1. Home
  2. TRID
  3. View Record
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

MAX LIGHT RAIL INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY: WESTSIDE TO INTERSTATE MAX

MAX Light Rail in Portland, Oregon, has evolved from the first Banfield project and has become an important contributor to the community's character, a catalyst for future urban form that is carefully coordinated with the neighborhood's private and public stakeholders. The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) approach to light rail planning, design, building, and the system's operating has changed from a top-down mentality to a more grass roots, context sensitive search for solutions. The Westside MAX project's design was the beginning. It was a transforming process for TriMet, and the community, when the project became a process for neighborhood self-determination. Subsequent light rail projects will try to repeat this lesson. Interstate MAX is a community involvement process where design elements are refined and standardized to fit this challenging alignment, and MAX's art program has become a reflection of the neighborhood's character. A brief and succinct overview of light rail in the Portland downtown and metropolitan region is provided, starting with Portland's first light rail effort, the Banfield project, in which a revolution turned into a regional evolution. While Westside MAX transformed the agency's view about transit, the death of the huge North/South Project then signaled a low point and forced a retrenchment. This led to a kind of resurrection with the Airport MAX extension, which in turn helped kick off the creation of Interstate MAX. Several key examples of the growth of community involvement illustrate how urban design, station design, civil and traffic engineering, construction methodology, business support, and the art program can all work together to support the neighborhood's and community's goals. Specific examples of transit design coordination are provided to show how the system has evolved to become more efficient, cost effective, safer, easier to maintain, while at the same time becoming a catalyst for community development and an attractive and enjoyable experience for all. In conclusion: the story continues. All participants have learned a great deal about depending on one another and honoring each other's needs, goals, and concerns. What TriMet builds today has to be responsive to each community, because that success will directly influence what TriMet may create in the future. There's more to be done in providing an efficient, economical, and attractive system throughout the region.

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00972184
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: E-C058
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Apr 22 2004 12:00AM