Working together to enhance
our region

The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization Regional Trails Plan public survey is closed. If you have input for the effort please send to cwcog@cwcog.org.

Upon request, surveys are available on paper or in other languages. Questions may be directed to CWCOG by regular mail at PO Box 128, Kelso, WA 98626; via email to cwcog@cwcog.org.

The CWCOG has a highly varied work program with initiatives undertaken in the areas of long and short-term regional and local planning, transportation and economic development planning, community development, technical assistance, and a wide array of contractual services.

If you are looking for a diverse and challenging position and want to live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, then the CWCOG might be the place for you!

Click the button below to check out our current openings.

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Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Online Open House Launched

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) is developing a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for all of Cowlitz County, including the five cities (Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Woodland), and Rainier, Oregon. This plan will identify strategies and projects aimed at reducing and eliminating crashes involving serious injuries and fatalities that impact all roadway users. To gather feedback as part of developing this plan, the CWCOG has launched an online open house that includes a survey and comment map. Everyone is encouraged to give their input to help make walking, biking, rolling, and driving safer throughout Cowlitz County and Rainier, Oregon. Access the online open house and survey at the following links:

https://arcg.is/j9e5P (English)
https://arcg.is/05LKqa (Spanish)

RURAL INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS RESOURCE GUIDE

Improving road safety is a significant goal in the Moving Forward 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) uses technology to address various transportation related issues and Rural ITS specifically selects a proven subset of tools that are effective in rural areas.  This publication  provides introductory information to improve understanding of ITS systems and their link to reducing the number and severity of collisions and enhance awareness for all users.

The complete publication can be found here:

2023-2028 COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) Board of Directors approved the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) on August 24, 2023. The CEDS is a regional economic-development plan for the two-county region of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties. The plan outlines a strategy for the region through a series of goals and objectives and includes descriptions of projects and partnerships to meet those goals and objectives. The CEDS planning process is supported by a grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The final CEDS is available online here:

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY AND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE DRAFT 2025-2028 METROPOLITAN AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Kelso, WA — NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) invites the public to comment on the Draft 2025-2028 Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Improvement Program (M/RTIP). The M/RTIP identifies transportation projects funded with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) dollars for the next four years that are sponsored by the States of Washington or Oregon or considered a project of regional significance. The M/RTIP includes projects in 1) the metropolitan area of Longview/Kelso, Washington and Rainier, Oregon; or 2) the southwest Washington regional areas of Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties.

Beginning 08/20/2024, the Draft 2025-2028 M/RTIP will be available online at www.cwcog.org or by calling the CWCOG office at (360) 577-3041 to request a document pickup at 207 4th Avenue N., Administration Annex Building, Second Floor, Kelso WA.

Questions may be directed to Robert Stevens, CWCOG Senior Transportation Planner, by regular mail – PO Box 128, Kelso WA 98626 or via email – cwcog@cwcog.org. Date/time for final comment submission is September 03, 2024 at 5:00 pm.

If you need special accommodations to participate in this process, please call us at 360-577-3041 by 5:00 p.m. 08/27/2024. Ask for the ADA Coordinator. For TDD users, please use the state’s toll-free relay service, (800) 833-6388, and ask the operator to dial 360-956-7575.

In compliance with RCW 42.56, The Washington Public Records Act, the CWCOG records request application is available. For viewing and/or copying public records, click the button below for a printable request form. Please return this via email or USPS to access records maintained by the CWCOG.

The CWCOG operates in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability.

Those persons with limited English Proficiency may request language assistance through oral, visual, and/or written translation at no cost to the individual.

For assistance or questions regarding the CWCOG’s Title VI or Limited English Proficiency policies or to file a complaint, please contact the Agency’s Title VI Coordinator at (360) 577-3041.

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