Southwest Corridor Plan

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In November 2020, voters rejected Measure 26-218 (also known as Get Moving 2020), a proposal to fund the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project and many other transportation programs across the region. At this time, the project is on hold until funding is identified.

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Planning a new light rail in the Southwest Corridor

Southwest Corridor: Time gained

From Tualatin and Sherwood to Tigard and Southwest Portland, more people are choosing to live, work and play in the Southwest Corridor. The Southwest Corridor Plan was a comprehensive vision for the investments needed to keep this area moving and support the people who live here as the area grows.

Metro created an Equitable Development Strategy with local partners to explore how a proposed light rail and other investments can support community development and improve the quality of life for people of all incomes and backgrounds. See the Southwest Corridor Equitable Development Strategy page to learn more.

Voters did not approve Measure 26-218. As a result, further planning and design work on a proposed MAX Light Rail line in the Southwest Corridor is on pause. The required federal Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will still evaluate updated designs, respond to comments and confirm strategies to minimize and mitigate impacts identified in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Final EIS is expected to be available in 2021. The Southwest Equitable Development Strategy continues, however.

See the TriMet project website for more details on the light rail project.

To qualify for federal financial support, the project is required by the National Environmental Policy Act to complete an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS. Scoping for the environmental process occurred in September 2016. A draft EIS was published in June 2018. A final EIS is anticipated to be released in 2021.

In November 2018, Metro Council approved the light rail Preferred Alternative recommended by the Southwest Corridor Steering Committee. This option was identified based on analysis documented in the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement, input from the public and agencies including comments on the Draft EIS, the project staff recommendation, and consideration of FTA’s rating criteria for large transit projects.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Southwest Corridor DEIS: Executive summary

4.54 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

SW Corridor DEIS

22.44 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix A - Detailed Maps and Descriptions of Light Rail Alternatives

12.77 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix B - Supporting Materials for Draft EIS Analysis

19.59 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 20, 2018

Appendix C - Environmental Justice Compliance

2.73 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix D - Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation and Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Evaluation

9.38 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix E - Potential Design Refinements and Options

3.94 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix F - Properties Affected by Acquisitions

11.05 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix G - List of Preparers

368.22 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix H - References

322.04 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Appendix I - Project Background and Alternatives Considered

1.57 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment A - Transit Impacts and Travel Demand Forecasting Results Report

6.55 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 1 (Report)

19.54 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 2 (Appendix A)

3.86 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 3 (Appendix B)

24.82 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 4 (Appendices C and D)

224.82 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 5 (Appendix E)

19.65 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 6 (Appendices F through J)

1.07 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 7 (Appendix K)

42.76 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 8 (Appendices L through Q)

1.35 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 9 (Appendix R, Part 1)

37.47 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 10 (Appendix R, Part 2)

38.14 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment B - Transportation Impacts Results Report, Part 11 (Appendices S through CC)

4.1 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment C - Cultural Resource Survey, Part 1 (Report)

17.56 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment C - Cultural Resource Survey, Part 2 (Appendix A)

16.62 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment C - Cultural Resource Survey, Part 3 (Appendices B and C)

10.27 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment C - Cultural Resource Survey, Part 4 (Appendices D through F)

13.92 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

Attachment E - Noise and Vibration Technical Results Report, Part 1 (Report)

11.89 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 6, 2018

The following documents show the decision-making process undertaken from 2016-2018 to prepare a Draft EIS and select the Light Rail Preferred Alternative.

EIS Methodology

8.99 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jul 1, 2021

DEIS Comment Summary

1.11 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Aug 22, 2018

CAC Preferred Alternative Report

240.18 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Aug 22, 2018

Staff Preferred Alternative Report

20.33 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Aug 22, 2018

Initial Route Proposal Presentation

747.19 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Mar 12, 2018

Comment Map report

479.07 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 3, 2018

June 2016 - July 2017 Public Engagement Summary

3 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Oct 3, 2017

Light Rail Project Alternatives for Environmental Review

Text and maps explaining the MAX project being evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

6.19 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Feb 27, 2017

Light rail project Purpose & Need, adopted December 2016

The Purpose & Need adopted by the steering committee will be used to select the preferred light rail alignment.

168.86 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Mar 1, 2017

What is a land use final order?

A land use final order is a single land use permit for the proposed light rail line. Rather than TriMet seeking land use permits from each city and county for just that portion of the project that is within each jurisdiction, the land use final order is a single permit for the entire light rail line granted by one entity (Metro). Land use final orders have been granted in the past for all MAX lines in the region. In addition to the land use final order, the new light rail line will need to obtain federal, state and local permits related to the design and construction of the project.

Land Use Final Order for SW Corridor

7.49 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jul 1, 2021

Final Statement of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

1.05 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jul 1, 2021

Analysis to Support LUFO Findings

306.39 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jul 1, 2021

Staff Report

31.57 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jul 1, 2021

LUFO Legislation

60.06 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jul 1, 2021

LUFO application

7.95 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Nov 1, 2018

LUFO steering committee recommendation

5.72 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Nov 1, 2018

Land Conservation and Development Commission criteria

902.96 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Nov 1, 2018

The Southwest Corridor Light Rail Preferred Alternative is the alternative identified as the favored course of action to meet the project’s purpose and need. The Southwest Corridor Steering Committee recommended a preferred alternative based on analysis documented in the Draft EIS; input from the public and agencies, including comments on the Draft EIS; the project staff recommendation; and consideration of FTA’s rating criteria for large transit projects. The directly affected local jurisdictions, including the TriMet Board of Directors, adopted resolutions of support for the steering committee recommendation, and Metro Council took these resolutions into consideration in their approval of the Preferred Alternative and its incorporation in the Regional Transportation Plan.

Locally preferred alternative report

40.79 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Aug 20, 2018

Metro Council resolution 18-4915

24.94 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Nov 13, 2018

The Preferred Alternative would have constructed an 11-mile extension of the MAX system from Portland State University to Tigard and Bridgeport Village in Tualatin. The project would have provided the backbone for enhanced local bus service in the Southwest Corridor and would make substantial investments in the transportation infrastructure of the Southwest Corridor including:

a shared transitway that allows for express bus service from Beaverton and Hillsdale into downtown Portland
continuous sidewalks and protected bike lanes on both sides of Barbur from I-405 to Barbur Transit Center
improved pedestrian connections to the OHSU and VA complex on Marquam Hill and to Portland Community College’s Sylvania campus
a rebuilt driving surface for Barbur including reconstruction of two aged viaducts
greatly enhanced stormwater treatment along Barbur to support a cleaner Willamette River
a new operations and maintenance facility for TriMet MAX vehicles

For reports about alternatives considered prior to the selection of the Preferred Alternative, such as the comparison between light rail and bus rapid transit, send an email to [email protected] or call 503-813-7535.

These documents provide the background leading up to selection of the Shared Investment Strategy, the core approach adopted for the Southwest Corridor Plan in 2013, including public input from initial outreach and existing conditions analysis. Updates on the strategy are also included below.

Shared Investment Strategy project update, May 2016

686.16 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published May 31, 2016

Shared Investment Strategy factsheet: Winter 2015

4.37 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Feb 6, 2015

Winter 2014 project update

6.62 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 1, 2014

Evaluation report: Active transportation

4.13 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 3, 2013

Evaluation report: Roadway projects

3.47 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 3, 2013

Evaluation report: High capacity transit

3.26 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 3, 2013