MAX Orange Line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The MAX Orange Line is a proposed light rail route for the Metropolitan Area Express light rail system in Portland, Oregon, USA. The line is the second section of a two-phase transportation plan known as the South Corridor Project. Combined with the Portland Transit Mall Revitalization Project, the Orange Line will run between Union Station and Milwaukie. The route, as of September 2005, is in the initial planning stages. Assuming the project goes ahead as scheduled it should open around 2014.

The Orange Line will be built off the Green Line's southern terminus at Portland State University. Plans call for a new Willamette River crossing at SE Caruthers Street, taking the route into Southeast Portland. The proposed stations will serve the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Brooklyn Neighborhood, and Milwaukie, Oregon through the McLoughlin Boulevard corridor. Part of the project includes moving the Milwaukie Transit Center off city streets and onto the former Southgate Theater property.

The designation of "Orange Line" may only be a placeholder name. Some transportation planners working on the project have indicated a preference for this transit line to be an extension of the existing Yellow Line.

Contents

[edit] History

In the early 1970s, a light rail line was proposed in this corridor. It would have run from Downtown Portland via the Hawthorne Bridge to Oregon City primarily along the old Portland Traction Company right-of-way. This route was to be the first of 5 light rail lines which would have run over existing rail lines in the Portland region. The hope was to get this Portland - Oregon City line running as soon as possible by using second-hand PCC streetcars from Toronto until brand new Boeing light rail vehicles could be obtained. The light rail line was shelved when the Mount Hood Freeway fell through in the mid 1970s and the region's transportation planning focused on the transit alternatives to the Mount Hood Freeway in the Portland - Gresham corridor. In the mid-1990s, light rail was planned again along much of this corridor as part of the proposed South-North Light Rail line which was to have run from the Clackamas Town Center to Milwaukie, into Downtown Portland then along Interstate Ave to Vancouver, WA.

[edit] Future plans

Although no official plans have been mentioned, the line may one day reach Oregon City. A branch may be built through the Powell Blvd./Foster Road corridor to the recently incorporated city of Damascus.

[edit] Proposed Stations

Please note that routings, station names, and station locations are subject to change. Interchanges with proposed MAX lines and reroutings are italicized.

Name Opening Year Interchange Municipality Fare Zone Park and Ride?
MAX Orange Line (Portland-Milwaukie)
The route enters a transit mall.
Union Station/Northwest 6th & Hoyt Street (terminus);
Union Station/Northwest 5th & Glisan Street (southbound)
2009 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
Amtrak
Greyhound Lines
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
Northwest 6th & Davis Street(northbound);
Northwest 5th & Couch Street (southbound)
2009 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
Southwest 6th & Pine Street(northbound);
Southwest 5th & Oak Street (southbound)
2009 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
Pioneer Courthouse/Southwest 6th (northbound);
Pioneer Place/Southwest 5th(southbound)
2009 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
MAX Blue Line
MAX Red Line
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
Southwest 6th & Madison Street (northtbound);
City Hall/Southwest 5th & Jefferson Street (southbound)
2009 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
PSU Urban Center/Southwest 6th & Montgomery Street (northbound);
PSU Urban Center/Southwest 6th & Mill Street (southbound)
2009 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
Portland
Streetcar
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
PSU South/Southwest 6th & College Street (northbound);
PSU South/Southwest 6th & Jackson Street (southbound)
2011 MAX Yellow Line
MAX Green Line
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
The route exits a transit mall.
Southwest Lincoln Street TBA Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
RiverPlace TBA Portland
Streetcar
Portland 1
Fareless Square
No
OMSI TBA Portland 1 No
Southeast Clinton Street TBA Portland 1 No
Southeast Rhine Street TBA Portland 1 No
Southeast Holgate Boulevard TBA Portland 1 No
Southeast Bybee Boulevard TBA Portland 2 No
Southeast Tacoma Street TBA Portland 2 No
Southgate Transit Center TBA Milwaukie 3 Yes
Harrison Street TBA Milwaukie 3 No
Lake Road TBA Milwaukie 3 Yes

[edit] External links