Metro Councilor Rod Park shares a vision for transit- and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. The groundbreaking ceremony held May 17 for a new light rail station in the heart of the Gresham Civic Neighborhood marked the start of a construction timeline that will have the Civic Drive MAX station ready for passengers by the fall of this year.
Metro Councilor Rod Park joined TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen and other local officials to acknowledge the significance of the long anticipated station as a key part of a larger vision for a vibrant transit- and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
"Great communities start with a great vision. Our region, through its commitment to creating transit-oriented development, continues to build on that vision," said Metro Councilor Park. "By connecting transit with our land use goals, we give residents a variety of choices about where they live and how they get around, as well as on where businesses can locate."
Through the Transit-Oriented Development Program, Metro has already invested in the area with the Crossings project and four properties totaling 13 acres slated for future transit-oriented development.
"Civic Neighborhood has evolved into a vibrant mixed-use community and this station will further this progress by unlocking new potential for transit-oriented development," said Christopher Yake, project manager and senior planner with Metro's TOD Program.
Unique features of the station include an interactive art piece that will serve as a distinctive placemaking element for the station and neighborhood, and green design elements including LED lighting, stormwater features and secure bike lockers.
Metro Councilor Rod Park (far right) joins other elected officials and community partners to mark the groundbreaking of the Civic Drive station. Security features added to the station design and the special attention to safety at pedestrian track crossing points help foster transit ridership and an overall sense of safety for transit riders, pedestrians and students at the nearby Center for Advanced Learning.
The Federal Transit Administration and Metro's Transit-Oriented Development program contributed funds for the design and construction of the station.