May 3, 2005

Interstate MAX Yellow Line wins Arbor Day Foundation Lady Bird Johnson Award

TriMet's Interstate MAX Yellow Line received the National Arbor Day Foundation's 2005 Lady Bird Johnson Award for exemplary leadership in roadside beautification at a special awards ceremony on Saturday, April 30. The award ceremony is part of the 33rd annual National Arbor Day celebration held in Nebraska City, home of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton.

In May 2004, TriMet finished a four-year project extending its rail service 5.8 miles. The $350 million project committed itself to making the new stretch one of the greenest in the nation. By the time work was completed, more than 20,000 trees and shrubs had been planted and properly cared for to ensure their survivability. TriMet also expanded an existing wetland area adjacent to the Portland International Raceway and worked with local neighborhood associations to relocate 35 trees that would have been in danger due to the construction.

The Lady Bird Johnson Award, named after the former First Lady whose work and commitment made the highways and byways of America more beautiful, is presented to those whose work sets a worthy example. Each year the Foundation honors individuals and groups from around the country that make a commitment to planting trees and embrace education as a way to continue Morton's legacy of environmental stewardship for future generations.

The National Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member, nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship.