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A Bus Rapid Transit project is being proposed for Tualatin Valley Highway from Beaverton to Forest Grove. A locally preferred alternative will be selected by Hillsboro‘s steering committee in May or June.

The TV Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route is anticipated to be between 15 to 20 percent faster than the current Route 57. The route will use 60-foot articulated buses with three entry doors that will speed boardings, according to officials. Metro also plans to close about 27 bus stops with low ridership or major safety considerations, and use traffic signal priority to potentially allow for more time for buses to cross through certain intersections.

Metro Project Manager Jess Zbed and TriMet Community Affairs Coordinator Bernadette Le provided a project update during a Hillsboro Transportation Committee meeting Tuesday. The project is in conceptual design now with 5 percent of the design complete.

The project has three committees: a technical working group, a policy working group and the TV Highway Steering Committee. People can provide public comment to the steering committee.

A goal of the project includes improving speed and reliability for transit users along the corridor that runs from Forest Grove to Beaverton. Another goal is that the project is feasible to fund, construct and operate. The project received an $850,000 Federal Transit Administration Hope grant in 2020.

In fall 2021, a rider survey showed that 70 percent of those who ride the line do not have a vehicle. According to Metro and TriMet, Line 57 is the fifth-highest ridership in the TriMet system. It also has the second-highest frequent service line ridership retention during COVID-19.

In terms of safety, shelter stations and lighting are being proposed. The team is also looking at speed management and the location of stops. Le said TriMet is also working to improve travel time so it can be competitive with driving a vehicle.

The study is also looking at additional enhanced crossings, strategic sidewalk infill and station placement to address crash issues on the roadway. In-lane stops are being looked at, rather than pull out stops, as well as decreasing speed limits from 45 mph to 35 mph in certain areas. Some pull out stops along the corridor will be retained.

Challenges of the study corridor include many needs sharing limited space such as pedestrians, bicyclists, buses and vehicles; the railroad being very close to some of the stops; and a cap on federal funding.

Part of the study is looking at a zero emissions fleet. The bus fleet decision is not part of the LPA stage. The team will explore fleet emissions but will decide later in the process.

“Changes to the fleet includes changes to the design,” Zbed said. “Eventually, when we get down the path of really having more detailed design than 5 percent, the choice of the bus is going to drive that.”

The completed run time analysis will help inform model inputs and help understand relative benefits of design treatments. The analysis shows savings vary by location, time of day and year, with significant variation by location along the corridor.

An upcoming traffic analysis will project impacts. It will give a better understanding of specific treatments in certain areas.

The LPA will go before Hillsboro’s transportation committee for recommendation to Metro Council.

The project is estimated to cost millions of dollars. Construction is estimated to begin in 2026 and be complete in 2029.