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Division Transit Project kicks into high gear

New platform construction has begun on a project that links Gresham to Downtown Portland. High capacity buses will begin rolling through the corridor in fall 2022.

PORTLAND, Ore. — If you live or commute along southeast Division Street, you've probably already noticed contractors hard at work.

The video here shows one of the first new bus platforms being poured along TriMet's Division Street Project. This one in particular is near the corner of SE 76th & Division.

When finished, TriMet says the project will enable faster, more frequent, and more reliable bus service between Gresham, East and Southeast Portland, and downtown.

And the new platforms will allow for much safer driver, cyclist, pedestrian interactions. Similar shared platforms have been used extensively throughout Europe -and TriMet tested a full-scale model in 2018 to get an intimate, first-hand experience with it. Here's a link to their study.

A new platform going in near SE 148th & Division will use this concept and look something like this when complete.

Credit: TriMet

Meanwhile, the bus platform at SE 76th & Division is called a Pedestrian-Pass-Through and will look something like this when complete.

Credit: TriMet

"The team designed four types of stations appropriate to their setting along Division Street," said TriMet's Roberta Altstadt. "Stations will be located where rider demand is greatest, to minimize travel times while providing important transit connections."

Here's a look at where some of the newly redesigned platforms are being installed:

Credit: TriMet

Amidst the crushing economic weight of the corona virus pandemic, the $175M project is a blessing for the local economy. Raimore Construction is the lead contractor on the job and TriMet says, "This project reflects Oregon’s largest construction contract awarded to a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. 

$87.4-million of that funding was secured this past January:

RELATED: TriMet reveals plans to improve bus route along Division

"The Division Transit Project will create approximately 1,400 jobs over the life of the project. As history has shown, construction and transportation projects such as this one and others TriMet is working on generate economic activity, leverage federal funding and help regional recovery," said Altstadt.

WATCH: New Platform Construction Begins Along TriMet's Division Transit Project

TriMet's Division Transit Project kicks into high gear. New platform construction has begun, like this at SE 76th & Division.

Chris McGinness is a meteorologist and transportation reporter for KGW. Got a story idea or a great photo you want to share? Email him at cmcginness@kgw.com or reach out on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram

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