Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland’s regional government, Metro, unanimously approved a new map Thursday of where future light rail lines or new high speed routes are planned. Rob Manning reports.

The new map charts a course for transit lines that would be much closer to hundreds of thousands of Portland area residents.

It includes plans currently in engineering and environmental review: light rail to Lake Oswego, to Milwaukie, and to Vancouver, over a new I-5 bridge.

But the map calls for two brand-new lines out of downtown Portland.

One would go through southeast to Gresham, parallel to the current eastside MAX. And a 12-mile line into the southwest suburbs – would reach all the way to Sherwood.

Those lines could be light rail, or express buses with their own dedicated lanes.

Longer term, Metro is planning  a network of lines linking Milwaukie, Clackamas, Oregon City, and extending over the Willamette to Tualatin.

Metro hopes to reach Forest Grove, Troutdale, and possibly Damascus – but probably even later on. 

Funding for the plans will be discussed this fall, as part of Metro’s Regional Transportation Plan process.

Metro Map (.pdf)