The Southwest Corridor Plan steering committee adjusted its decision-making schedule today, agreeing with a proposal from project staff that would allow more time for public engagement and technical analysis of several high capacity transit choices.
The committee also approved a motion recognizing that should light rail be chosen for the corridor, a downtown Tualatin light rail station is likely infeasible, and committed to removing it from further consideration in December unless project staff demonstrates its viability and desirability.
Meeting at the Tigard Library, the committee postponed two decisions for a few months:
- Mode decision: The committee postponed a decision about whether the Southwest Corridor's high capacity transit component should be light rail or bus rapid transit from December 2015 to February 2016.
- PCC light rail tunnel: The committee postponed a decision about whether to keep studying a direct light rail tunnel to serve Portland Community College Sylvania's campus from October 2015 to February 2016.
The committee kept April 2016 as the scheduled date for confirming a final preferred package of high capacity transit optoins; roadway, bicycle and pedestrian projects; a funding strategy and land use and development strategies for the corridor. The committee also directed project staff to contact neighborhood associations to ensure there is adequate time for public review of the February decisions prior to its decision in April.
The committee did not change other parts of its planned schedule:
- Options for Tigard, Tualatin and Central Barbur: The committee still expects to make final decisions at its Dec. 14 meeting on which alignment options to advance in Tigard and Tualatin, and technical modifications to alignment options along the Central Barbur portion of the line from Hillsdale to Portland city limits.
- Terminus decision: The committee still expects to select a preferred southern terminus for the high capacity transit line on Dec. 14. Options include downtown Tualatin, Bridgeport Village in Tualatin, a south Tigard location and the downtown Tigard transit center.
- Final preferred package: The committee still expects to adopt a final preferred package in April 2016, which would be advanced into the federal environmental impact review.
Weigh in
On Monday, Oct. 19, Metro will launch an online comment map soliciting comments on high capacity transit alignment options and other potential transportation investments in Tigard and Tualatin. The map will be available at oregonmetro.gov/swcorridormap.
Also on Oct. 19, a community forum at the Tigard Public Works Building will present an opportunity to talk with plan staff, learn about project options and hear from a panel of local and regional leaders about where the Southwest Corridor Plan will go next. Learn more