What's happening now?
In April 2024, The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) released the Proposed Draft of the Montgomery Park Area Plan (MPAP) for public review and deliberation. The Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan is Volume 3 of the MPAP and includes the Portland Streetcar Montgomery Park Extension as its centerpiece recommended project.
The window for public comments and testimony on the Proposed Draft of the MPAP closed in May 2024. Testimony and comments were directed to the Portland Planning Commission and Design Commission at that time, and the project team presented the MPAP for their deliberation. Additional Planning Commission work sessions were held on June 11 and June 25, and additional Design Commission work sessions were held on June 6 and June 20. Final Planning Commission and Design Commission work sessions and recommendations were completed in July.
The project team is currently working on integrating approved amendments to the MPAP and anticipates releasing a Recommended Draft in September 2024. City Council is expected to consider the MPAP and take testimony in Fall 2024.
You can learn more about the MPAP at the MPAP webpage. There, you can read more about the Proposed Draft, review planning documents, and find out about upcoming public hearings.
Click here to learn more about the MPAP
Project staff are also exploring a funding strategy for the proposed streetcar extension. A Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) is expected to be presented to City Council in Fall 2024. The project team may seek federal funding in 2024 or 2025. If funded, the extension of the streetcar to Montgomery Park and reconstruction of NW 23rd Avenue between NW Lovejoy and NW Vaughn streets could be under construction by 2026.
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Proposed Draft of the Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan
Since 2019, PBOT has been working with BPS to develop an area land use and transportation plan to establish a new transit-oriented, mixed-use district west of Highway 30 between NW Nicolai and NW Vaughn streets in Northwest Portland. The Proposed Draft of the Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan is a component of the resulting Montgomery Park Area Plan (MPAP).
The MPAP and Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan aim to transition the Montgomery Park Area from a somewhat underutilized industrial- and employment-focused district into a mixed-use employment district that will support both job growth and housing development. To achieve this, the plans propose a suite of land use and transportation changes to promote dense, equitable development around the proposed extension of Portland Streetcar to Montgomery Park.
The Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan is Volume 3 of the MPAP. In addition to the streetcar extension, the transportation plan recommends several multimodal transportation improvements in the area, as well as changes to the Transportation System Plan (TSP) and implementation strategies.
Click here to read the Proposed Draft of the Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan
You can learn more about the MPAP and proposed land use changes at the MPAP webpage. There, you can review project documents, share your thoughts, and find out about upcoming public hearings.
Click here to learn more about the MPAP
Project informational video
A brief informational video about the proposed streetcar extension to Montgomery Park is now available. You can watch it below.
Project background
In 2001, Portland launched the country's first modern-era streetcar system to serve Downtown Portland, Northwest Portland, and the developing Pearl District. The streetcar system was expanded in the mid-2000s to serve the emerging South Waterfront district, and later the Lloyd Center and Central Eastside.
In 2009, City Council adopted the Portland Streetcar System Concept Plan. The Plan took a citywide view of streetcar system expansion, and a future line to Montgomery Park (the city's second largest office complex) was identified. The recent 2035 Comprehensive Plan and Transportation System Plan prioritized the Montgomery Park extension for planning and implementation.
In 2018, City Council funded a preliminary Northwest Public Streetcar Extension and Land use Alternatives Analysis for the extension. In 2019, the Montgomery Park to Hollywood Land Use and Development Study (MP2H) was funded through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). In 2021, after public engagement and study, PBOT and BPS developed draft land use and transportation plans for the area.
The project team has worked to refine those proposals. In April 2024, a Proposed Draft of the Montgomery Park Area Plan (MPAP) was released for public review. The Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan is Volume 3 of the MPAP.
The MPAP proposes land use and transportation changes in the industrial employment area north of NW Vaughn Street and west of Highway 30, to complement the Portland Streetcar extension along NW 23rd Avenue and NW Wilson and Roosevelt streets to Montgomery Park. The plan also proposes a framework to promote development that creates more equitable outcomes and benefits to the community, including affordable housing, new middle-wage jobs, new public open space, and other community benefits.
The extension of Portland Streetcar to Montgomery Park is planned to include a complete rebuild of NW 23rd Avenue between NW Vaughn and NW Lovejoy streets. The rebuild would include new stormwater, accessibility, and transit stop upgrades. The design would also preserve as much on-street parking as possible. This project is currently in the planning stage and is not yet funded.
The route
The preferred alignment is a short, direct route to Montgomery Park through an extension of the Portland Streetcar North-South (NS) line along NW 23rd Avenue to a new parallel one-way couplet along NW Roosevelt and NW Wilson streets. More information about the development and selection of the preferred alignment, as well as other alignments and transit modes considered during the planning process, is available in the Preferred Alignment Overview.
Click here to read the Preferred Alignment Overview
The opportunity
For more than 20 years, the Portland Streetcar has been one of the City's tools for equitable and sustainable development. The new 1.3-mile streetcar extension to Montgomery Park and proposed land use changes will support the development of a new mixed-use district in Northwest Portland, with the potential for thousands of new housing units, including affordable housing.
The streetcar extension will help us:
- Connect more people via transit to critical destinations, including Forest Park, employment opportunities, healthcare, and educational opportunities in Northwest Portland, Downtown, and throughout Portland and the region
- Reduce carbon emissions by helping people meet their daily needs without a personal automobile
- Expand Streetcar access to diverse riders who rely every day on transit to get to important destinations
- Provide zero-emission, high capacity transit to future residents, employees, and visitors of a new mixed-use district west of Highway 30
- Rebuild NW 23rd Avenue from NW Lovejoy Street to NW Vaughn Street, supporting the vitality of one of Northwest Portland's most vibrant streets
Key facts about the extension
While the project is still in the planning phase, some key issues regarding the streetcar extension include:
- Parking: Parking loss along NW 23rd Avenue will be as minimal as possible. Some parking loss may be triggered by stormwater and accessibility requirements as a result of the street reconstruction.
- Right-of-way: The streetcar will be able to fit within the right-of-way on NW 23rd Avenue, with minimal impacts to travel lanes. Parking will be maintained on both sides of the street.
- Loading zones: Due to constraints, loading zones are not currently planned on NW 23rd Avenue. None currently exist.
- Transit travel time: Streetcar trips are not expected to be slower and streetcar headways will not be less frequent because of the extension.
- Off-wire extension: The new streetcar extension will be 100% off-wire utilizing proven hybrid battery technology, allowing cars to switch effortlessly between the existing streetcar system and this new extension. It will result in no new poles or overhead wires, reducing construction and ongoing maintenance costs while minimizing impacts to NW 23rd Avenue. Portland Streetcar's original fleet of vehicles are nearly 25 years old and are in need of replacement. Procurement of up to 15 new streetcars with off-wire capability is already planned due to this need. More information is available at the Portland Streetcar website.
- Construction: The project team is coordinating project elements to minimize disruption as much as possible during construction, and PBOT will work to support businesses and residents during that time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The project team has compiled an updated document providing answers to FAQs about the project.
Public engagement
Upcoming events
Public engagement is currently occurring as part of the review and deliberation process for the Montgomery Park Area Plan (MPAP).
Sign up for email updates to learn about upcoming public engagement events.
Previous engagement
To date, the following public engagement has occurred:
- 2007-2009:
- Portland Streetcar System Concept Plan engagement, including open houses, public workshops, District Working Group meetings, presentations to Neighborhood Coalitions and Neighborhood Associations, a Stakeholder Advisory committee, and public comments
- 2019:
- Neighborhood and business association meetings to inform stakeholders in the Northwest study area about the project and collect feedback, including meetings with:
- Northwest District Association and subcommittees
- Northwest Industrial Neighborhood Association
- Northwest (formerly Nob Hill) Business Association
- AIA Portland Urban Design Committee
- Neighborhood and business association meetings to inform stakeholders in the Northwest study area about the project and collect feedback, including meetings with:
- 2020:
- Spring: Kickoff open house sharing information about the project and collecting feedback from the public
- Summer: Urban design concept virtual open house to gather public preferences for land use develop scenarios and streetcar alignment alternatives
- Fall: Community based organization (CBO) outreach to understand aspirations, concerns, and priorities of community members
- 2020-2021:
- Northwest Project Working Group (PWG) recruitment and meetings, whose members included people with connections to neighborhood groups, local business groups, transportation advocates, property owners, and representatives of community based organizations
- 2021-2022:
- December 2021-May 2022: Public comments open for the MP2H Northwest Plan Discussion Draft
- 2023:
- May - June: Email outreach with stakeholder groups; Project mailer sent to all addresses within 1/3 mile of proposed alignment (more than 7000 addresses)
- June 1: Northwest District Association (NWDA) Planning Committee meeting
- 2023 continued:
- June 20: Northwest Parking District Open House
- June 21: Northwest Parking District Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting
- 2023 continued:
- June 28: Canvassing on and adjacent to NW 23rd Avenue and discussions with businesses and employees about project
- June 28: MP2H Northwest Plan Design and Character Statement Workshop Open House
- July 6: Northwest Active Streets (NWAS) Meeting
- July 12: Canvassing near existing streetcar alignment at parks and discussions with community members about project
- July 25: Tabling at Get Around Slabtown to discuss the project and get feedback about the project with residents, workers, and visitors in the area
- June - July: Montgomery Park Streetcar Online Open House and Survey
- August 8: Briefing to the Portland Planning Commission
- November: Intercept surveys at existing Portland Streetcar stations on and near NW 23rd Avenue to gather input from transit users in the area
- 2024
- April 11: Northwest Industrial Business Association (NIBA) meeting
- April 16 - May 28: Public comments and testimony received on the Proposed Draft of the MPAP
- April 11: Northwest Industrial Business Association meeting
- April 18: Northwest District Association (NWDA) Planning Committee meeting
- May 1: Northwest Active Streets meeting
- May 21: Joint Briefing and public hearing with the Planning Commission and Design Commission
- June 5: Design Commission Work Session
- June 11: Planning Commission Work Session
- June 20: Design Commission Work Session
- June 25: Meeting with York Working Group
- June 25: Planning Commission Work Session
- July 9: Planning Commission Work Session and Vote
- July 18: Design Commission Work Session and Vote
- July 19: Meeting with York Working Group
- April - July: Email and phone conversations with community members