SW Corridor Update 12

The Southwest Corridor Plan looks to bring bus rapid transit or light rail from Portland to Tualatin.

(Courtesy of Metro)

Metro documents released this week show updated maps of possible paths for a light-rail or bus-rapid-transit corridor from Portland to Tualatin, and city and regional officials had them on display Wednesday night in Tigard. Tualatin residents can view the maps tonight at the Tualatin Police Department at 6 p.m.

Metro and the other Southwest Corridor Plan partners are looking for the public's input as they continue to narrow down the options. The newest maps show the paths still on the table, and the paths slated for "early removal" -- the ones that don't make as much sense because of financial or logistical obstacles.

The new maps are below (click "View full size" below each picture to enlarge). Larger versions, with explanations of the benefits and drawbacks of each option, are available in PDF form at Metro's website.

-- Luke Hammill

This overall view shows the entire corridor, from Portland to Tualatin. It would leave Highway 99W before the Washington County line and serve the Tigard Triangle and Bridgeport Village.

In downtown Portland, option "I" serving South Waterfront is slated for early removal, and option "A" is now only being considered for bus rapid transit, not light rail.

In South Portland, there are options for high-capacity transit on Barbur Boulevard and a proposal to build a tunnel to serve Oregon Health & Science University.

If a tunnel goes as far as Hillsdale, it will link up with Barbur soon afterward, as an option to extend the tunnel to serve Multnomah Village is slated for early removal.

In the PCC Sylvania area, there are options to go both above and below ground. The gray lines between options "A," B," "C" and "D" are bus rapid transit options still on the table. The gray line below option "D" is a bus rapid transit option slated for early removal.

In the Tigard Triangle, the options are to use 68th, 69th or 70th avenues.

Before getting to Downtown Tigard, planners need to figure out the best way to cross Highway 217. Options "E" and "F" are being slated for early removal. Tigard transportation planner Judith Gray likes option "C" best.

Here is the map of Downtown Tigard. If planners choose to use Hunziker Street, they won't use light rail.

On the way from Downtown Tigard to the Durham area, options "A," "D," "E" and "G" are slated for early removal, leaving three options -- one of which would rejoin Interstate 5.

Before arriving in Downtown Tualatin, the project will serve Bridgeport Village. Option "B" is slated for early removal, leaving three options remaining.