Southern Willamette Research Corridor (SWRC)


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The Southern Willamette Research Corridor region benefits from a transportation infrastructure that ties the region together. Interstate 5 and Highway 99, East and West, link the major urban areas of the region. Highways 20, 34, and 126 link the region east to west. Amtrak rail service provides an alternative link that ties the region’s urban areas together, and provides a connection to areas outside the SWRC region. In the same way, the Eugene Airport provides scheduled air service by major airlines, while local airports in Albany and Corvallis link the region by air.

To preserve and improve these transportation resources, the SWRC members have developed the following statements of concern:

	The economy depends on high quality transportation infrastructure. Congested roadways increase the cost of doing business by increasing travel time for individuals and interfering with industry “just in time” freight delivery, including e-commerce products.
	Willamette Valley communities are becoming increasingly interconnected. Commuting patterns show that many people are working outside of their home communities.
	Vehicle miles driven per person are increasing and freight traffic is on the rise. Both trends mean higher levels of congestion and more wear on the existing road system.
	The region’s roads and bridges are deteriorating at an increasing rate, while basic maintenance and preservation are being deferred because of inadequate funding.
	Changing demographics mean that a larger percentage of the population is elderly and in need of transportation assistance, including transit services.
	The changing commercial structure, in particular the advent of e-commerce, results in increased road usage with delivery of products by carriers such as Federal Express and United Parcel Service. The regional planning process needs to recognize these changes to our infrastructure use.
	Increased support is needed for an adequate and well-maintained transportation infrastructure. Additional funding for transportation (roads, rail and transit) at both the state and local level is critical to the future of the southern Willamette Valley.