PENDLETON — Umatilla County is asking residents for feedback on its transportation and road system, which has not been updated since 2002.

The Umatilla County Planning Division released an online survey March 5 to help shape the future of its transportation system. The results will guide updates to the county’s Transportation System Plan and its Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative.

According to the county Technical Memorandum No. 2, the county has seen steady population growth and economic development since it adopted the 2002 plan. This growth has placed increased demands on transportation infrastructure from a wide range of users — from freight haulers and commuters to pedestrians and cyclists.

The county’s transportation network includes critical freight corridors and supports commuters traveling to and from surrounding communities, including those connected to the adjacent Port of Umatilla.

The survey is anonymous and asks seven main questions and six optional demographic questions at the end.

Umatilla County planner Charlet Hotchkiss said the Transportation System Plan update is essential for an entire multimodal overhaul. She noted the county’s partner agencies have updated plans in place. The state also introduced new planning guidelines focused on equity and climate-friendly initiatives, which the county will incorporate into the updated system.

“Our main goal for the survey is to understand the challenges people face,” she said. “Whether it’s areas they avoid because they’re dangerous, places where they’ve experienced difficulties or complications while traveling, or if people think that they’re no direct routes to important destinations — we want to know how we can improve things like that.”

Hotchkiss emphasized the importance of public input in shaping the long-term plan. She said the updated plan is expected to guide the county’s infrastructure for the next 20 years, making community feedback essential.

While data such as crash analysis plays a role, Hotchkiss noted hearing directly from residents — including transit drivers, daily commuters, truck drivers, couriers and law enforcement — provides valuable pieces of insights that data alone may miss.

The county has identified several key issues it plans to investigate further through the survey.

Hotchkiss said draft technical memos highlight several high-risk areas, particularly intersections with a history of serious injuries or fatalities. These locations will be prioritized as the county works to develop countermeasures aimed at improving safety.

The ultimate goal, she said, is to eliminate traffic-related injuries and deaths throughout Umatilla County.

The survey is part of a broader transportation infrastructure plan that includes the Hermiston Municipal Airport, the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport, the Port of Umatilla, smaller airstrips throughout the county and railway transportation.

In addition,  the plan addresses public transportation, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and extends to trails and pathways throughout the region.

To ensure a diverse range of community input, the Umatilla County Planning Division plans to host information tables at several upcoming public events. These include the Hermiston Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 4 and the Pilot Rock Saturday Market on May 10.

Hotchkiss said the Planning Division also intends to be at the Pendleton Farmers Market and host a pop-up event during the Music in the Park series this summer at Roy Raley Park, with dates yet to be announced.

Hotchkiss encouraged the community to take part in the survey, which is open until May 11. She pointed out there is a comment map on the website, where residents can add specific feedback about locations.

“People can click on a spot on the map and leave comments about that location, which is super helpful to us,” Hotchkiss said. “Check it out.”

Residents of Umatilla County can access the questionnaire, available in English and Spanish, on the Umatilla County website.