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South Corridor Phase II: Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project

Planning and stewardship  ›  Transportation  ›  Portland-Milwaukie light rail

Plans move forward to construct a MAX line serving communities in North Clackamas County, Southeast Portland and South Waterfront.

On July 24, 2008 Metro Council unanimously adopted a new Locally Preferred Alternative, which defines the light rail route, terminus and stations. The Locally Preferred Alternative was endorsed by all jurisdictions along the alignment, including Portland, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Clackamas County and TriMet.

The project Steering Committee, made up of representatives from the local jurisdictions, recommended this Locally Preferred Alternative based on input from the Citizen Advisory Committee, public comment and technical findings. Download the Locally Preferred Alternative Report and map below

Proposed project

The 7.4-mile light rail line would provide additional transportation options for fast-growing communities with high traffic congestion in north Clackamas County and Southeast Portland. The line would put more than 22,000 households and 85,000 employees within walking distance of a new station and add up to 25,000 light rail trips each day. Construction could begin in 2011 and you could board the new MAX line in 2015.

The project is the second phase of the Locally Preferred Alternative of the South Corridor Project, adopted in April 2003 and amended to include an light rail extension along downtown Portland's transit mall in December of the same year.

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 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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
• Fall 2008 through Fall 2009: 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

Related Internet links

• Federal Highway Administration, Oregon division

  (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ordiv/)

• Federal Transit Administration

  (http://www.fta.dot.gov)

• Portland Development Commission

  (http://www.pdc.us)

• Federal Highway Administration

  (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov)

• TriMet: I-205 Light Rail

  (http://www.trimet.org/i205/index.htm)

• TriMet: Portland Mall Light Rail

  (http://portlandmall.org/)