Fort Collins Bus Rapid Transit and Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Projects will create jobs, provide more transit options

At DOT, we know that transit strengthens communities, creates jobs and increases access to existing jobs, and improves the quality of daily life.

On Monday, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff demonstrated our commitment to increasing transit options when he joined officials in Fort Collins, Colorado, to sign a $54.5 million funding agreement for the city's new MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff in Fort Collins; photo courtesy Sam Wilson, The Colordaoan

MAX is expected to reduce commuting times and traffic congestion along College Avenue and is an excellent investment in the community's mobility and growth. The new line will help Colorado State University students, faculty, and staff get to class on time; make it easier for seniors to get to medical appointments; and revitalize the Mason Corridor by attracting commercial and residential development.

This BRT line will strengthen the city’s economy and support hard-working families who’d like to spend less of their household budget on transportation. But Fort Collins isn’t the only city that will soon see expanded transit options.

Administrator Rogoff in Portland; photo courtesy FTA

Portland, Oregon’s commitment to public transportation and its visionary light rail and streetcar services have made it one of the most livable, sustainable, and economically vibrant cities in America. And DOT is helping the Rose City invest in a modern transportation network today that will continue to meet the needs of its citizens tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Administrator Rogoff signed a full-funding grant agreement for the FTA to provide $745.2 million to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) for the Portland-Milwaukie light rail line, covering half of the project's $1.49 billion total cost.

 

The new light rail line will bring new economic opportunity to local communities that have been traditionally under-served, expand access to jobs, and deliver safer streets, greener communities, and more places to bike or walk.

And according to TriMet, the project will create more than 14,500 construction jobs. It’s a win-win-win situation for the Tri-County area - expanded transit options, easier commutes from the Milwaukie suburbs and the creation of thousands of construction-related jobs.

Photo courtesy TriMet

In this time of high gas prices, access to public transportation that is affordable, reliable, and desirable is essential. The Fort Collins MAX BRT line and the Portland-Milwaukie light rail project are great examples of modern transit done right, and DOT will continue to support transit projects like these.

Thousands of riders gain a convenient, safe, and affordable way to get where they’re going. The entire community benefits from reduced tailpipe emissions. And neighborhoods along the routes gain a boost in economic development.

That's how transit is moving America forward.