Tualatin Station

Infobox Station
name=Tualatin Station


image_size=
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address=18955 SW Boones Ferry Road
Tualatin, Oregon, USA
line=Westside Express Servicerail color box|system=WES|line=main|note=Opens Jan 2009
coordinates= coord|45.383283|-122.7645564|type:railwaystation_region:US|display=inline,title
other=
structure=At grade
platform=Side platform
tracks=1
preceding=
parking= 154 spaces
bicycle=Lockers and racks
baggage_check=
passengers=
pass_year=
pass_percent=
pass_system=
opened=
closed=
rebuilt=
ADA=yes
code=
owned=
zone=
services=
mpassengers=

Tualatin Station is a train station along the Westside Express Service (WES) commuter rail line in Tualatin, Oregon, United States. The station is the middle of five stops of the convert|14.7|mi|sing=on line that connects to the city of Beaverton to the north and to Wilsonville in the south. Scheduled to open in January 2009, the station includes a 130 car park and ride lot and is served by one TriMet bus line.

History

Planning for a commuter rail line between Beaverton and Wilsonville in Washington County began as early as 1996. [cite news| author=Frost, Danielle| url=http://www.wilsonvillenews.com/ArcStoryPage.asp?Database=Story&StoryID=1421| title=Rail project gets closer to station| publisher="Wilsonville Spokesman"| date=2004-03-24| ] In 2001, the Federal Transit Administration authorized the project, and in 2004 they approved the project. [cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2004/05/10/daily9.html| title=Wilsonville-to-Beaverton commuter train gets OK| publisher="Portland Business Journal"| date=2004-05-10| ] Plans for the location of a station in Tualatin were finalized as early as 2001 when a location along Boones Ferry Road was selected in the city’s transportation plan.Bella, Rick. “Tualatin rail stop overrides differences”. "The Oregonian", September 26 2007, Local News, p. C1.] Construction on the rail line began in October 2006.cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2006/10/23/daily1.html| title=TriMet building passenger train line| publisher="Portland Business Journal"| date=2004-10-23| ]

In 2006, the Haggen Food & Pharmacy store adjacent to the station began an effort to change the location of the rail stop.Tran, My-Thuan. “Tualatin station short on parking, firm reports”. "The Oregonian", March 20 2007, Local News, p. B3.] [Tran, My-Thuan. “TriMet, Haggen to meet on moving Tualatin station”. "The Oregonian", June 14 2007, Local News, p. D3.] They contended the station did not have enough parking, original plans for the station included 111 parking spaces, and increased traffic would further increase congestion. [Tran, My-Thuan. “TriMet, Haggen to meet on moving Tualatin station”. "The Oregonian", June 14 2007, Local News, p. D3.] Haggen’s arguments led to a delay in construction of the station, which was scheduled to begin in July 2007. [Tran, My-Thuan. “West side onboard for risky rail ride”. "The Oregonian", April 10 2007, Local News, p. B1.] The city and TriMet countered that the location had been selected in 2001 and re-affirmed in 2005 without objection by Haggen, with TriMet later threatening to forgo having a station in the city.

In August 2007, the two sides compromised with the station location remaining as planned, but with increased parking.Foyston, John. “Businesses OK site for rail station in Tualatin”. "The Oregonian", August 3 2007, Local News, p. D3.] On January 9 2008, construction on the station began with a groundbreaking ceremony that included local dignitaries such as the head of TriMet, Tualatin mayor Lou Ogden, and county commissioner Tom Brian. [Foyston, John and Steve Mayes, “Construction will start on commuter station”. "The Oregonian", January 8 2008, Local News, p. C3.] The line and station are set to open in January 2009.cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/10/trimet_delays_opening_of_wests.html#post|first=Dylan|last=Rivera|title=TriMet delays opening of Westside commuter rail line until February|date=October 1, 2008|work=The Oregonian|accessdate=2008-10-02]

Details

The Westside Express Service connects to the Beaverton Transit Center where passengers can connect to MAX Light Rail. The station in Tualatin is one of five on the convert|14.7|mi|sing=on rail line that utilizes Portland and Western Railroad’s freight rail line.cite news| author=Tucker, Libby| title=Commuter rail project breaks ground in Wilsonville| publisher="Daily Journal of Commerce"| date=2007-03-05| ] Located in downtown Tualatin on southwest Boones Ferry Road at Nyberg Road, the station and line will only transport rail passengers during the morning and evening commute times from Monday through Friday.cite web| url=http://trimet.org/commuterrail/stations.htm| title=Washington County Commuter Rail Project: Station Locations| publisher=TriMet| accessdate=2008-04-15| ] The station connects to TriMet’s existing number 76 bus line.

Tualatin Station has 130 park and ride spaces on site with 24 additional spots in a neighboring connected parking lot for a total of 154 parking spaces. Bicycle amenities include 24 covered bike rack spots and six bike lockers. [cite web| url=http://www.trimet.org/wes/schedulemap.htm| title=WES Fares, Route/Station Map and Schedule
publisher=TriMet| accessdate=2008-08-21] Design elements of the station's covered passenger area include enhancements over TriMet's standard design including a clock tower and red brick columns designed to fit in with existing architectural styles in the neighborhood. The Tualatin Development Commission contributed $491,000 for construction to pay for the enhancements. [Clampet, Jennifer. [http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=119992441787360700 “Even six months late, WES to arrive on time in Tualatin”] . "The Times", January 10 2008.]

Public art at the station consists of an interactive sculpture created by Frank Boyden and Brad Rude. [http://www.trimet.org/commuterrail/publicart.htm Public Art on Commuter Rail.] TriMet. Retrieved on August 21 2008.] The sculpture features bronze heads and a vehicle designed to represent the train and the variety of people who ride the line. The vehicle moves along a track and has an animal figure displayed in a scene atop the piece. Additionally, glass in the windbreak is etched with a willow pattern.

References

External links

* [http://trimet.org/pdfs/commuterrail/wccrfactsheet.pdf TriMet: Fact Sheet]
* [http://www.ci.tualatin.or.us/departments/communitydevelopment/planning/CommuterRail.cfm City of Tualatin]