Transportation and Tourism Task Force Moves Ahead
On March 7, 2007, The Transportation/Tourism Task Force met in Ashland for its Spring Quarterly meeting at the Ashland Windmill Inn. This group of approximately 35 members representing transportation, tourism, and economic development organizations from both public and private sectors, was formally endorsed as an Oregon Task Force via an Executive Order by Governor Ted Kulongoski last October. The Travel Information Council acts as staff and facilitating agency for the Task Force’s work.

Acting for Chair Mike Nelson who was unable to attend, Vice Chair Mike Burrill (Chair of the Oregon Department of Aviation, from Medford) led the meeting. Burrill, Ashland Mayor John Morrison, and Mary Pat Parker of the Ashland Visitors Bureau welcomed Task Force members to the region.

The Task Force has prioritized several projects for immediate focus, and agenda items included updates on each of them:

• The Siskiyou Welcome Center
  Private hospitality industry organizations and public agencies as well as local officials are anxious to see completion of a new Welcome Center, which has been operating in temporary quarters for 11 years. Art Anderson and Tim Fletcher of the regional ODOT office led discussions after presenting an optimum timeline and details of the planned Request for Proposal (RFP), which will be published as soon as funding sources have been solidified. Dialogue centered around providing upgraded quality facilities that would reflect both Oregon and the local region, along with important safety and maintenance considerations. There was a general feeling that this Welcome Center could be a template for future Centers in the state.
  
  ODOT has identified a shortfall in available funds. A $3 to 5 million deficit due to inflation (original costs were estimated ten years ago) and increased design costs, according to Anderson. A Siskiyou Funding sub-committee has now been appointed to research and recommend funding sources.
  
  
• Lane County Travel Plaza/Visitor Center
  Reporting for Kari Westlund (Executive Director, Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon/CVALCO), Sharyl Parker (Industry Development Manager, TIC, and Task Force Coordinator) noted that the CVALCO Board of Directors has placed creation of this Center as a top priority. While the current Rest Areas both North and South of Eugene/Springfield are being considered, discussions are also taking place with several local private developers for a facility on private land near Interstate 5.

Other presentations at the Task Force meeting included:

• A presentation by Marina Cresswell of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department on the planned Welcome Center at Crissey Field in Brookings, which is a partnership between OPRD, Oregon Tourism Commission, and TIC.
• A discussion on Rest Area safety issues, led by Sgt. Jeff Fitzgerald of the local office of Oregon State Police.
• David Cox, Director of the Oregon Office of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), gave a full presentation on the history of Oregon’s rest areas and visitor facilities, and challenged the group to upgrade to not only compete with pride against other states’ impressive facilities, but also create a unique “Oregon experience”. Cox also described the new federal OASIS program. At Cox’s suggestion, a sub-committee to create a Rest Area Strategic Plan was appointed.

At the Governor’s request, local transportation/task force meetings will be held around the state to foster communication. The first of these regional meetings was held for the Southern Oregon area following this state Task Force meeting. The Task Force will meet next in June in Eastern Oregon.

For more information about the Transportation and Tourism Task Force, please contact Sharyl Parker, TIC Industry Development Manager.