Tigard looks to increase priority of highway upgrade

  • 2019-10-12
A comprehensive study of the Highway 99W corridor is currently being supported by the city of Tigard to ensure that the roadway will be funded in a transportation package for 2020.

The Tigard City Council has learned that the regional government in charge of many transportation planning projects, Metro, has failed to rank this heavily used highway as a Tier 1 project. If the project had such a ranking, it could become eligible for improvements and be funded as part of a measure for regional transportation funding.

A report has indicated that Highway 99W is a major regional route from Portland to cities in and beyond Washington County, including Tualatin, King City, Sherwood, and Tigard. However, the Metro has considered the highway to be a Tier 2 corridor, so funding for the project is unlikely as it stands.

Tigard is now working with Sherwood, Tualatin, and King City on a comprehensive study to ensure the highway becomes a priority project not only for Metro funding, but for state funding as well. Cities such as these often collaborate on flyer printing services to make sure the public is aware of such endeavors.

Tualatin Mayor Frank Bubenik added that voters in his city approved a transportation bond package in 2018, coming in at $20m, enforcing the sentiment that residents are weary of congestion on highways and are willing to pay for their upgrades.