Division Transit Project

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Not to be confused with Division Bus Rapid Transit, a planned bus rapid transit line along Division Street in Spokane, Washington.
FX–Division
Overview
SystemFrequent Express
OperatorTriMet
StatusUnder construction
Began serviceSeptember 2022 (2022-09) (planned)[1]
Predecessors2–Division
Route
LocalePortland, Oregon, U.S.
StartNorthwest Irving & 5th, Portland Transit Mall
ViaDivision Street
EndCleveland Park and Ride, Gresham
Length15 mi (24 km)
Stations47
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency12 minutes
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Frequent Express (FX) is a future bus route with bus rapid transit (BRT) features in Portland, Oregon, United States, that will be operated by TriMet as FX–Division. The 47-station, 15-mile (24 km) route will run east–west from the northern end of the Portland Transit Mall in downtown Portland to Cleveland Park and Ride in Gresham via Division Street. It will connect Portland City Center, Portland State University (PSU), South Waterfront, Southeast Portland, and central Gresham. Passengers will be able to transfer to MAX Light Rail and the Portland Streetcar at various points along the route. Metro regional government adopted a high-capacity transit system plan in 2009, and planning for the Powell–Division Corridor commenced in 2013. The Division Transit Project began construction in January 2020 and is targeted for completion in 2022. Upon opening, it will replace TriMet bus route 2–Division.

History[]

Planning[]

A TriMet bus operating route 4–Division/Fessenden, the predecessor of 2–Division, seen in Portland in 2013

A proposal to develop "high-capacity transit" along the vicinity of Powell Boulevard in Southeast Portland emerged with the adoption of a high-capacity transit plan by the Portland metropolitan area's regional government, Metro, in 2009.[2] Four years later, Metro and Portland's regional transit agency, TriMet, began studying alignment and mode alternatives along Powell Boulevard and several blocks further north along Division Street, with BRT, light rail, and streetcar under consideration.[3][4] At the time, Powell and Division were served by bus routes 9–Powell Blvd. and 4–Division/Fessenden, respectively, which together carried more than 17,000 riders between Portland and the eastern suburb of Gresham daily.[5]

In 2014, a steering committee for the Powell–Division Transit and Development Project was formed;[6] that September, they voted to abandon the further study of rail alternatives in favor of a bus-only option, citing fewer property and roadway impacts and shorter construction time.[7] The project began conceptual design work two months later.[6] The steering committee had wanted a route that would use Powell Boulevard on its westernmost section, head north to Division Street somewhere between 52nd and 92nd avenues, and continue east through Gresham on to Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) near Troutdale.[7][8] A study conducted by TriMet in March 2016 revealed that this preferred route would take approximately 11 minutes longer to travel than the existing bus service.[9] It was also estimated to exceed $200 million; to ensure federal funding was acquired, a target cost was set at $175 million.[10]: 8  The steering committee selected a locally preferred alternative (LPA) in October that dropped the Powell segment for a Division Street-only BRT alignment.[10]: 4  The LPA had also scaled back the route's eastern end to terminate at Gresham Central Transit Center, rather than at MHCC, to lower cost,[10]: 10 [11] but subsequent LPA refinements re-extended the route slightly further east to Cleveland Avenue MAX station.[12]

Metro transferred the project to TriMet in December 2016, and TriMet renamed it the "Division Transit Project".[13] Engineering firm WSP USA was awarded the design contract for stations, traffic signals, and civil infrastructure improvements in July 2017.[14][15] In September 2018, scheduled service changes split 4–Division/Fessenden into two lines; 2–Division took over the Division Transit Project route on the east side.[16] The following month, TriMet unveiled a mock-up station in Gresham that was scaled down from previous plans;[17][18] planners attributed budget restrictions and space constraints as reasons for the design change.[19][20] In March 2019, TriMet issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the procurement of 60-foot (18 m) articulated buses and received responses from BYD Auto, New Flyer, and Nova Bus.[21]: 2  During an initial evaluation process, TriMet noted that the battery electric buses proposed by BYD and New Flyer did not meet the RFP's specifications and eliminated the bus type from further consideration. That August, TriMet selected Nova as the manufacturer,[21]: 3  and in the following month, placed an initial order for 31 diesel buses with an option to purchase as many as 159 diesel and hybrid electric bus alternatives.[21]: 1 [22]

Funding and construction[]

The cost of the Division Transit Project amounted to $175 million,[23] half of which was funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Small Starts program.[24] In August 2018, the Portland City Council authorized $17.7 million to cover its share of local funding, sourced through developer fees,[25] and Gresham allocated $500,000 the following month.[26] The project received tentative FTA approval for $87.4 million in funding in April 2019,[27] formally awarded on January 23, 2020.[28][29]

TriMet selected Portland-based Raimore Construction as the project's general contractor,[28] and early construction work began in October 2019. Work was split into three zones on the east side and progressed concurrently from east to west.[30][31] Construction of the first station platforms had begun by June 2020.[32] By October, 19 platforms had been poured and seven bioswales and five pedestrian safety islands had been built.[33] Crews completed around 40 percent of the project within the first year despite working through the COVID-19 pandemic.[34][35] In April 2021, TriMet opened the first two upgraded stations at 130th Avenue eastbound and 135th Avenue westbound for use by the existing 2–Division bus route.[36][37] TriMet collaborated with the Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) Outer Division Safety Project, which focused on an area between 80th and 174th avenues, for additional safety improvements; PBOT lowered the speed limit to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h), installed speed cameras and more street lighting, filled in sidewalks, and painted signalized crosswalks.[38][39] In June 2021, TriMet announced that the service would be called "Frequent Express", or "FX",[40] with the route itself called "FX–Division".[41]

Service[]

FX will have bus rapid transit features such as dedicated right-of-way and traffic-signal priority.[42]

Fleet[]

FX will use 60-foot (18.3 m) articulated buses manufactured by Nova Bus.[40]

Route[]

FX–Division begins at the northern end of the Portland Transit Mall on Northwest Irving Street and 5th Avenue near Union Station in downtown Portland. Within the transit mall, buses travel in a one-way pair, Portland-bound on 6th Avenue and Gresham-bound on 5th Avenue, except on a segment between Southwest Lincoln and Hall streets where Portland-bound buses run along 4th Avenue. From Lincoln Street, the route follows the shared Portland–Milwaukie light rail alignment eastward through Southwest Harbor Viaduct and Tilikum Crossing. It diverges from this shared alignment on Southeast 7th Avenue, circling a block before entering Division Street on Southeast 8th Avenue.[43] FX–Division stays along Division Street through Southeast Portland and Gresham until Northeast Roberts Avenue,[44][45] where it turns for Northeast 8th Street and terminates at Cleveland Avenue station park and ride. Portland-bound buses in central Gresham turn from Northeast 8th Street back to Division Street via Northeast Kelley Avenue.[46]

Stations[]

5th & Hall station on the Portland Transit Mall

FX–Division will serve 47 stations, spaced an average 1⁄3 mile (0.54 km) apart, within the cities of Portland and Gresham, primarily along Division Street.[47] Stops west of Division Street and 11th Avenue existed prior to the Division Transit Project. East of Division and 11th, TriMet designed four station types to accommodate right-of-way restrictions,[48] with stations in the outer parts of the route (east of 82nd Avenue) built larger with more amenities.[31] Station areas vary in length, from 48 to 56 feet (14.6 to 17.1 m),[48] and typically consist of a shelter, station marker, trashcan, and utility cabinet.[49] Shelters also vary in length, from 8 to 20 feet (2.4 to 6.1 m), and are glass-covered.[50] Platforms are long enough to accommodate simultaneous boarding of the three-door buses,[47] and larger stations are wider to incorporate bicycle lanes.[51][52]

Key
Icon Purpose
† Terminus
List of FX–Division stations
Station[53] Location Connections and notes
Eastbound Westbound
Irving & 5th† — Portland
Transit
Mall 		MAX Light Rail Union Station stations: MAX Green, Orange, Yellow lines
Amtrak Portland Union Station: Amtrak
5th & Davis 6th & Flanders MAX Light Rail Northwest 6th & Davis and Northwest 5th & Couch stations: MAX Green, Orange, Yellow lines
5th & Washington 6th & Stark MAX Light Rail Southwest 6th & Pine and Southwest 5th & Oak stations: MAX Green, Orange, Yellow lines
5th & Salmon 6th & Taylor MAX Light Rail Pioneer Square and Pioneer Courthouse/Place stations: all MAX lines
5th & Columbia 6th & Columbia MAX Light Rail Southwest 6th & Madison and City Hall/Southwest 5th & Jefferson stations: MAX Green, Orange, Yellow lines
5th & Hall Hall & 5th MAX Light Rail PSU South stations: MAX Green, Orange, Yellow lines
Tram interchange Portland Streetcar: A and B Loop, NS Line
2nd & Lincoln Southwest
Portland 		MAX Light Rail Lincoln Street/Southwest 3rd Avenue station: MAX Orange Line
South Waterfront/S Moody South
Portland 		MAX Light Rail South Waterfront/South Moody station: MAX Orange Line
Tram interchange Portland Streetcar: A and B Loop, NS Line
OMSI/Water Southeast
Portland 		MAX Light Rail OMSI/Southeast Water station: MAX Orange Line
Tram interchange Portland Streetcar: A and B Loop
Division & 11th/12th MAX Light Rail Clinton Street/Southeast 12th Avenue station: MAX Orange Line
Division & 20th —
Division & 26th —
Division & 30th —
Division & 34th —
Division & Chavez —
Division & 43rd —
Division & 51st —
Division & 60th —
Division & 68th —
Division & 76th —
Division & 82nd —
Division & 87th —
Division & MAX Green Line MAX Light Rail Southeast Division Street station: MAX Green Line
Division & 101st —
Division & 112th —
Division & 116th —
Division & 122nd —
Division & 130th —
Division & 135th/136th —
Division & 142nd —
Division & 148th —
Division & 157th —
Division & 162nd Gresham —
Division & 168th —
Division & 174th —
Division & 182nd —
Division & Eastwood —
Division & Angeline —
Division & Civic —
Division & Eastman MAX Light Rail Gresham City Hall station: MAX Blue Line
Gresham Central Transit Center MAX Light Rail Gresham Central Transit Center: MAX Blue Line
Cleveland Park & Ride† MAX Light Rail Cleveland Avenue station: MAX Blue Line

References[]

  1. ^ TriMet [@trimet] (September 1, 2021). "Start the countdown! Division Transit Project opens September 2022" (Tweet). Retrieved January 3, 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "The Regional High Capacity Transit Plan (Fall 2009)" (PDF). Metro. September 1, 2009. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Powell–Division Transit and Development Project—Transit Alternatives Screening Report (PDF) (Report). Metro. September 29, 2014. p. 1. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  4. ^ Manning, Rob (January 25, 2013). "Light Rail On Wheels? Portland Ponders Bus Rapid Transit". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "Powell–Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee Meeting, March 17, 2014" (PDF). Metro. March 17, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Resolution 16-12-70 of the Tri-County Metropolitan District of Oregon (TriMet) recommending confirmation of the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Powell–Division Transit and Development Project" (PDF). TriMet. December 14, 2016. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Christensen, Nick (September 30, 2014). "Steering committee drops rail, sets course for Powell-Division study's future". Metro. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Powell–Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee Meeting, September 29, 2014" (PDF). Metro. September 29, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  9. ^ Njus, Elliot (March 23, 2016). "Metro, TriMet bus rapid transit goes back to the drawing board". The Oregonian. p. A6.
  10. ^ a b c "Powell–Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee meetings, September 26, 2016 │ October 3, 2016" (PDF). Metro. October 3, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Beebe, Craig (September 13, 2016). "If Division Street bus rapid transit ends at Gresham Transit Center, could other bus options serve a key destination?" (Press release). Metro. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Community Advisory Committee Meeting (June 2017)" (PDF). TriMet. June 15, 2017. p. 11. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "Division Transit Project (2016)" (PDF). TriMet. December 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "WSP USA Designing BRT System in Portland, Oregon" (Press release). WSP USA. July 7, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "WSP to design Portland Division Transit". Railway Gazette International. July 10, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  16. ^ York, Tia (August 22, 2018). "When it comes to improving TriMet bus service, two lines are better than one" (Press release). TriMet. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  17. ^ Lum, Brian (October 25, 2018). "This Bus Platform Has Room for Bikes, Pedestrians and More". TriMet. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Theen, Andrew (October 18, 2018). "TriMet tests Division plan to keep buses, cyclists from colliding". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  19. ^ Njus, Elliot (January 29, 2018). "Division transit project likely delayed due to budget shortfall". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  20. ^ Andersen, Derek (November 16, 2018). "Division Transit Project station model unveiled". Mid-County Memo. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  21. ^ a b c "Resolution No. 19-09-78 of the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) authorizing a contract with Nova Bus, a division of Prevost Car (US), Inc. (Nova) for the purchase of sixty-foot diesel and diesel-hybrid transit buses for the Division Transit Project (DTP) and future service expansion" (PDF). TriMet. September 18, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  22. ^ Theen, Andrew (September 18, 2019). "TriMet's Division bus project will be first powered by diesel, despite long-range plan to ditch that fuel". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  23. ^ Sparling, Zane (April 9, 2019). "Feds pony up $90M for Division Street rapid bus route". Portland Tribune. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  24. ^ Diehl, Caleb (December 8, 2017). "The Bus is Back: Division Project Redefines Bus Rapid Transit". Oregon Business. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  25. ^ Redden, Jim (August 16, 2018). "Council approves $17.7 million for Division Transit Project". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  26. ^ Andersen, Derek (October 14, 2018). "Contractor Selected for Division Transit Project". Mid-County Memo. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  27. ^ Theen, Andrew (April 9, 2019). "TriMet gets $87.4 million federal blessing for Division Street transit project". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  28. ^ a b Theen, Andrew (January 23, 2020). "TriMet celebrates $175 million Division bus project's beginning; leaders pledge 'it will pay off'". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  29. ^ Deutsch, Marilyn (January 23, 2020). "Federal Transit Administration announces $87.4 million grant for Division Transit Project". KPTV. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "Community Advisory Meeting, November 21, 2019" (PDF). TriMet. November 21, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Division Transit Project (2020)" (PDF). TriMet. January 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  32. ^ McGinness, Chris (June 5, 2020). "Division Transit Project kicks into high gear". KGW. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  33. ^ York, Tia (October 28, 2020). "Division Transit Project Construction Rolls Ahead" (Press release). TriMet. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  34. ^ York, Tia (January 4, 2021). "(VIDEO) Construction accomplishments in 2020 keep TriMet's Division Transit Project right on track" (Press release). TriMet. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  35. ^ Redden, Jim (January 5, 2021). "TriMet: First bus rapid transit project moving forward". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  36. ^ York, Tia. "TriMet riders to start using new type of station built for Division Transit Project" (Press release). TriMet. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  37. ^ Gordon, Tim (April 4, 2021). "Two new bike-friendly bus stops are the first of many to come on Division Street". KGW. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  38. ^ "Division Transit Project Safety Improvements". Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  39. ^ "Outer Division Safety Project (SE 80th to 174th avenues)". City of Portland. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  40. ^ a b "TriMet unveils new look coming with better bus service in the Division Street corridor" (Press release). TriMet. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  41. ^ York, Tia (October 15, 2021). "(VIDEO) TriMet's proposed service improvements help make way for FX-Division, a new and better bus service, arriving in 2022" (Press release). TriMet. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  42. ^ Reden, Jim (February 18, 2022). "TriMet: First Division Transit Project stations open Saturday". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  43. ^ "Segment 1: Downtown" (PDF). TriMet. November 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  44. ^ "Segment 2: West" (PDF). TriMet. November 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  45. ^ "Segment 3: Central" (PDF). TriMet. November 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  46. ^ "Segment 4: East" (PDF). TriMet. November 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  47. ^ a b "Open House Fall 2019". TriMet. 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  48. ^ a b "Station Designs". TriMet. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  49. ^ "Pedestrian Bypass Station" (PDF). TriMet. November 14, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  50. ^ "Shelter" (PDF). TriMet. November 14, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  51. ^ "Shared Bicycle and Pedestrian Station" (PDF). TriMet. November 14, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  52. ^ "Island Station" (PDF). TriMet. November 14, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  53. ^ "Division Transit Project (2018)" (PDF). TriMet. September 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 1, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.

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