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The latest major transportation project for the Portland Metro area has reached a critical decision stage, and it seems to be moving forward with only a modest amount of controversy.

There are still more steps in the process but the project’s advisory panel recommendation is for the new high-capacity transit line from downtown Portland to Tigard/Tualatin to be light rail, not bus rapid transit. The route, which probably will only go as far as Bridgeport Village,聽 generally will follow Barbur Boulevard, rather than going through a tunnel under Portland Community College.

This has major implications for how the region will grow over the next 20 to 30 years.聽 It reinforces Barbur Boulevard as a major redevelopment corridor, and downtown Tigard and the Bridgeport area as centers for much more intense growth.

It also could offer an opportunity to rethink the function and location of PCC over time.聽 Given its location away from major transit access, would it be better to begin transferring elements of PCC to downtown Tigard?

This has several benefits.聽 It places key educational facilities and services in a highly accessible location, especially for the transit-dependent people who most need PCC services.聽 It reinforces the desirability of Tigard as an economic and residential center of growth, and it enhances Tigard’s stated desire to be the 鈥渕ost walkable city in Oregon.鈥澛� Also, by designating Bridgeport as the location for a major station, it places the center for more intense development there rather than in downtown Tualatin.

As for the rest of the corridor, it places a great deal of development potential along what is now a high-volume street and a major state highway.聽 That will mean some very aggressive land use planning to accompany the transit line, with serious redevelopment implications for those areas chosen as station locations.