3.4.200 Transportation Improvement Standards

3.4.200 Transportation Improvement Standards.

A. Development Requirements. No development can occur unless the development has frontage or approved access to a street, in conformance with the provisions of BDC Chapter 3.1, Lot, Parcel and Block Design, Access and Circulation, and the following standards are met:

1. Streets, including access corridors, within or adjacent to a development must be improved as complete streets in accordance with the Transportation System Plan (TSP), provisions of this chapter, other pertinent sections of this code, and the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

2. Development of new streets, and additional street width or improvements planned as a portion of an existing street, must be improved in accordance with this section, and public street right-of-way must be dedicated to the City, Deschutes County or the Oregon Department of Transportation.

3. All new and/or existing streets and alleys must be paved per the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

B. Variances. Repealed by Ord. NS-2463.

C. Creation of Rights-of-Way for Streets and Related Purposes. Streets must be created through the approval and recording of a final subdivision or partition plat; except the City may approve the creation of a public right-of-way by acceptance of a deed where no plat will be recorded, and the deeded right-of-way conforms to this code. All deeds of dedication must be in a form prescribed by the City and must name “the public” as grantee. All right-of-way, however, dedicated to the City must be free and clear of all existing liens and encumbrances.

1. Discretionary Track. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the City Engineer make a determination that an encumbrance may be maintained if there are significant legal or other impediments to moving or releasing the encumbrance and the encumbrance does not materially conflict with the City’s potential or actual uses of the right-of-way, in the sole determination of the City Engineer.

D. Creation of Public Access and Public Utility Easements. The City may require a public access and/or public utility easement established by deed when the easement is necessary to provide for public access and circulation and/or provision of public utilities in conformance with BDC Chapter 3.1, Lot, Parcel and Block Design, Access and Circulation, or other sections of this code. Public access easements must be created and maintained in accordance with the Uniform Fire Code Section 10.207 and City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

E. Street Location and Grade. Except as noted below, the location and grade of all streets must conform to the City of Bend Standards and Specifications, the provisions of this chapter and an approved street plan or land division plat. Street location and grade must be determined in relation to existing and planned streets, topographic conditions, public convenience and safety, and in appropriate relation to the proposed use of the land to be served by such streets.

1. Street grades must be designed and/or constructed as approved by the City Engineer in accordance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

2. Where the location of a street is not shown in an existing street plan in conformance with subsection (I) of this section, Future Street Plan and Extension of Streets, the location of streets in a development must either:

a. Provide for the continuation and connection of existing streets in the surrounding areas, conforming to the street standards of this chapter; or

b. Where it is impractical to connect with existing street patterns because of topographical constraints or where the existing built environment precludes future street connections, the applicant must conform to a street plan approved by the Review Authority. Such a plan must be based on the type of land use to be served, the volume of traffic, the capacity of adjoining streets and the need for public convenience and safety.

F. Minimum Rights-of-Way and Street Sections. Streets, sidewalks, access corridors, planter strips, travel lanes, and parking must be provided in compliance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications cross-sections. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) facilities must meet Oregon Department of Transportation design standards.

Additional multi-use paths or bike lanes may be required on local streets to provide a low stress route as identified in the Transportation System Plan Figure 5-1, Bicycle Low Stress Network, or as identified in the Connector Routes and Crossings Map in compliance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications or as amended by the City Engineer.

a. At a minimum street rights-of-way must be the widths defined in Street Improvement Standards Table A except as identified in subsection (F)(3)(b) of this section. Additional right-of-way may be required at intersections to accommodate intersection widening and roundabouts.

b. Pavement widths must be in compliance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications cross-sections, or the applicable master plan or other development criteria. For a deviation from the City of Bend Standards and Specifications, a request must be submitted per BDC 4.7.400(B)(9). For a waiver of a public improvement standard set forth in the Bend Development Code, including pavement or right-of-way widths set in a master plan, then a request must be submitted per BDC 3.4.150, Waiver and Modification of Public Improvement Standards.

2. Future Right-of-Way Widths and Special Building Lines. To ensure that adequate transportation corridors will be preserved for the future, the special setbacks established in subsection (J) of this section apply.

a. Where opposite sides of the street are designated on the Bend Comprehensive Plan with different land use zones, the zone with the greater requirement for right-of-way dedication and pavement width will govern both sides of the street.

b. The following streets and intersections are not identified for lane expansion and therefore additional right-of-way is not required:

(A) NW 14th Street, between Newport and Galveston Avenues.

(B) NW Newport Avenue, between 14th Street and Wall Street.

(A) NW Greenwood Avenue, between Wall Street and the Parkway.

(B) NW Riverside Avenue, between Tumalo and Franklin Avenues and NW Franklin Avenue, between Wall Street and the Parkway.

(A) NE 8th Street, between Olney/Penn and Franklin Avenues.

(B) NE Olney Avenue, between 4th and 8th Streets.

(C) NE Franklin Avenue, between 4th and 11th Streets and NE Bear Creek Road (including the 11th Street extension), between Franklin Avenue and 15th Street.

Table A: Right-of-Way Widths for Dedicated Public Roadways
Street Classification and Roundabout ROW Dedication	Arterial	Collector	Local	Alley	Cul-De-Sac	Roundabout
Minimum ROW	100'	80'	60'	20'	54' radius from center of the cul-de-sac	100' radius from center of intersection

1. Traffic signals/roundabouts/intersection improvements must be constructed in conformance with City of Bend Standards and Specifications, including meeting the City-approved Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices’ signal warrants, based on determined mitigation needs from BDC Chapter 4.7, Traffic Analysis.

2. Intersection design must be approved by the City Engineer. The developer’s financial responsibility and the timing of improvements must be included as a condition of development approval.

3. Where traffic signal warrants are met, the City’s preferred intersection treatment is a roundabout for reasons of safety, capacity, and traffic flow. The selection of a traffic signal instead of a roundabout must be evaluated per the City of Bend Standards and Specifications and approved by the City Engineer.

4. Traffic controls on roads under State jurisdiction must be determined by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

1. Medians must use hardscape and/or waterwise designs with native plantings.

2. The design of medians on roads under City jurisdiction must be approved by the City Engineer.

3. The design of medians on roads under State jurisdiction must be approved by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

4. The City may require raised islands to provide an enhanced crossing in accordance with BDC Chapter 4.7, Transportation Analysis.

1. When a street plan has been developed and adopted by City Council along with a Special Planned District, Refinement Plan, Area Plan or Master Plan, that street plan guides the location and spacing of future streets pursuant to City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

2. When no adopted street plan exists for the site, a street plan including existing and proposed streets, access corridors and alleys must be filed by the applicant in conjunction with an application for development, in order to facilitate orderly development and access management. The plan must also show the pattern of existing and future streets, access corridors and alleys from the boundaries of the proposed development and must include other properties within 400 feet of the site boundaries, and other developed streets or public rights-of-way or natural barriers surrounding and adjacent to the proposed development. The future street plan, including access corridors and alleys, is not binding; rather, it is intended to show potential future street, access corridor and alley extensions with future development of adjacent properties.

3. Streets, alleys and access corridors must be extended to the boundary lines of the property to be developed when the extension gives access to, or permits future development of, adjoining land. Where the streets, alleys and access corridors temporarily end they must conform to subsections (I)(3)(a) through (c) of this section:

a. Streets, alleys and access corridors extended to the property lines are not considered to be cul-de-sacs since they are intended to continue through when the abutting property is developed.

b. A City-approved barricade must be constructed at the terminus by the developer and must not be removed until authorized by the City or other applicable agency. These barricades must be removed when the street, alley or access corridor is extended beyond the barricade. The Review Authority may also require signs that indicate the location of a future connection.

c. Temporary turnarounds (e.g., hammerhead or bulb-shaped configuration) must be constructed for stub streets over 150 feet in length.

4. Construction of partial width streets are not permitted, except as approved by the City Engineer. A partial street improvement may be approved only at the outer boundaries of a development where the street is required by other land use requirements and it is likely that adjacent underdeveloped property will complete the street construction. The following limitation applies:

a. Partial street improvements are only allowed where available right-of-way is insufficient to allow a full street improvement.

1. Purpose. The purpose of this subsection is to ensure that adequate rights-of-way will be available for the appropriate street improvements as the City grows and that there will be no conflicts with the built environment.

2. Applicability. The special setback standards apply to any lot or parcel that abuts a public right-of-way.

Exception. The special setback standards do not apply to intersections or streets that are already constructed consistent with the Transportation System Plan (TSP) including streets and intersections in subsection (F)(3)(b) of this section as “not being identified for lane expansion.”

a. Unless waived under BDC 3.4.150, all buildings or structures must be set back from planned future rights-of-way the minimum distance established in the applicable zoning district.

b. Unless waived under BDC 3.4.150, the special setback from existing substandard width rights-of-way must comply with Table J.

Table J. Special Setback Standards
Street Classification	Additional Setback from Centerline of Street
Local Street	30 feet
Collector	40 feet
Arterial (Major, Minor)	50 feet
Roundabout	110-foot radius from center of roundabout

1. Offset local street alignments must be at least 125 feet distance between the centerlines of the local streets and offsets for arterial and collector streets will be determined in compliance with BDC Chapter 4.7, Transportation Analysis.

2. Proposed streets or street extensions, including access corridors, must be located to provide access to existing or planned commercial services and other neighborhood facilities, such as schools, shopping areas and parks.

L. Sidewalks, Multi-Use Paths, Planter Strips, Curbs, Bicycle Lanes. Sidewalks or multi-use paths, planter strips, curbs and bicycle lanes must be installed in conformance with the applicable provisions of the Transportation System Plan, the Bend Comprehensive Plan, City of Bend Standards and Specifications and the following standards:

1. Sidewalks and multi-use paths must be placed at the property line in compliance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

2. Bicycle lanes must be constructed on all collector and arterial streets. Bicycle low stress routes as shown on Transportation System Plan Figure 5-1, Bicycle Low Stress Network, must be constructed in compliance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications for providing a Level of Traffic Stress LTS 1 or LTS 2 including any low stress street crossings.

3. Planter strips are not required on T-courts, mid-block lanes or shared lanes.

4. Sidewalks and multi-use paths must be allowed to meander around existing trees.

5. All streets must have sidewalks or multi-use paths, and curbs.

a. Exceptions. Properties within the Woodriver Village subdivision must make a payment in lieu of constructing a sidewalk subject to BDC 3.4.160, Payment in Lieu of Sidewalk Construction.

M. Intersection Angles. Streets must be laid out so as to intersect at an angle as near to a right angle as practicable, except where topography requires a lesser angle. In no case can the centerline angle be less than 80 degrees.

N. Existing Rights-of-Way. Whenever existing rights-of-way adjacent to or within a property are of less than standard width, additional rights-of-way must be provided at the time of subdivision or site development, in conformance with Table A in this section.

1. For projects with needed housing, the following applies:

a. Clear and Objective Track. Cul-de-sacs are not permitted.

i. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the Review Authority make a determination that a cul-de-sac is allowed due to physical or topographical constraints, natural features, existing development patterns, or compliance with other standards in this code that preclude street extension and through circulation. A paved multi-use path in compliance with BDC 3.1.300(C)(4), Connector Multi-Use Paths, must be provided at the end of the cul-de-sac to connect to an abutting street, bicycle low stress route, park, multi-use path or development open to the public. If the multi-use path is provided, a public access easement must be recorded on the property.

ii. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the Review Authority make a determination that the development of a paved multi-use path is impractical due to physical or topographical constraints, natural features or existing development patterns. If a paved multi-use path is determined to be impractical, the review authority may require an alternative path developed in compliance with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

2. For all other uses, a cul-de-sac street must only be used when the applicant demonstrates that environmental or topographical constraints, existing development patterns, or compliance with other standards in this code precludes street extension and through circulation. Where cul-de-sacs are permitted, a paved multi-use path in compliance with BDC 3.1.300(C)(4), Connector Multi-Use Paths, may also be required to connect to an abutting street, bicycle low stress route, park, multi-use path or development open to the public.

P. Repealed by Ord. NS-2463.

Q. Curbs, Curb Cuts, Ramps, and Driveway Approaches. Concrete curbs, curb cuts, curb ramps, bicycle ramps and driveway approaches shall be constructed in accordance with BDC Chapter 3.1, Lot, Parcel and Block Design, Access and Circulation, City of Bend Standards and Specifications and the following standards:

1. Curb exposure shall be per City Standards and Specifications.

2. All public and private streets shall have curbs, except there shall be no curbs on alleys unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer.

3. Curb extensions at local residential street intersections are optional. If provided, the minimum width between the curb extensions shall be 24 feet. Curb extensions shall not be used on streets with bike lanes.

R. Street Adjacent to Railroad Right-of-Way. Wherever the proposed development contains or is adjacent to a railroad right-of-way, a street approximately parallel to and on each side of such right-of-way at a distance suitable for the appropriate use of the land shall be created. New railroad crossings and modifications to existing crossings are subject to review and approval by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the rail service provider.

S. Development Adjoining Arterial Streets. Where a development adjoins or is crossed by an existing or proposed arterial street, the development design shall provide access to/from the arterial consistent with BDC Chapter 3.1, Lot, Parcel and Block Design, Access and Circulation, and City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

T. Alleys, Public or Private. Public alleys must conform to the standard in Table A in this section and City of Bend Standards and Specifications. Private alleys must contain a public access easement for the entire width of the pavement and for the entire length of the alley and must be constructed to public alley standards.

1. The development of new private streets is prohibited, except as follows:

a. Private streets may be developed when they are part of an existing master plan developed with private streets and they must comply with the following:

i. Are constructed to public street cross-sections and design requirements in the City of Bend Standards and Specifications except as follows:

(A) When an existing street and/or alley has been built to the property line and is not constructed to public street cross-sections, an alternative cross-section may be approved by the City Engineer to match existing improvements. In this case, a waiver under BDC 3.4.150 is not required.

(B) When an existing master plan includes private street standards and/or cross-sections, they must be constructed to City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

ii. Where constructed, the private streets must transition to a public street at an intersection with a public street.

iii. Provide bikeways and access corridors to complete the City’s transportation system grid.

iv. Retain drainage on site and do not drain to the public right-of-way.

v. Contain a public access easement and public utility easement for the entire width of the private street encompassing curbs, sidewalks or multi-use paths, and lane widths. The public access easement may need to extend beyond the tract as necessary to encompass franchise utility trenches and facilities.

vi. Are not collector or higher classification roadways.

vii. The private streets are not allowed to be gated.

2. Where existing private streets have been developed, improvements must comply with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications and/or master plan.

a. Exception. Pavement maintenance is not required to comply with the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

3. Where existing private streets have been developed, they must transition to a public street at an intersection.

V. Street Names. All street names shall be approved by Review Authority. No street name shall be used that will duplicate or be confused with the names of existing streets in Deschutes County, except for extensions of existing streets. Street names, signs and numbers shall conform to the established pattern in the surrounding area, except as requested by emergency service providers and shall comply with City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

W. Survey Monuments. Upon completion of a street improvement and prior to acceptance by the City, it shall be the responsibility of the developer’s registered professional land surveyor to provide certification to the City that all boundary and interior monuments shall be re-established and protected.

X. Street Signs. The City, County or State with jurisdiction shall install all signs for traffic control. The cost of signs required for new development, including stop signs and any other roadway signs, shall be the responsibility of the developers and shall be installed as part of the street system developed and approved through the land use process. Street name signs shall be installed by developers at all street intersections per City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

Y. Street Light Standards. Street lights shall be installed in accordance with City of Bend Standards and Specifications. [Ord. NS-2463, 2023; Ord. NS-2434, 2022; Ord. NS-2423, 2021; Ord. NS-2398, 2021; Ord. NS-2389, 2020; Ord. NS-2349, 2019; Ord. NS-2303, 2018; Ord. NS-2271, 2016; Ord. NS-2251, 2015; Ord. NS-2229, 2014; Ord. NS-2150, 2010; Ord. NS-2016, 2006]