Connecting Communities with MAX

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Connecting Communities with MAX

• Ann Becklund
• TriMet, Portland Oregon

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Integrating Land Use and Transportation Options

• Urban Growth boundary established in 1979
• Preserves farmland and open space
• Provides for more efficient development of
  infrastructure.

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Integrating Land Use and Transportation Options

• Maintain a compact region - contain sprawl and
  need for roads
• Develop transit oriented centers that reduce
  surface parking
• Pursue a jobs-housing balance
• Design streets for people
• Interconnect local streets to reduce congestion
• Make bike travel easy and safe

4
Building A Balanced System

• 93 bus routes 80 connecting with MAX
• 44 miles of MAX light rail track
• 315,700 average daily boardings (May 2004)

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Total Transit Experience

• Frequent, reliable and courteous service
• Good customer information
• Positive on-street presence
• Active community engagement

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How TriMet Stacks Up

• Over 315,700 daily riders, 97,000 on the MAX
  system 
• 77 of riders ride by choice
• Over 40 of downtown Portland work trips are made
  on transit
• Every bus and MAX train is ADA accessible

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How TriMet Stacks Up

• TriMet carries more people than any other U.S.
  system its size.
• TriMets service area ranks 24th in population
  nationally, but 13th in transit ridership.
• TriMet carried 96 million rides last year - more
  than any other western system except L.A.
• Portland region residents took 80 transit trips
  per capita in 2002
• Annual ridership has increased for 17 consecutive
  years

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Transit Oriented Development

• MAX system has spawned 3 billion in development
  near light rail stations
• More than 8,000 housing units
• Mixed used neighborhoods near light rail reduces
  automobile trips
• Jobs housing ridership

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Interstate MAX Yellow Line

• Opened May 1, 2004
• 350 million budget required no new taxes
• Finished 4 months ahead of schedule and millions
  under budget
• One of the greenest light rail projects built
  to date

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Interstate MAX Light Rail

• 5.8 mile-long (9.3 km) alignment
• 10 new stations
• 2 new park rides, totaling 600 spaces
• 17 Light Rail Vehicles
• Urban street construction dominant

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Open For BusinessInterstate MAX Case Study
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TriMets Commitment to the Community

• No home or business displaced
• Contribute to communitys urban renewal and
  economic development
• No new taxes
• Community helps build project
• No Business Will Go Out Of Business

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TriMets Approach

• TriMet made the community a contributing partner
• Had a voice through station and art design
• Hired staff from the community

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Commitment to Business

• Minimize construction impacts
• Maintain business access
• Provide technical and marketing assistance
• Develop Open for Business campaign

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Marketing Components

• Business Directory
• Savings Guide
• Bus/MAX/shelter ads
• Neighborhood newsletters
• Fliers
• Church Bulletins
• Product Placement

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Lunch Bus

• Gave tours of the new alignment and then brought
  them to an Interstate Ave. restaurant
• More than 1,400 people participated
• Raised over 11,600

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Low-interest Loans

• Partnered with Cascadia Revolving Fund and PDC
• Established 300,000 available for low-interest
  loans
• 3 fixed interest for 8 yrs interest only
  payments 1st yr
• 265,000 in 15 loans disperse

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Business Workshops

• MAXimize Your Business
• Helped position business to take advantage of
  light rail
• One-on-one mentoring session with area business
  leaders
• Interstate Ave Development
• Helped businesses explore the possibilities of
  redeveloping their properties

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Storefront Improvement Grants

• Development supported by PDC
• To date, Storefront Improvement Grants to 18
  businesses9 minority and/or women owned
• Development Opportunity Grants and other grants
  and loans to 12 businesses

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Public Art Program

• 18 Northwest artists writers
• Created over 50 art elements
• Each piece draws on the history and culture of
  the station area

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Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

• Provided technical and business assistance
• Held networking sessions
• Divided large contracts into smaller scopes
• Created DBE directory
• 25 of workforce hours performed by apprentices

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Rail Safety Program

• First U.S. transit agency to develop pedestrian
  crossing and rail safety criteria
• Independent design reviews
• Hazard/Risk analysis ongoing through project
  construction

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MAX Safety Campaign
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Green DesignInterstate MAX LRT Project

• Innovative, environmentally friendly construction
  practices
• Results 3M in project savings
• Recycled plastic railroad ties, bollards and
  chain
• Reused excavated soil
• Bio-swale treatment
• Native plantings
• Reduced/minimized impervious surfaces
• Tripled the total number of trees

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Interstate MAX Opens

• Grand Opening - May 1
• Over 38,000 rides during opening weekend
• Ridership
• Averaged 13,000 a day during year of regular
  service
• 2,500 additional riders on reconfigured bus lines

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In the end

• New streets sidewalks
• Tripled the number of trees
• New street lighting
• Art that honors the communitys history
• 51 new businesses along Interstate Avenue
• New housing developments under construction

Before
After