A Short History of Transportation’s Long Tradition in Oregon
In honor of the 2009 Oregon Sesquicentennial
submitted by the Oregon Department of Transportation
Moving about in our beautiful state — getting across deep rivers and blue lakes, up tall mountains and through wind-blown high deserts, along the ocean’s sandy shores and rocky beaches, into the rain forests or onto the dry, colorful hills — is the essence of our life here in the Pacific Northwest. Native Americans traveled for food and family gatherings on foot, horseback or by canoe. Explorers came by sailing ships; dreamers came by covered wagon. The railroad brought settlers from across the country while steamboats carried citizens of the world to our shores, all searching for the treasure we now call Oregon.
Today, people arrive by car, truck, ship, airplane, passenger rail, bus — and yes, still on foot, on horses and in canoes, and even in sea kayaks and wind surfboards. Welcome to Oregon; we love having choices! Oregon’s legacy of independence in transportation continues into modern times.
We were the first state to levy a gasoline tax to pay for road construction and maintenance (1919) and the first state to build a “solar highway” (2008), a solar-powered interchange lighting system. Here are some other highlights of Oregon’s transportation history:
1842: Dr. Elijah White leads the first wagon train over what will become the Oregon Trail.
1846: Sam Barlow builds a precarious road around Mt. Hood to give travelers an alternate way into the Willamette Valley from The Dalles, bypassing the challenges of floating the Columbia.
1853: The first government-funded road is built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the
Scottsburg-Myrtle Creek Military Road).
1855: Pacific Railway Surveys extend into Oregon.
1899: The first automobile arrives in Oregon – a “Stanley Steamer.”
1905: The legislature passes an automobile registration law – owners pay a one-time fee of $3, with revenues going to road building.
1913: The Highway Commission and the Highway Department (changed in 1969 to the Oregon
Department of Transportation) are created by the legislature. The commission is made up of the
Governor, the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer.
1921: The legislature creates the nation’s first State Board of Aeronautics to test competency of pilots and airworthiness of aircraft.
1966: With the nationwide interstate initiative in full swing, Oregon becomes first state to complete an interstate freeway within its borders (Interstate 5).
1971: The legislature passes a unique bill dedicating one percent of highway funds to bicycle paths and sidewalks.
1987: Portland debuts the first segment of the MAX light rail system.
1995: The Motor Carrier Transportation Division installs equipment that allows trucks to be weighed and registered while in motion, reducing congestion significantly.
2008: An ODOT contractor completes the first European-style bridge replacement, where a new
bridge is build adjacent to the old one, then slid into place for minimal traffic disruption.
Innovation in transportation is a tradition in Oregon, in part because the bounty of our state is so rich and diverse, people want to see and experience it all — from year-round glaciers to steamy natural hot springs, from ice-cold waterfalls to miles of rolling, sun-drenched wheat fields, and everything in between. The Oregon Department of Transportation is proud to be a part of Oregon’s past and looks forward to a future of safe, reliable choices in transportation.
