TriMet plans on extending the Red Line all the way to Hillsboro’s Fairgrounds, which will make getting home from the airport at night a lot easier, among other things. But what impact will more trains have on traffic in places where rail lines block the road, particularly 185th Avenue?

That’s what city officials hope to look into, and on Tuesday City Council will likely authorize $450,000 of spending for a study. That price will be offset by funds from Washington County and the City of Beaverton.

The focus of this study will be where MAX lines cross 185th, just north of Baseline. It’s one of the worst intersections in our city, and the MAX crossing there is “at grade,” which means there isn’t a bridge allowing traffic to cross over or under the rail line.

That might need to change. To quote a report from Assistant City Manager Rob Dixon:

According to our preliminary analysis most of the existing at-grade railroad crossings in Hillsboro should operate safely with increased light rail train frequencies. However, it is possible that the at-grade crossing at 185th Avenue may not be able to safely handle increased train traffic in the future.

The first phase of the study will look into what effect the additional trains will have on traffic. If “safety cannot be sustained,” the second phase of the study will look into “what benefits a grade separation of either Baseline Road, 185th Avenue or the LRT at-grade crossing may bring.”

Basically, this study will determine whether there needs to be a bridge at this particular crossing. We’ll be watching closely.

Read More:

• Red Line Expansion Project Briefing, official Tri-Met presentation from October 2017
• TriMet considering expansion of MAX Red Line to county fairgrounds, John William Howard/Portland Tribune
• Packet for March 22 City Council meeting, relevant report is page 81