Other major milestones include:

• Securing 34 federal, state and local permits to begin construction
• All work completed in the 4-month, in-water construction window
• Drilling for the first shaft is complete; crews are placing the rebar cage (in two sections).

The 7.3-mile project is the region's sixth MAX line to be built and extends from the terminus of the MAX Green and Yellow lines at Portland State University to South Waterfront, Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and Park Avenue in Clackamas County. It will create about 14,000 jobs and generate $573 million in personal earnings. When it opens in September 2015, it will extend the MAX system to 60 miles.