About the plan

The City of Boardman completed and adopted a Transportation System Plan (TSP) in 2001. Since the adoption of the 2001 TSP, the City of Boardman has seen significant levels of population growth, new residential and commercial development, and continues to see the adjacent Port of Morrow grow as a major regional employment center. In recognition of this, the City of Boardman is undertaking a major update to its TSP.

Goals

To ensure the City has a modern multimodal transportation system for the next 20 years, the TSP will focus on:

• Incorporating the needs and desires of all current and future residents and businesses.

• Developing modern, safe, comfortable, and inclusive multimodal facilities so that streets, sidewalks, paths, and other facilities that you drive, bike, or walk on accommodate all users.

• Identifying projects that will address gaps and improve connections between key destinations such as schools, shopping centers, parks, and employment centers.

• Making walking, rolling, biking, and taking the bus safer and easier.

• Supporting regional transit options.

Engagement Summary

In January and February 2025, the project team hosted a series of in-person engagement events while also conducting an online community survey that ran from January to February. The engagement events included a public open house, two pop-up tables and a student presentation. The survey and engagement events were designed to gather community input to help inform an updated Transportation System Plan (TSP).

Location-specific takeaways

The project team received 59 map comments at in-person events and through the online engagement site. A summary of key takeaways is provided below with the full list of comments available for viewing on the interactive map.

Traveling along and crossing Main Street (green shape on the map)

• Turning on and off of Main Street to get to important destinations like Harvest Foods and the gas stations feels unsafe.
• Main Street is always congested, especially at the end of the workday or when High School is dismissed at the end of the day.

Main Street bridge over I-84 (red shape on the map)

• Safety concerns for walking or biking, especially during school pickup/drop-off times and end of workday.
• More street lighting is needed along the overpass and onto S Main Street.
• There is poor visibility of cars on Main Street when exiting the interstate off ramps due to fast moving vehicles on Main Street and difficult sight lines.

Laurel Lane interchange (orange shape on the map)

• There is poor visibility for cars turning off the interstate off ramps to go north and south.
• Some people suggested adding a right turn lane on the westbound off ramp.
• Several comments recommended connecting Laurel Lane to become a fully connected loop and adding a roundabout at the Laurel Lane/Columbia Boulevard intersection.
• There is heavy truck traffic in this area to and from the Port of Morrow.

Elementary school area (blue shape on the map)

• There is east-west congestion on Wilson Lane during school pickup (2:30-3:30 p.m.).

• Community suggestions to help alleviate this congestion included:
  • Adding bilingual signage (Spanish and English) for school traffic with time limits.
  • Improving awareness of pedestrian paths between neighborhoods and schools.
  • Adding a pedestrian path west of the schools near Juniper Drive for students.
  • Adding more teacher parking south of Sam Boardman Elementary School.
  • Requiring staff to park is designated lots to free up curbside space for student drop-off and pick-up.

Engagement Events

On January 29, 2025, the project team went to Sam Boardman Elementary School, Windy River Elementary School, Families First Childcare Center and Boardman City Hall to talk to people living, working, and traveling in Boardman about their experiences getting places around town. The engagement event information below summarizes key themes and impactful comments from conversations during these events.

Open House at Boardman City Hall

The project team and city staff hosted an open house at Boardman City Hall on January 29, 2025. 35 attendees shared feedback and comments on Boardman’s transportation system through one-on-one conversations, a mapping activity and a priority activity.

• Many people worry about drivers speeding in Boardman.
• Some food production workers use H-2A transportation services to get to workplaces.
• Tower Road has heavy traffic with drivers going at high speeds on a curvy, narrow road.
• Many people suggest adding signalized crosswalks with flashing lights to improve walking safety along Main Street and Wilson Road.
• Several people have concerns about the I-84 and Main Street overpass and use Laurel Lane to avoid traffic.

Priority activity: What are your priorities for street improvements?

During the TSP Open House, attendees prioritized 5 of the 10 categories to highlight the greatest barriers to traveling in Boardman. Most of the 35 open house attendees participated in the priority table plot activity.

Open house attendees were asked to identify their biggest challenges navigating the transportation system in Boardman. The table/graph below summarizes how attendees ranked and prioritize these challenges.

Pop-up Event at Sam Boardman Elementary Staff Lounge

The project team visited Sam Boardman Elementary on January 29, 2025 to speak with school staff about Boardman’s transportation system and the challenges they experience as residents and/or educators. 15 staff participated through one-on-one conversations and through a mapping activity.

• Several staff members walk a loop with their students from Boardman Elementary School to the library and city hall playground as a field trip, using roads with at least one sidewalk.
• Many staff wish they could cross I-84 along Main Street with kids on bikes but feel unsafe because:
  • The overpass along Main Street is too narrow for bicyclists and pedestrians
  • Bicyclists often use the sidewalk along the overpass
  • Students use this route to get to school or pick up siblings
  • Many teachers believe improving this overpass is a main priority for student safety
• Wilson Lane near Sam Boardman Elementary School gets congested during school pick-up.
• School pick-up and drop-off causes traffic backups past the fire station from 2:30 to 3:30.

Student Presentation at Windy River Elementary

The project team visited a class at Windy River Elementary on January 29, 2025 to learn about student travel patterns and their vision for Boardman’s transportation in 50 years. 15 students created postcards to their future selves.

• Of the 13 students who participated, 11 travel to school by car, 2 by walking, and 1 by bus.
• Several students live just south of Windy River Elementary don't walk to school because they don't know a safe path.
• Many students shared that in 2045 they would like a reliable vehicle with the ability to see their friends and get to work.
• Several students talked about the importance of getting places safely, including while walking.

Pop-up Event at Families First Childcare Center

The project team visited Families First Childcare Center on January 25, 2025 to ask parents/guardians picking up their kids about travel patterns and challenges in Boardman. The project team talked to eight people.

• Several people mentioned congestion at Boardman Ave NE and N Main Street when the High School lets out and during sporting events.
• Multiple people noted incomplete sidewalks throughout Boardman.

Online Survey

In January and February 2025, project team surveyed people about how they travel in Boardman. 26 people completed the online survey.

• 25 out of 26 people use a personal vehicle as their main way to get around Boardman.
• Carpooling, walking, and biking are popular additional transportation methods.
• 15 people identified traffic congestion and delays as a main barrier to driving.
• 15 people reported lack of sidewalks as a main barrier to walking.
• 15 people cited lack of bike infrastructure as a main barrier to biking.
• Limited bus service and hard-to-find bus stops are the main barriers to using The Loop.

We strive to create an environment where all can engage

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Project contacts

Carla McLane | Planning Official | 541-481-9252
mclanec@cityofboardman.com | City Website