Transportation Safety Action Plan Updates for 2026

The Oregon Department of Transportation is in the middle of a major update to the Transportation Safety Action Plan, a statewide roadmap aimed at reducing crashes and eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The new edition will guide decisions from 2026 through 2046 and sharpen how agencies, cities, and partners invest in proven safety strategies. That matters for every Oregonian who drives, walks, rolls, bikes, or rides transit. It also matters when collisions happen and accountability is disputed.

At Johnston Law Firm, we follow these policy changes closely because they influence how car accidents are prevented, investigated, and resolved. Our clients want answers after motor vehicle accidents. They want fair treatment from insurers. They want to know what comes next. We pair courtroom advocacy with a practical understanding of how safety policy shapes real roads, real behavior, and real cases across Oregon.

The Transportation Safety Action Plan and the 2026 Updates

What the plan is and why it matters

ODOT’s Transportation Safety Action Plan is the statewide playbook for cutting fatal and serious injury crashes. It aligns agencies and communities around shared strategies, then tracks what is working. Traffic deaths in Oregon have fallen since 2022, yet are still higher than a decade ago, which is why this update is significant. The plan is not a list of individual construction projects. Instead, it sets the direction so agencies can target the right fixes through programs and local plans, from rural highways to neighborhood streets.

The plan is legally required to be refreshed every five years. The current edition, approved in 2021, sets priorities through 2026. The new update will govern 2026 to 2046 with clear, measurable objectives that keep the focus on preventing tragedies before they happen. This is where the Safe System approach comes in. It accepts that people make mistakes and designs the system to prevent those mistakes from becoming fatal.

What the 2026 update will include

The 2026 update centers on four objectives. First, analyze statewide crash data for all public roads and all users, including people walking and bicycling, and identify patterns and contributing factors. Second, evaluate progress toward the long-term goal of eliminating fatalities and serious injuries. Third, set near-term actions informed by the data and partner feedback that will be implemented over the next five years. Fourth, integrate the Safe System approach across decisions and investments so that road design, speed management, vehicles, and user behavior work together.

Expect a draft by June 2026, followed by adoption targeted for fall 2026. Because the plan is strategic rather than project-specific, you will not see a project list inside it. ODOT directs readers to the statewide project tracker for local details and to an interactive mapping tool that displays risk areas and scoping information. The update began in early 2025 and runs through partner and public review next year.

How Oregonians can participate

The plan is built with statewide collaboration. Local, state, and regional agencies, Tribal governments, traffic engineers and planners, law enforcement, public health specialists, safety advocates, educators, businesses, emergency responders, and the traveling public all play a role. ODOT is inviting professionals who plan or influence transportation systems to complete an online survey and share what is working and where gaps remain. Anyone can sign up for email updates to track milestones and engagement opportunities.

There is an emphasis on vulnerable road users because the consequences of a mistake at higher speeds are most severe for people outside a vehicle. The update will refresh Oregon’s Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment, review crash trends, map hot spots, and outline strategies to protect people who walk, bike, or use scooters. These priorities guide the investments that make intersections clearer, crossings shorter, speeds safer, and outcomes better.

How the TSAP complements Vision Zero

Vision Zero is the commitment to end traffic deaths and serious injuries with a systemwide strategy. Portland has formally adopted Vision Zero, and we have written about its progress, challenges, and lessons from abroad on our site:

• https://johnston-lawfirm.com/vision-zero-portland/
• https://johnston-lawfirm.com/taking-vision-zero-pledge/
• https://johnston-lawfirm.com/vision-zero-sees-success-in-other-countries-despite-problems-in-portland/
• https://johnston-lawfirm.com/audit-reveals-pbots-vision-zero-struggles-to-ensure-pedestrian-safety/

The Transportation Safety Action Plan complements Vision Zero by giving the state a durable, data-driven framework that outlives annual budget cycles and local changes. Vision Zero sets the goal and philosophy. The TSAP translates that philosophy into statewide objectives, performance tracking, and funding direction. Where Vision Zero encourages cities to redesign dangerous streets and manage speeds, the TSAP aligns state programs and partner agencies so that speed setting, enforcement emphasis, engineering standards, and education reinforce each other.

That alignment matters. When the rules for setting speeds match the design of a corridor, and the design cues drivers to travel at survivable speeds, even small mistakes are less likely to become fatal. When the state prioritizes proven countermeasures at the places with the most severe outcomes, local Vision Zero plans gain momentum. The TSAP puts structure around that coordination. It is the connective tissue between local safety pledges, state policy, and how money gets spent. For families, the goal is straightforward. Fewer car crashes, safer trips, and a system that forgives human error.

How Will the Plan Impact Motor Vehicle Accidents?

First, expect a stronger focus on risk-based investments. The TSAP’s data analysis identifies where severe outcomes cluster, then matches locations to countermeasures that reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions. That leads to practical changes such as better sight lines at intersections, shorter crossing distances, slower operating speeds in mixed-use areas, and clearer lane organization. Taken together, those tools reduce conflict points and lower impact forces, which directly lowers the odds of catastrophic injuries in motor vehicle accidents.

Second, the Safe System approach influences accountability. Drivers remain responsible for following the rules, yet the system reframes safety as a shared responsibility. Road design, speed policies, and enforcement strategies all influence behavior. For example, if a corridor is reengineered to a safe speed and signs and markings are consistent, compliance rises and rear-end and turning crashes typically fall. For people walking and biking, improved crossings and separation from fast traffic reduce the chance that a minor error turns into a life-changing event.

Third, the plan’s emphasis on evaluation and iteration means safety treatments are not set-and-forget. Agencies will track outcomes, refine strategies, and scale what works. That feedback loop helps everyone, including injured Oregonians seeking fair compensation after car accidents. Better documentation and consistent practices make it easier to understand how a crash occurred, whether a driver was negligent, and whether road conditions contributed. The result is a safer network and clearer facts when car crashes do happen.

Why Johnston Law Firm’s Approach Fits Oregon’s Safety Future

Johnston Law Firm blends rigorous preparation with a commitment to community safety. We push for accountability in the courtroom and support policies that reduce risk on the roadway. As the Transportation Safety Action Plan advances, we will continue to track its milestones, highlight opportunities for public input, and help clients understand how these updates affect claims and recovery.

When crashes occur, we step in with diligence and determination. When questions arise about liability, medical care, or insurance rights, we provide clear guidance and a steady hand. Our job is to protect your interests, seek full and fair compensation, and contribute to a safer Oregon at the same time. If you have questions about a recent collision or the changing safety landscape, our car crash attorney team is here to help.

Injured in a Car Accident? Contact Our Car Crash Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a collision, you do not need to navigate the aftermath alone. Insurance adjusters move quickly. Evidence fades. Medical bills arrive when you are still recovering. Speak with a car crash attorney who understands both the legal process and the realities on Oregon’s roads. Our team handles motor vehicle accidents across the state and knows how to make insurers and juries understand your story.

Johnston Law Firm is based in Portland and serves clients throughout Oregon, from Astoria to Bend and Hood River to Eugene. We handle personal injury claims, insurance disputes, and complex litigation, and we prepare every case as if it could go to trial. Your goals come first. Call us today for a free consultation, learn your options, and let us help you secure the resources you need to move forward after car accidents.