TriMet breaks ground on new MAX station

Written by jrood

TriMet, elected officials and project partners in the Portland, Ore., area broke ground on a new MAX station that has been in the works since 1997. The future Civic Drive Station will be the 85th along the entire 52-mile MAX system. The Civic Drive Station is located along the MAX Blue Line tracks at Civic Drive in Gresham.

TriMet and Metro committed
to building the future station once there was enough development and density in
the Gresham Civic Neighborhood to support it. The 130-acre site was formerly
used by a mill.

"We are pleased to
partner with Metro and the city of Gresham to turn this idea into reality, and
provide high-quality transit service to this growing community and connections
to the entire region," said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen.

"Great communities
start with a great vision. Our region, through its commitment to creating
transit-oriented developments, continues to build on that vision," said
Metro Councilor Rod Park. "By connecting transit with regional land use
goals, we give residents a variety of choices on where they live and how they
get around, as well as on where businesses can locate."

The station will cost $3
million, with funding provided from Metro and the Federal Transit
Administration. The city of Gresham will contribute $600,000 for a future plaza
adjacent to the MAX station that will also serve as a pedestrian connection
between the station and future development.

Students from the Center
for Advanced Learning worked with TriMet on pedestrian crossings, since the
school is located across the street from the MAX station. The students helped
develop recommendations for improving vehicle traffic and pedestrian activity
that included installing a pedestrian crossing signal.

Civic Drive is located
between the Ruby Junction/E 197th Ave and Gresham City Hall MAX stations. The
station will have new pedestrian crossing enhancements, new shelters, new
ticket vending machines, platform furnishings, security cameras and interactive
public art.

The station is set to open
this fall.

In addition to the
construction at Civic Drive, there are transportation enhancements under way in
the Rockwood triangle area funded through the state’s Connect Oregon II program
and the Gresham Redevelopment Commission. Construction is under way that moves
both MAX platforms for the Rockwood/E 188th Ave Station to the west side of
188th Ave to improve safety and the experience for riders. The refurbished Rockwood
MAX station is set to be complete by February 2011.

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