Oregon DOT Renounces 'Highway Centric' Approach

State departments of transportation aren't known for being the most progressive public agencies. But, in response to economic and demographic changes, Oregon's DOT (ODOT) is breaking the mold by embracing a multimodal transformation.

1 minute read

May 24, 2013, 8:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"As recent national research and major news headlines continue to reflect a move away from automobile use among major swaths of the American public, and as highway funding levels nosedive, smart transportation agencies are beginning to adapt," writes Jonathan Maus. "To respond to these changes, ODOT has announced 'Intermodal Oregon' a new initiative that will help the agency 'move away from a siloed and highway-centric approach to business.'"

"You can think what you want about ODOT; but these are pretty big words coming from a large public agency," says Maus.

"The Intermodal Oregon announcement continues the trend at ODOT toward thinking about transportation in terms of how to solve problems with the best tools available, instead of simply defaulting toward more — and wider— highways."

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 in Bike Portland

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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