Longer buses with room for 60 percent more riders
Multiple-door boarding for briefer stops
Expanded bus stations with amenities such as weather protection
Stations located where rider demand is greatest — minimizing travel times while providing important transit connections
Transit signal priority — traffic signals prioritize bus travel, getting riders to their destinations faster
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Since opening in 2015, Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, has served as a vital cross-river connection for bus, MAX and streetcar riders, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. The bridge, which has no car traffic and does not need to lift for ships and boats to pass under it, is the preferred river crossing for the project. Using Tilikum Crossing, the project will provide a transit link for a regional educational corridor, connecting Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland Community College and Mount Hood Community College. This alignment also enables the project to utilize the transit-exclusive route from SE 8th Avenue and Division to SW Naito Parkway. TriMet continues to work with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) to further reduce UPRR train delays and improve travel reliability at the intersection of SE 8th Avenue.
Metro began planning for the project in 2014 by convening a project Steering Committee and holding a series of public open houses and meetings. The committee of key stakeholders and community members approved the project plan, formally known as the “Locally-Preferred Alternative,” in November 2016. This plan was unanimously approved by the cities of Gresham and Portland, the Multnomah County Commission and the TriMet Board of Directors. Metro transferred project leadership to TriMet on December 20, 2016.
The project, now led by TriMet, is in the design and construction phase through 2020. This phase will encompass the stations, adjacent crossings and modifications at major intersections along the route.
Project costs are approximately $175 million, with state, regional, local and federal funding contributions expected.
Initial construction is scheduled to begin in late 2019, with service beginning in 2022.
Top Five Frequently Asked Questions PDF
Browse the Metro library of project planning documents
Along with our regional partners, we are considering ways to improve safety for people traveling on and crossing Division Street. The Division Transit Project will include design elements such as improved pedestrian crossings at stations, and we will coordinate with other efforts, such as the City of Portland’s Safety Action Plan for Outer SE Division Steet, to make Division safer for all users.
The project will include new 60-foot articulated buses, which have room for 60 percent more riders than our standard buses. These new buses will feature multiple-door boarding, allowing riders to board and exit quickly. And though they are longer than our current buses, these new buses are not wider, and can travel on the same streets.
Decisions about the manufacturer and model the project will use for these articulated buses will occur in 2018.
Conceptual renderings are subject to change and service branding to be determined
The Community Advisory Committee brings together volunteer community members from various backgrounds to discuss design, construction and impacts of the Division Transit Project. Meetings are open to the public.
If you need interpretation or ADA services at the meeting, please contact TriMet at 503-962-2150.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
6–7:30 p.m.
Gresham City Hall
1333 NW Eastman Pkwy., Gresham
Find meeting notes and presentations for Community Advisory Committee, Policy and Budget Committee, and Open House.
TriMet staff shares project information and gathers feedback from neighborhood, business and community groups.
