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South Corridor Phase II: Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project

Planning and conservation  ›  Transportation  ›  Portland-Milwaukie light rail

Learn about the plans to construct a MAX line serving communities in North Clackamas County, Southeast Portland and South Waterfront.

The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project is entering the final stage of the planning process. Local jurisdictions approved the light rail's route, terminus and station locations by adopting a Locally Preferred Alternative in July 2008. In early 2009 Metro will begin work on the Final Environmental Impact Statement and TriMet will begin Preliminary Engineering.

Moving forward, TriMet will lead the project's public involvement. Visit TriMet's Portland-Milwaukie site for the latest on the new Willamette River bridge, project updates and opportunities to participate. Go

Proposed project

The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project will travel 7.3 miles, connecting Portland State University in downtown Portland, inner Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and north Clackamas County. MAX service on the alignment is scheduled to begin in 2015. By 2030, when this future light rail line will carry up to 27,400 daily rides, there will be approximately 22,000 households and 85,000 employees within walking distance of Portland-Milwaukie light rail stations.

The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project is a partnership among Metro, TriMet, City of Portland, City of Milwaukie, City of Oregon City, Clackamas County, Multnomah County, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Project study and public participation

The Federal Transit Administration approved the official release of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement on May 9, 2008. This document presents details of the project alternatives and their environmental and transportation performance to decision-makers and the public to help them identify a preferred alternative. More about the SDEIS

The release triggered a 45-day comment period and a series of public meetings formally announced in the federal register Notice of Availability. Comments received from May 9 through June 23, 2008 are included in the comment report and will receive a written response in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. More about the comment report

Project timeline

• Spring 2007: refinement work, steering committee decision on Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and definitions of alternatives report
• Summer 2007: conceptual engineering, environmental and financial analysis and travel demand forecasts
• Winter 2007 through Spring 2008: draft Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Federal Transit Administration review and approval
• Summer 2008: 45-day public comment period and public meetings, locally preferred alternative decision
• Spring 2009 through Spring 2010: draft Final Environmental Impact Statement
• 2011 through 2015: construction of light rail line, stations and bridge

The critical path and timeline flowchart are available below.

NEED ASSISTANCE?

Metro transportation planning
503-797-1756
trans@oregonmetro.gov

Files and related materials

Files that are downloadable from this page

• Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project Locally Preferred Alternative Report 2.9M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published July 24, 2008
• Locally Preferred Alternative Map 2.9M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published July 24, 2008
• Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement Notice of Availibility 49K MS Word | Published May 9, 2008
• Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement topics and quick summary 92K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published October 29, 2007
• South Corridor Phase II: Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project critical path and timeline flowchart 783K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published March 5, 2007