Transportation agencies prepare for winter, ask the public to do their part too
 ODOT crews switch to 12-hour shifts for round-the-clock coverage in severe weather, such as this snow in Portland in January 2024.
Information is your best tool to get around in winter, avoid the worst weather
Newsrooms: ODOT stills and video from previous winters available in our album.
News media contact: David House, 503-551-8641.
Nov. 19, 2025
PORTLAND – Transportation agencies across the Portland-Vancouver area and beyond are preparing for winter – and urging the public to do the same.
ODOT, Portland Bureau of Transportation, county transportation departments, law enforcement, emergency responders, utilities and others are preparing their equipment and crews.
Your best winter travel tool is information:
- Resume your winter routine of checking weather reports and travel conditions when you plan a trip or just before you go.
- Give yourself more time for your trips, whether by car, public transit, on foot, or bicycle or other wheels – or a combination.
- Be prepared with warm clothes, a well-maintained car or bike, tire chains and an alternate route or way to get where you need to go if conditions turn bad suddenly. Don’t rely on your GPS map if it shows a detour off a highway – many roads are not maintained during winter.
- Know the alternatives for travel in your area – such as public transit or carpooling.
- If conditions are severe, plan to stay put and reschedule your travel.
As a reminder to shift gear into winter, ODOT is hosting regional transportation and related agencies a news conference Wednesday at its Sylvan Maintenance Office. Leading with Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, representatives are sharing agencies’ efforts to prepare for winter – and urge you to do the same.
“Portland's transportation bureau and our regional partners are ready for winter weather, but we need the public to take action today,” Wilson said. “Make a plan for how you will get your family home safe when snow or ice are in the forecast. Portlanders always show up for each other, and winter is a time when you can help your neighbors by being prepared to shovel your sidewalk and help your neighbors with theirs.”
Keeping Oregonians moving in weather also means sharing the responsibility for safety – for both travelers and road crews.
“Winter weather can be tough for everyone, and we all need to do our part to keep the roads safe,” WSDOT Highway Maintenance Worker and snowplow driver Wes Oatfield said. “We ask travelers to please be patient and give snowplows plenty of space to work. We’re out in tough weather conditions for long hours, focused on our main priority – safety. If you see a snowplow, slow down, increase your following distance, and only pass when it's safe. A little caution goes a long way in getting everyone home safely.”
“Thanks to the transportation funding package passed by the legislature, ODOT’s goal is to maintain winter operations at the same level as last winter,” ODOT Region 1 Manager Rian Windsheimer said. “Remember that severe storms can overwhelm crews working around the clock, so sometimes it’s better to reschedule your trip than risk getting stuck in snow or ice – or behind vehicles that are stuck or abandoned. Use TripCheck.com to prepare for trips or know when to stay off the roads.”
Even before severe weather hits, knowledge is your best tool. Do you have tire chains know how to chain up your car? Are you prepared to shelter at home for several days in a severe storm? What can you do to travel safely and help road crews do their jobs safely too? Do you know what alternatives are available such as public transit?
“We're focused on getting you where you need to go — safely,” said Mary Hill, TriMet Executive Director of Transportation. “We have equipment, supplies and training to help tackle winter weather, but we know Mother Nature is a formidable opponent. Whenever conditions require, we will adjust our service to keep everyone safe.”
Tips and detailed help with those topics and much more are available from agencies around the region:
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