TR Circular E-C058_9th LRT Conference_2003.pdf - Florida ...

F
PORTLAND POSTER SESSION
From the Ballot Ashes
Rebirth of Interstate MAX
LEAH ROBBINS
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon
or transit properties that have had success planning and building light rail projects, there is
the potential to disconnect the critical link between community value and project planning,
and yet expect continued success. However, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District
of Oregon (Tri-Met) managed to take a failing project from the dregs of a failed local (regional)
funding election and in its place create a project of value to the community it serves and the local
and federal funding partners.
A review of the demise and resurgence of a light rail project is supported by interviews
with key participants in planning, financing, communications, and engineering. Public transit
projects must be good public policy as well. They must make technical sense, but more
importantly have credibility with the community it serves and be fiscally responsible from
inception to implementation.
The Interstate Metropolitan Area Express succeeded by fostering and maintaining a
collaborative team from design through construction; aligning and maintaining project priorities;
and focusing on value for the public and the transit system.
INTRODUCTION
The Interstate Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) Project literally arose from the ashes of the
South/North Project after its narrow defeat in the November 1998 regional funding election. The
South/North Project was quite dead, technically and politically. Months later, however, a
community based effort brought a new project proposal to light that held three priorities
paramount: serve north and northeast Portland with reliable transit; build a quality project with
lower costs than the South/North proposal; and require no displacements along the alignment.
This paper attempts to detail the transition from what had been South/North Project to
Interstate MAX from the perspectives of planning, engineering, financing, and communications
staff involved with both projects. Interstate MAX construction is currently 75% complete
overall—four months ahead of schedule and under budget. Service is scheduled to begin
September 2004.
But it didn’t start that way.
South/North Project
The South/North Transit Corridor was identified as the priority corridor for high capacity transit
improvements through Metro’s Region 2040 Growth Concept. Planning began in 1993 and
culminated in the Locally Preferred Strategy selection of a light rail project from the Clackamas
Regional Center to Rose Quarter Transit Center.
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