STAFF REPORT
To: Daniel L. Dias, Economic and Community Development Director
From: Gregg Snyder, Transportation Planning Supervisor Don Odermott, Transportation Planning Engineer
Date: April 16, 2019
Subject: Letters of Support and Required Mitigation for TriMet’s Red Line Extension and Operational Improvements Project
Requested City Council Action: Consider Transportation Committee’s recommendation to City Council to authorize the Mayor to execute two letters to TriMet regarding the Red Line Extension and Operational Improvements Project; one which confers full support of the project and one which requires mitigation of the Red Line Project’s significant impact to multi-modal mobility and safety at the 185th Avenue at-grade crossing.
Background/Project Overview: TriMet is currently planning to extend the MAX Red Line from its current terminus at the Beaverton Transit Center out to the Fairplex Station in Hillsboro.
According to the analysis completed to date, staff have concerns that the at-grade railroad crossing at 185th Avenue will be significantly affected by the increase in light rail train frequencies. Current traffic analysis is showing an unmitigated double digit increase in vehicle, bus and pedestrian delays and queues in the corridor.
At the February 2019 Transportation Committee meeting staff presented the findings of the traffic analysis and discussed next steps which included sending two letters to TriMet. The first letter would confer full support of the project and the second would require mitigation of the Red Line’s significant impact to multi-modal mobility at the grade crossing. Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2 are the proposed letters that the Transportation Committee is recommending be executed by the Mayor and delivered to TriMet.
Cost: None. Information Only. Exhibit 1
April 2, 2019
Mr. Doug Kelsey TriMet General Manager 1800 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 300 Portland, Oregon 97201
RE: Letter requesting Mitigation for the 185th Avenue At-Grade Crossing in the Red Line Extension and Operational Improvements Project
Dear Mr. Kelsey:
TriMet is currently planning to extend the MAX Red Line from its current terminus at the Beaverton Transit center out to the Fairplex Station in Hillsboro. Extending this vital service will link the Hillsboro Airport with Portland International Airport and provide increased travel options for regional commuters and our residents.
We have submitted a separate letter of support for your project development application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). In addition to this support we must express concern that the at-grade railroad crossing at 185th Avenue will be significantly impacted by the increase in light rail train frequencies. Current analysis is showing an unmitigated double digit increase in vehicle, bus and pedestrian delays and queues in the corridor. The predicted result will be long traffic queues, unreliable bus travel times, interrupted pedestrian crossings and a decrease in safety for all travelers in the corridor.
We are writing to request your commitment to mitigate the Red Line Project’s adverse impacts that that will be felt by all users who travel in the 185th Avenue corridor. The LRT at-grade crossing of 185th Avenue north of Baseline Road is a unique situation in that it is 250 feet away from a major arterial-to-arterial intersection with a combined average daily traffic volume of more than 55,000 vehicles per day. This situation was studied extensively in 1997 and at that time engineers predicted that a grade separation would be warranted by the year 2015. That time appears at hand.
The City of Hillsboro is willing and able to partner with Washington County, TriMet and the City of Beaverton to work together to find both a short-term mitigation strategy for the at-grade crossing of 185th Avenue as well as the long-term grade separation that was predicted over two decades ago. On behalf of the City Council and the citizens of Hillsboro we request that TriMet commit the resources to continue working with us to address these important project issues.
Sincerely,
Mr. Steve Callaway Mayor, City of Hillsboro
Exhibit 2
April 2, 2019
Mr. Doug Kelsey TriMet General Manager 1800 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 300 Portland, Oregon 97201
RE: Letter of Support for the Red Line Extension and Operational Improvements Project
Dear Mr. Kelsey:
On behalf of the City of Hillsboro we are writing today to express our support for the Red Line Extension and Operational Improvements Project and its proposal to move forward into project development. Extending this vital service will link the Hillsboro Fairplex Station with the Portland International Airport and provide increased travel options for regional commuters and our residents.
As you know, over the last decade population and employment growth in the City of Hillsboro has outpaced the growth in transit service capacity. From the high-tech industrial sector located in North Hillsboro to the economically disadvantaged communities living along TV Highway, our City and its residents are in need of increased transit service coverage and frequency. Extending the Red Line to the Hillsboro Fairplex Station will increase the number of trains available to regional commuters, ease overcrowding on current Blue Line trains and provide a one seat ride from Hillsboro to the Portland Airport. In particular, your project will also address a continuing theme we hear when collecting feedback from transit riders in our community: the need to improve transit reliability.
The City of Hillsboro values the strong partnership we have with TriMet. We look forward to working with you to support the Red Line Extension and Operational Improvements Project.
Sincerely,
Mr. Steve Callaway Mayor, City of Hillsboro