Portland's Division Street Express Likely Delayed to 2022

To close a $14 million budget shortfall, TriMet may scale back aspects of the planned bus line.

1 minute read

February 8, 2018, 7:00 AM PST

By Elana Eden


Portland, Oregon

Division Transit Project / TriMet

"A proposal to run a high-capacity express line bus along Southeast Division Street between Gresham and Portland faces a $14 million shortfall, and resolving it could delay the project by a year," reports Elliot Njus for Oregon Live. The line's new opening date would be in 2022. 

The Division Transit Project—described by transit writer Jarrett Walker as not-quite-a-BRT—would run between Downtown Portland and the Cleveland Park & Ride in Gresham, a route that sees more than 10,000 rides every day. The new line is expected to cut travel times by 20 percent. 

The cost of new, larger buses, as well as infrastructure improvements along the route, have brought the project's budget from $175 million to $189 million, potentially making it ineligible for federal funding this year. The project has already been scaled down to cut costs, and further reductions are on the table:

Some possible cost-cutting options include redesigning certain intersections to minimize the need to buy roadside real-estate and reducing the height of boarding platforms at stops, which would require riders to step up to the bus. The rapid line buses would have ramps.

Friday, January 19, 2018 in Oregon Live

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

May 1 - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

May 1 - AP News

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

May 1 - Newsweek

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.