employers with implementation of various demand management strategies. The
following TSP recommendations would help meet this TPR requirement:
•
•
•
•
The City should promote the use of alternative commute options to reduce motor vehicle travel
generated by employment sites and schools by serving as a role model for the community by joining
the Medford area Transportation Management Association (TMA) and actively supporting its
mission.
The City should support the use of transit among major employers in the Medford area by
encouraging purchase of individual or subsidized group transit passes, or other actions to meet
requirements for employee commute trip reductions.
The City should encourage the development of discount transit fare programs and shuttle services by
offering to share start-up costs with employers, schools and special event sponsors.
The City should participate in public outreach to raise awareness about the use of TDM strategies and
should actively market groups having the greatest potential for reducing single occupancy vehicle
trips such as large employment sites and commuting students.
Parking Plan
The TPR [660-12-045(5)(c)] requires local governments to implement a parking plan that does all of the
following:
•
•
•
Achieves a 10 percent reduction in the number of parking spaces per capita in the Metropolitan
Planning Organization area
Aids in meeting the VMT reduction standards
Sets minimum and maximum parking requirements.
The reduction in parking spaces may be accomplished through a combination of restrictions on new
developments and requirements to redevelop existing spaces into other uses.
The City’s current parking requirements [10.741-10.746] do not meet this TPR requirement. The current
parking requirements list only minimum parking standards and do not allow for shared parking
agreements to reduce the total number of parking spaces required for two separate uses. Parking spaces
can be reduced by 10 percent if the development is within 400 feet of a transit route [10.810].
The following actions should be considered to bring the code into compliance with the TPR:
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•
Conduct a study to determine if the current parking minimums are requiring too much parking for
particular uses. A good place to start for the minimum parking requirement is the amount required by
financial institutions for construction or improvement loans. This is only a starting point and often
further reductions are warranted.
•
Include code language that establishes a maximum number of parking spaces for each use. This can
be as simple as applying a standard that limits parking to no more than 10 percent than the minimum
for all uses.
•
Create a code section that allows a shared parking agreement between two or more businesses and
that allows a 50 percent or more reduction in required parking when the requirements of the code
section are met.
•
Develop code language that allows mixed-use projects to reduce the amount of parking by 50 percent
of the total required for each separate use. Establish appropriate conditions for this reduction.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan for Developed Areas
The TPR [660-045(6)] requires local governments to identify appropriate pedestrian and bicycle
improvements in developed areas to provide for more direct, convenient and safer travel within and
between residential areas and neighborhood activity centers (schools, parks, shopping areas).
A pedestrian and bicycle plan was developed for the TSP.
Street Standards
The TPR [660-12-045(7)] requires local governments to establish street standards that minimize
pavement width and total right-of-way, consistent with the operational needs of the facility. The intent of
this standard is to encourage local government to consider and reduce excessive standards in order to
reduce construction costs, provide for more efficient use of urban land, provide emergency vehicle access
while discouraging inappropriate traffic volumes and speeds, and accommodate convenient bicycle and
pedestrian circulation.
Street standards were updated as part of the TSP. These standards will replace the current street standards
found in the LDC.
Comprehensive Plan
The City of Medford Comprehensive Plan includes broad Goal statements, followed by more specific
Policy statements that are further defined by Implementation strategies. The Transportation Goals,
Policies and Implementation strategies are currently found in the Public Facilities portion of the
Comprehensive Plan. These Goals, Policies and Implementations strategies will be replaced through the
adoption of the TSP. The TSP includes updated Goals provide a sound basis for implementing the
necessary code changes needed to meet the TPR and implementation of TOD areas.
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