Cornelius Pass Road project named APWA Project of 2017

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Award presentation celebrates a public/private partnership

The Cornelius Pass Road project, a partnership between Intel Corp., the City of Hillsboro, Washington County and ODOT, has been named Transportation Project of the Year by the Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

The award was presented at both the APWA Oregon Chapter Fall Conference on Oct. 19 in Pendleton and at the Washington County Board of Commissioners (BOC) regular meeting on Tuesday [Nov. 7] at the Hillsboro Civic Center.

"This award recognizes excellence, innovation and cooperation with regard to administration of public works projects through the alliance of the managing agency, consultant and contractor," Krey Younger, Oregon APWA, said at the BOC presentation.

"The project was a significant element of Intel's large, comprehensive investment in the regional public transportation system in conjunction with our Ronler Acres site expansion," said Courtney Martin, Intel Director of Public Affairs for Oregon and California. "The Ronler campus is Intel's largest and most advanced research-and-development facility in the world."

The $18.3 million Cornelius Pass Road project was the award recipient in APWA's "Projects of $5 million, but less than $25 million" division. The project was managed by Washington County and funded through Intel, the County's Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP) Phase 3d, Hillsboro's Transportation Development Tax and Traffic Impact Fee programs and two ODOT Immediate Opportunity Fund (IOF) grant. The IOF grants were secured by Intel's commitment to employ at least 500 new high-tech workers per grant at the campus within two years of the project's completion.

"This was a challenging project with many moving parts," said Andrew Singelakis, Director, Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation. "Staff did a great job improving safety and traffic flow on this heavily traveled arterial."

"Thanks to this tremendous partnership, our community is an even better place to live and work," said Don Odermott, Transportation Planning Manager, city of Hillsboro. "The upgrades to Cornelius Pass Road have enhanced safety protection for pedestrians and bicyclists, increased transit options and expanded capacity for area employees and freight mobility."

The project widened Cornelius Pass Road to three lanes in each direction between Cornell Road and U.S. 26. There is a center median and dedicated turn lanes at several intersections, including U.S. 26. Other improvements included sidewalks on both sides of the road, a buffered bike lane on the west side, a separated two-way bike path on the east side and new street lighting.

Washington County is committed to planning and protecting the uses of the land and to building and maintaining a great transportation system, balancing care for the natural environment, economic development, safety and community livability.

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