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The Metro Council has formed a 22-person Steering Committee to guide the Powell-Division Transit and Development Project and look to begin planning better transit connections between Portland and Gresham.

The committee – including elected officials, neighborhood association representatives and other stakeholders – will begin to establish a common understanding of the needs and opportunities for transit and development in the corridor, said Dana Lucero, Metro’s senior public involvement specialist.

While the committee will look at light rail and streetcar options, it will look closely at bus rapid transit, Lucero said.

“This is the process that we’ll go through,” she said. “The committee will take some options off the table and move others forward.”

Other decisions that will be made include the route and station locations. While Powell Boulevard widens closer to downtown Portland, Division Street widens farther from downtown, Lucero said. Those factors will be considered as the route is determined, Lucero said.

The line also is likely to connect with Mount Hood Community College, she said.

The Steering Committee will meet five to six times between its first meeting in February and early 2015. Its recommendations will be refined and presented to elected officials for consideration and endorsement by late 2015, Lucero said.

Design of the new transit line and station areas, environmental analysis and funding are scheduled to be set from 2015 to 2017, according to Metro’s timetable. Construction may start in 2018, with new service beginning in 2020.

Steering Committee meetings are open to the public, though the date and time for the one in February are not set yet. More information is available at .