Oregon Metro and TriMet are studying the feasibility of a subway tunnel under Portland that would cross under the Willamette River to speed up MAX trains through the city.
Andrew Theen reports that Metro, the regional government for the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan are, and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) will study an ambitious tunneling project that would "build a tunnel underneath downtown Portland and the Willamette River to speed up light rail trains and provide an alternative river crossing to the aging Steel Bridge."
"The regional government quietly posted a new website this week dedicated to the MAX tunnel project, which would put MAX trains underground from roughly the Lloyd Center to Goose Hollow in Southwest Portland," according to Theen.
Metro officials are stressing the speculative nature of the feasibility study, likening it to "planning for a plan." The website is asking for comments on the tunnel project, however.
Theen is able to share a few speculative details for the project, too: "The overall tunnel project would likely cost at least $1 billion. A preliminary concept described a “twin-bore east-west transit tunnel” that would emerge on the west side on Jefferson Street near SW 16th and on the eastside near NE Holiday Street at 16th Drive."
Given the preliminary nature of the project, Theen is able to reveal a lot more context for the project, and its potential impact on the city.
FULL STORY: Metro will study MAX tunnel underneath downtown Portland and Willamette River
Details on the Portland Region's Proposed $2.7 Billion Light Rail Line
The Southwest Corridor light rail project has a preferred alternative route, but there's still a lot of work to do before the ambitious project can begin construction, much less begin shuttling riders between Portland and Bridgeport Village.
Bus Service Cut in Portland as Driver Shortage Lingers
Like many transit agencies around the country, the regional transit agency for Portland, Oregon is struggling to attract enough bus drivers to maintain planned levels of transit service.
MAX Red Line Extension Wins Federal Funding in Portland
The "A Better Red" project won the federal funding it needed from the federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grants program.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Caltrans
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service