A GUIDEBOOK FOR EVALUATING THE INDIRECT LAND USE AND GROWTH IMPACTS OF HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Abstract

In 1998, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) undertook a study of the impacts of highway capacity improvements on land uses and growth, particularly at the urban fringe. The objective was to better understand the and effect relationships among highway capacity, travel demand and development patterns. A variety of factors to resulting growth were evaluated for their ability to predict growth. Case studies of six communities provided an in-depth understanding of the pressures which drive development decisions and land use change. This guidebook provides guidance to ODOT staff for completing environmental analysis and documentation on indirect land use impacts of highway improvements, based on findings of the study. One finding was that most highway capacity increases do not cause development to be dramatically different from local land use plan guidance, or from what would have occurred in absence of the highway improvement. In Oregon, local governments hold the tools to determine development patterns, using zoning and public utilities such as water, sewer and roads. This guidebook is not a directive, but a compilation of recommendations for a systematic look and consistent approach to predicting the indirect land use impacts of highway improvements. Appendices A-F of this report provide background on the study findings, including the literature review, growth trends analysis and six in-depth case studies. Also included in the appendices are a discussion of population and employment forecasting issues and a summary of ODOT processes for project evaluation.

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