Oregon’s counties were big winners of transportation awards in 2015. Marion and Clackamas Counties each won NACo Achievement Awards for their exceptional work improving our transportation system. Benton County won an American Public Works Association (APWA) 2015 Project of the Year award for their innovative solution to a longstanding slide problem. AOC and the County Road Program are proud to congratulate Marion, Clackamas, and Benton Counties on their awards.

Marion County: Beginning in 2013, eight counties in Oregon and Washington have been meeting to collaborate, review each other’s road maintenance practices and share lessons learned. Known as the “Over The Shoulder (OTS) Review”, this program has provided valuable insights to the county members of the group, which include Deschutes, Jackson, Marion, and Washington Counties. All of the OTS members have benefited from the information sharing, through revised processes, purchase selections, or how they perform their maintenance operations. To further share these terrific lessons, Marion County has taken the lead in organizing the process and sharing the notes and discussions on a publicly-available website, www.co.Marion.or.us/PW/Roads/OTS/.

Benton County: During a severe storm event in January of 2012, a landslide destroyed part of Decker Road in a historically landslide-prone area of Benton County. Previously, this part of the road had suffered catastrophic damage requiring a major rebuild using traditional fill methods, and that still did not stop the mass movement. Trying something innovative, Benton County decided to over-excavate the area, and install light-weight Styrofoam blocks as backfill to reduce the weight of the road. More information about the project is available online here.

Clackamas County: Taking a more holistic view of our transportation safety, Clackamas County’s Department of Transportation and Development (DTD), conducted a unique road safety audit that also pulled in public health partners to assess the safety of a facility. This effort incorporated a Health Impact Assessment with the traditional Road Safety Audit to provide a more comprehensive view of how transportation decisions affect the health and safety of county residents. The process was a success, but has also created an environment in which transportation and health sectors work together to better utilize resources and create a countywide safety culture for all residents. Watch this video from Clackamas County on their NACo Achievement Award.