Current Metro Councilor Rod Park and councilor-elect Shirley Craddick mark the official opening of the new Civic Drive Station. With a steady drizzle in the background and the aroma of hot chocolate in the air, a casual observer might miss the significance of the event. After 13 years of planning, the Civic Drive MAX station officially opened in Gresham's Civic Neighborhood, with many of the key figures that helped make it happen in attendance.
Metro Councilor Rod Park joined former Gresham Mayor Gussie McRobert and Metro Councilor-elect Shirley Craddick in providing historical context. "The opening of the Civic Drive MAX station is an affirmation of the progress we’ve made in the last 13 years. The partnership of Metro, TriMet, the City of Gresham and the remarkable students at the Center for Advanced Learning is a reflection of the pride felt in this neighborhood and of our commitment to the benefits of transit-oriented living," said Metro Councilor Rod Park. "This station connects the neighborhood to the region, residents to jobs and visitors to the vibrant Civic Drive neighborhood."
MAX trains moved in and out of the new station throughout the ceremony and allowed passengers to get off and board the train for the first time once the ribbon was cut. Students from the adjacent Center for Advanced Learning proclaimed Dec. 1 as TriMet Safety Day in recognition of the safety elements added to the station that help foster transit ridership and an general sense of security. Other unique station features include a vertical interactive art piece, modern shelters, LED lighting, attractive stormwater planters and basalt benches.
An interactive art piece serves as a distinctive placemaking element for the station and neighborhood. Metro's Transit-Oriented Development program and the Federal Transit Administration funded the design and construction of the station.
Transit-oriented development, like the Civic Drive neighborhood, helps support the region's six desired outcomes by creating vibrant communities and safe and reliable transportation choices that enhance the quality of life for residents of the region.
Learn more about transit-oriented development