Umatilla County updates transportation plan, emphasizes safety and community connections

Umatilla County announced an update to its Transportation System Plan intended to guide future investments in roads, sidewalks, bike lanes and freight routes, county officials said. The county said that community outreach in 2025 identified where residents face transportation problems and shaped the plan’s priorities.

The county emphasized that safety and maintaining existing roadways are central goals. An agency official said the updated plan highlights the need for speed-control measures and expanded pedestrian infrastructure to create “safer travel for all.” The official framed the plan as a multi-year guide for roadway managers to prioritize improvements and to support business growth and agricultural transport.

County officials summarized resident priorities gathered during outreach as clearer road improvements, more walking and biking trails, and support for agriculture, transportation services and local businesses. The county also described the plan’s role in improving connections between communities and managing growth, but it did not set specific project start dates or a final publication date during this announcement.

The county encouraged residents to check its website for the final plan’s release date. No formal motions, votes or funding commitments were announced in the recorded remarks.