Designing Light Rail

CRC is working with the community to extend light rail from the Portland Expo Center to Vancouver. Future topics for community input include:

Station design
Street design, including pedestrian amenities and landscaping
Park and ride design

Light Rail Alignment

Light rail will extend north from the Expo Center station along I-5, across the river through downtown Vancouver before ending in the Central Park neighborhood, near the Marshall/Luepke Center and Clark College.

In early 2010, the Vancouver City Council and C-TRAN Board of Directors adopted the light rail alignment for Vancouver shown in the map below.

Station Location and Design

One light rail station is planned for Hayden Island. Four stops are planned in Vancouver, including a terminus station in the Central Park neighborhood.

Street Design and Park and Rides

Light rail will be integrated into Hayden Island and downtown Vancouver while keeping vehicle and bicycle traffic flow, parking, pedestrian amenities and landscaping in mind. Vancouver park and rides will be designed to enhance light rail ridership while supporting the City of Vancouver’s vision for development.

Public Input for Decision-Making

Community Stakeholder Groups: Two working groups were formed to advise CRC staff and project partners on transit issues including light rail alignment and station location. Members represent diverse neighborhood interests, including businesses, residents, transit-dependent populations and commuters. The Vancouver Working Group began meeting in early January 2009 and concluded in July 2009. The Portland Working Group began meeting in May 2009 and meets monthly. In summer 2010, a new Vancouver citizen group will be formed to advise C-TRAN, the City of Vancouver and the project, on design aspects of light rail in Vancouver, including station design, layout and aesthetics.

Neighborhood Workshops: Hands-on neighborhood workshops are held periodically to gather community input on transit alignment and design. Information gathered at these workshops is shared with the local working groups, project staff, project partners and the public. Information presented at previous workshops can be found on the Open Houses and Workshops page.

Local Government Meetings: The boards and councils of the partner agencies working on the CRC project periodically discuss light rail planning and design. The public can provide testimony on this subject at public meetings or via e-mail or letter.

Feedback on the design for light rail also may be submitted at anytime through the Submit Comments page.