“It is a partnership with the federal, state, local and private sector,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer. Congressional and local leaders commemorated the start of construction on the region’s sixth light rail project on June 30.
“This is the type of project that will show the rest of the country that infrastructure spending is not, ‘just spending’, it’s actually building the future. It’s creating the jobs, building the economic opportunities for the next generation,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., whose district includes the southern end of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project.
His sentiment was echoed by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Metro Councilor Carlotta Collette and other local elected leaders at a ground-breaking ceremony for the light rail project. Collette acknowledged the continued support and participation of community members and cited her involvement in the project’s early days as the beginning of her public service.
The construction phase of the $1.5 billion project will create as many as 14,000 jobs and, in the long-term, contribute to the six desired outcomes for communities throughout the region – vibrant communities, economic prosperity, safe and reliable transportation, leadership on climate change, clean air and water, and equity.
The new MAX line will travel 7.3 miles, connecting Portland State University in downtown Portland, inner Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and north Clackamas County. MAX service on the alignment is scheduled to begin in 2015. By 2030, when this future light rail line is forecast to carry as many as 27,400 daily riders, there could be up to 22,000 households and 85,000 employees within walking distance of its light rail stations.
Metro Councilor Carlotta Collette can trace her political roots as a neighborhood leader back to the early days of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project. See it live
Construction on the project begins with the new bridge over the Willamette River, the first in more than 40 years. It will span the river between the Marquam and Ross Island bridges and will carry light rail, pedestrians, bikes, buses and future streetcar. Watch live footage of the bridge’s construction and time-lapse footage of daily construction progress on the project’s website. On the west side of the Willamette River, a camera is positioned on the Oregon Health & Science University Center for Health and Healing in South Waterfront. On the east side, a camera is mounted on the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. As construction activity increases, the project will send out regular email notifications.