Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments

Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments The Mid-Willamette Valley Council of governments creates prosperity in Polk, Yamhill, and Marion Counties.

The Youth Traffic Safety Month campaign is dedicated to reducing teen motor vehicle crashes—the leading cause of death f...
05/18/2026

The Youth Traffic Safety Month campaign is dedicated to reducing teen motor vehicle crashes—the leading cause of death for teenagers with a focus on reducing distracted driving, speeding, and impairment. This observance promotes education about safe driving habits, seatbelt use, the importance of teen driver education and awareness of hazards for young, inexperienced drivers.

Visit the following websites for more information:

The AAA Safe Driving for Teenagers website gives tips on understanding the rules of the road, how to help teens develop safe driving habits, and information on basic car maintenance.

The ODOT - Transportation Safety Office Driver Education Program webpage provides information about teen driver education in Oregon and a list of ODOT-Approved providers throughout the state.

The Oregon DMV Teen Driving webpage provides information about teen permits, driver education providers and licensing. They also have manuals and guides to help teens prepare for the drive test.

05/13/2026

Oregon among the deadliest states for summer drivers
AAA refers to summer driving as the “100 Deadliest Days,” the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day when there is a rise in driving fatalities across the country, particularly among younger drivers. A new MoneyGeek study finds the 100 days are becoming less deadly, with the latest data showing 39,254 summer driving deaths in 2024. While not confirmed yet, 2025 is expected to see a drop as well, to 36,640 deaths. Oregon is currently ranked as the 6th deadliest state for summer drivers, according to the study.

Read more:
https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregon-among-deadliest-states-for-summer-drivers-new-study-finds/

Motorcycle Safety Awareness MonthMay is the traditional start of motorcycling season as warmer temperatures reach across...
05/12/2026

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is the traditional start of motorcycling season as warmer temperatures reach across the U.S. This is why May 2026 is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing crashes by encouraging drivers to "look twice" and share the road.

With increased motorcycle traffic, drivers are urged to be alert for motorcycles, especially in blind spots and at intersections, to ensure a safe environment for all road users.

Visit the following websites for more information about motorcycle safety:

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Motorcycles webpage
https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/motorcycles?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23589732436&gbraid=0AAAAAB0qofRVmP_4OIpapPD8tQ4Z3sN2g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2tPTye3_kwMVe9TCBB1BgyXoEAMYASAAEgK2pfD_BwE

Motorcycle Safety Foundation webpage
https://msf-usa.org/

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Motorcycle Safety webpage
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycles

The LOC is inviting all cities to attend the Virtual President’s Regional Meeting.This final session will be held virtua...
05/08/2026

The LOC is inviting all cities to attend the Virtual President’s Regional Meeting.This final session will be held virtually for anyone who was unable to attend their regional meeting. Please join LOC’s 2026 President, Mayor Carol MacInnes of Fossil, as she seeks feedback and comments from LOC members on revising the Oregon Municipal Policy (OMP).

The OMP is the LOC’s foundational document on how it directs its overall lobbying efforts; it is essentially the starting point for what issues the LOC concerns itself in both state and federal legislative circles. This policy has not been comprehensively reviewed or updated in almost 20 years, and member feedback on the next iteration of the OMP is greatly needed.

Currently, the OMP provides LOC staff with directions on how to lobby on matters related to home rule, economic development, housing, urban development, energy, finance and taxation, public safety, human resource matters, ethics, principles of general governmental responsibilities, telecommunications, broadband, transportation, and water.
Meeting Agenda:
Welcome
President’s Remarks
Regional Discussion
Adjourn
REGISTER NOW-
Monday, June 29, 2026
Virtual | Noon – 1:00 PM
REGISTER HERE:
https://imis.orcities.org/LOC/LOC/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=SCRVQ226

For questions or accommodations, please get in touch with Heather Larson, Training Coordinator, at [email protected].

Transportation safety advisory committees to meet in MayGovernor's Advisory Committee on DUII, May 1, 9:00 a.m. https://...
05/07/2026

Transportation safety advisory committees to meet in May

Governor's Advisory Committee on DUII, May 1, 9:00 a.m.
https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Pages/GAC-DUII.aspx

Oregon Transportation Safety Committee, May 13, 9:30 a.m.
https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Pages/OTSC.aspx

Meetings are open to everyone
Accommodation will be provided for people with disabilities, and materials can be provided in alternate formats. To request an accommodation, please visit the public meetings website and sort by meeting name to find the contact information for your particular meeting. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call statewide relay at 711.

https://www.oregon.gov/transparency/Pages/Public-Meetings.aspx

Oregon work zone crashes increase again, hit five-year highOregon work zone crashes hit a five-year high in 2024 — 621 c...
05/07/2026

Oregon work zone crashes increase again, hit five-year high
Oregon work zone crashes hit a five-year high in 2024 — 621 crashes — according to the latest data from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The crashes claimed 14 lives and resulted in 36 serious injuries.

Most work zone crashes involve drivers, not road workers. In 2024, all of the serious injuries and deaths in work zones were to drivers or their passengers. Each crash was preventable.

Read more:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDOT/bulletins/41378e3

National Bicycle Safety Month is celebrated every year in May. During National Bicycle Safety Month, the Oregon Departme...
05/07/2026

National Bicycle Safety Month is celebrated every year in May. During National Bicycle Safety Month, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urge bicyclists and drivers to share the road by obeying traffic laws and respecting each other’s rights.

Whether you are a beginner, a regular bicyclist, or an athlete, bicycling is good for you. It is a healthy, low-impact exercise that people of all ages can enjoy. It is also fun and good for the environment.

You can find information and dates for fun bicycling events on the Portland.gov Bike Month 2026 webpage.

A calendar of events is now posted on the University of Oregon webpage.

Oregon Safe Routes to School is sponsoring the Walk+Roll May Challenge.

April was a milestone month for Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to School (SK-SRTS), as several of our long-term projects and g...
05/07/2026

April was a milestone month for Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to School (SK-SRTS), as several of our long-term projects and goals finally came to fruition. You might remember back in January when we began planning a weekly "Walk and Roll School Bus" with a local elementary school. Since then, three buses have officially rolled to school together! We’ve seen the group of riders grow every time the bus leaves the station, and we’re hopeful that making the commute more fun will encourage better daily attendance.

Speaking of celebrations, we also teamed up with the enthusiastic staff at Weddle Elementary for an Earth Day Walk and Roll event. Despite having only two weeks’ notice, Weddle had over 30 students walk or ride to school. Our team was on the ground to support the staff leading the groups, and thanks to our partnership with Willamette Education Service District, we were able to provide photography support to capture the day. It was such a hit that Weddle is already planning two more events before the school year ends.

To wrap up the month, we joined the Salem Bicycle Club for their 50th Annual Monster Metric Cookie Bike Ride. This year, SK-SRTS fundraised so that all 20 participants in the 6.2 mile “Mini-Cookie” could participate for free. Afterward, we hosted our first-ever Monster Cookie Bike Rodeo! We brought out our new trailer that carries our bike and helmet fleet to teach young riders the basics of bicycle safety. We couldn't have achieved this without the remarkable turnout of student volunteers from McNary High School. Additionally, we are grateful for the support of our local partners, including Cherriots, Keizer’s Multi-Modal Safety Committee, the Northwest Keizer Neighborhood Association, and Gordon’s Driving School. It was a successful pilot year, and we’re already looking forward to next year.

We also finished a two-week Bicycle Safety Education (BSE) session at Weddle Elementary on the last day of April. Of the 123 students who participated, nearly half learned how to ride a bike for the very first time! With more walk and roll buses on the horizon, we’re confident these students will put their new skills to good use.

Looking ahead, we’re helping another local school plan a bus for National Bike and Roll to School Day on May 6th. We’ve even recruited Barry the Marion Berry to help us lead the way. We haven't told the kids yet, so please keep it a secret! We are also gearing up for summer, where we’ll be teaching Pedestrian Safety at Keizer Blast Camp and a BSE "crash course" during Keizer Safety Week.

04/14/2026

⚠️ Oregon Brownfields Conference Registration Now Open

Redeveloping Oregon’s Brownfields.
Across Oregon, communities are turning blighted and underutilized properties into housing, commercial centers, industrial hubs, and public spaces. Brownfields redevelopment strengthens local economies, protects public health, and advances sustainable growth. The Northwest Environmental Business Council is proud to present the Oregon Brownfields Conference in partnership with Business Oregon and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), with participation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Together, these agencies and industry leaders help shape the policies, funding tools, and regulatory pathways that make redevelopment possible. This two-day conference convenes regulators, developers, consultants, public officials, and community leaders to share practical strategies and real-world project experience.

Who Should Attend?
If you are working to revitalize contaminated or underutilized properties — or supporting those who are — this conference is for you. Attendees include:
Local, state, federal, and tribal government officials
Economic development professionals
Real estate developers and investors
Environmental consultants, engineers, and contractors
Financial institutions, insurers, and risk management professionals
Attorneys specializing in environmental and real estate law
Community and nonprofit leaders
When: May 4-5, 2026
Where: Gleneden Beah, Oregon @ Salishan Coastal Lodge

EVENT DETAILS AND REGISTRATION LINK HERE
https://t.e2ma.net/message/zy4ctm/nhrt78e

Address

100 High Street SE, Suite 200
Salem, OR
97301

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+15035886177

Website

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