The Washington County Transit Development Plan (TDP) guides future transit investments and communicates a coordinated vision for transit service and access to public transportation. The 2024 TDP update was adopted December 2024 by the Washington County Board of Commissioners and reflects priorities for the Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 biennium.
The Oregon State Legislature in 2017 as part of House Bill 2017, established the Statewide Transit Tax, a one-tenth of one percent employee payroll tax, dedicated to improving or expanding public transportation services. The funding program, known as the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF), is administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The legislation designated Washington County as a Public Transportation Provider eligible for STIF funds. The TDP is required to receive STIF.
The TDP is updated every two years to prioritize public transportation investments for areas outside of the TriMet and South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) transit districts, as well as community and job connector services within these districts to be funded by STIF for the next biennium.
Washington County contracts with Ride Connection, Inc. a non-profit with over 30 years of experience delivering transportation services to community members across the region.
The full report is available on request. Email [email protected].
How our plan meets state requirements
- Provide more frequent bus service to low-income areas
Ride Connection operates first/last-mile shuttle service in several communities identified by TriMet as Equity Areas, including Forest Grove and Tualatin. In the last biennium, service hours in Cornelius were extended from Saturday-only to six days a week while frequency in North Plains and Banks was improved from four to six trips per weekday.
- Expand bus routes and services to low-income areas
Ride Connection recently launched new first/last-mile shuttles serving King City, Tigard and Bethany/Cedar Mill in unincorporated Washington County and expanded existing shuttle routes to serve new areas in Cornelius and North Plains.
- Fund reduced-fare programs in low-income areas
Ride Connection services in Washington County are fare-free.
- Improve service to TriMet and South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) areas
Ride Connection recently improved frequency of the westLink intercity shuttle connecting North Plains and Banks to the TriMet district from four to six trips per weekday. A new shuttle launched in King City/Tigard also provides connections to the SMART 2X and Cascades POINT routes at Tualatin Park & Ride.
- Coordinate between service providers to improve service connections
Washington County works with interregional service providers such as Yamhill County Transit and Tillamook County Transportation District to improve stop and service coordination with Ride Connection shuttles and provide operations assistance where needed.
- Provide transit service for students in grades 9-12
Ride Connection serves Forest Grove High School and recently added new service to Glencoe High School in Hillsboro and Tigard High School.
The Board of Commissioners appointed a Transit Advisory Committee to recommend the plan. The committee includes community members, transit providers and others. It is part of TriMet's Tri-County Public Transportation Improvement Plan and has approval from:
Related
Washington County Transit Study
Transportation System Plan 05-02-2024
TriMet Forward Together
Keep Oregon Moving
Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
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Reza Farhoodi
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Senior Transportation Planner
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Miranda Seekins
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Associate Planner
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