TriMet plans for future of 99W/Barbur Boulevard

Area could see light rail in about 12 years

By Barbara Sherman

The Regal Courier, Jun 24, 2010 (1 Reader comment)

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People who attended a spring meeting of Citizen Participation Organization 4K (King City) got a glimpse at the future of transportation in the local area.

Alan Lehto, TriMet director of project planning, discussed 99W and the concepts for its future.

To no one's surprise, he said that 99W-Barbur Boulevard is one of the most congested routes in the metro area, but fixing the problem isn't all that easy.

One solution might be to add light rail, "but don't assume where it would go," Lehto said.

"The cities of Portland and Tigard are looking at future land use in the area and working with Metro, ODOT and various other jurisdictions. Public transit gives people alternatives, which means less waiting time in traffic and allowing more people to travel through a corridor.

"Later, there could be a high-capacity transit study that might call for more frequent bus service or light rail or anything else that people ask for. If the demand is high enough and the traffic volume is high enough, buses plus light rail are likely to perform very well."

According to Lehto, light-rail stations support more development than bus stops do, and "jurisdictions are now talking to their citizens about what they want."

However, he cautioned that "even if the stars align, it takes years for a decision and then the engineering and construction."

Lehto added that even if the process starts now, it would be 2021 or 2022 before a light rail system started operating.

"If light rail came down Barbur and 99W, it might replace some bus service, which would be placed elsewhere," Lehto said. For example, he explained that at the end of 2001, a TriMet route that included King City and The Highlands was closed.

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