Wilsonville Station
Encyclopedia
Wilsonville Station is a train station and transit center on the Westside Express Service (WES) commuter rail line in Wilsonville, Oregon
, United States
. The station is the southern terminus of the 14.7 miles (23.7 km) line that connects to the city of Beaverton
at the Beaverton Transit Center
, where passengers can connect to MAX Light Rail. Opened in January 2009, the station includes a 400-car park-and-ride
lot and bus transit center, both owned by the city of Wilsonville as part of its South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) public mass transit
bus system.
authorized the project, and in 2004 it approved the project, by which time regional transit agency TriMet
had taken over as the lead agency in planning the project. Construction began in October 2006. The station was originally planned to be built at Boberg Road, and was later changed to the location on Barber Street as suggested by the Villebois developers.
On March 2, 2007, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the station's site, attended by officials from TriMet, the state, and Wilsonville politicians. This included former mayor and then state representative Jerry Krummel
, an early proponent of the line. The public artwork was installed on September 3, 2008. The line was scheduled to begin service in September 2008, but delays led to an opening in January 2009.
’s freight rail line. Located on Barber Street on the west side of Interstate 5
, the station and line are in operation only during the morning and evening commute times, Monday through Friday. Averaging 37 miles per hour (16.5 m/s), each trip between Wilsonville and Beaverton is scheduled to take 27 minutes, and trains depart every 30 minutes. Wilsonville Station has bus connections through SMART, Canby Area Transit
, and to Salem via Cherriots
.
Wilsonville Station, WES's southern terminus, was built by contractor Stacy and Witbeck. The stop includes a park-and-ride lot with 400 spaces along with the platform. The platform includes a shelter for waiting passengers measuring 40 feet (12.2 m) long. The station includes 12 bays for the transit center and a 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) maintenance building for SMART buses. Future plans call for a mixed-use development to include SMART offices, retail shops and restaurants, along with public restrooms, bicycle storage and an outdoor play area.
Additional amenities at the station are wind screens, public artwork, and a scored-concrete plaza featuring trees. Public art consists of an interactive sculpture
created by Frank Boyden and Brad Rude. The sculpture features bronze heads and a vehicle designed to represent the train and the variety of people who ride the line. The vehicle can be moved (by hand) along a track and has an animal figure displayed in a scene atop the piece. Additionally, glass in the windbreak is etched with a willow
pattern.
Commuters from the surrounding communities of Lake Oswego
, Canby
, Donald
, Woodburn
, and Aurora
are expected to utilize the station. Washington County
provided the land for Wilsonville Station. Self-propelled, diesel-fueled rail cars are used for the line. The park-and-ride lot was partly built to allow for interconnection between the city's SMART bus service and the rail line. For the first five years of operation, Wilsonville will pay a maximum of $300,000 a year to help fund the annual operations of the TriMet
-operated line.
Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The station is the southern terminus of the 14.7 miles (23.7 km) line that connects to the city of Beaverton
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
at the Beaverton Transit Center
Beaverton Transit Center (MAX station)
The Beaverton Transit Center is a bus station, light rail and commuter rail station in Beaverton, Oregon, USA. It serves MAX Light Rail, being the 6th stop westbound on the Westside MAX. It serves the Blue Line, and serves as the western terminus for the Red Line. It also serves as the northern...
, where passengers can connect to MAX Light Rail. Opened in January 2009, the station includes a 400-car park-and-ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
lot and bus transit center, both owned by the city of Wilsonville as part of its South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) public mass transit
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
bus system.
History
Plans for the commuter rail between Beaverton and Wilsonville began as early as 1996, led by Washington County officials. In 2001, the Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
authorized the project, and in 2004 it approved the project, by which time regional transit agency TriMet
TriMet
TriMet, more formally known as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, is a public agency that operates mass transit in a region that spans most of the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon...
had taken over as the lead agency in planning the project. Construction began in October 2006. The station was originally planned to be built at Boberg Road, and was later changed to the location on Barber Street as suggested by the Villebois developers.
On March 2, 2007, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the station's site, attended by officials from TriMet, the state, and Wilsonville politicians. This included former mayor and then state representative Jerry Krummel
Jerry Krummel
Gerald A. Krummel is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Washington, he served as mayor of Wilsonville, Oregon in the 1990s. An educator and athletic trainer, he is a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing Wilsonville and parts of...
, an early proponent of the line. The public artwork was installed on September 3, 2008. The line was scheduled to begin service in September 2008, but delays led to an opening in January 2009.
Details
The station is one of five on the 14.7 miles (23.7 km) rail line that utilizes Portland and Western RailroadPortland and Western Railroad
The Portland and Western Railroad is a Class II railroad serving the U.S. state of Oregon, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of shortline and regional railroad holding company Genesee & Wyoming Inc...
’s freight rail line. Located on Barber Street on the west side of Interstate 5
Interstate 5 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, Interstate 5 traverses the state from north to south, passing through the major cities of Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Medford.-Route description:...
, the station and line are in operation only during the morning and evening commute times, Monday through Friday. Averaging 37 miles per hour (16.5 m/s), each trip between Wilsonville and Beaverton is scheduled to take 27 minutes, and trains depart every 30 minutes. Wilsonville Station has bus connections through SMART, Canby Area Transit
Canby Area Transit
Canby Area Transit or simply CAT is a bus service that provides public transit in the US city of Canby, Oregon, and north to Oregon City. It is operated by the City of Canby, with a hub at the downtown Canby Transit Center....
, and to Salem via Cherriots
Salem-Keizer Transit
Salem-Keizer Transit, branded and popularly known as Cherriots and more formally the Salem Area Mass Transit District, is a public agency that operates mass transit in the metropolitan area of Salem and Keizer, Oregon, United States...
.
Additional amenities at the station are wind screens, public artwork, and a scored-concrete plaza featuring trees. Public art consists of an interactive sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
created by Frank Boyden and Brad Rude. The sculpture features bronze heads and a vehicle designed to represent the train and the variety of people who ride the line. The vehicle can be moved (by hand) along a track and has an animal figure displayed in a scene atop the piece. Additionally, glass in the windbreak is etched with a willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
pattern.
Commuters from the surrounding communities of Lake Oswego
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
, Canby
Canby, Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...
, Donald
Donald, Oregon
Donald is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 608 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Woodburn
Woodburn, Oregon
Woodburn is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 1889, the community had been platted in 1871 after the arrival of the railroad. The city is located in the northern end of the Willamette Valley along Interstate 5 between Portland and Salem...
, and Aurora
Aurora, Oregon
Aurora is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It was founded as a religious commune in 1856 by Dr. William Keil who named the settlement after his daughter. The population was 918 at the 2010 census...
are expected to utilize the station. Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
provided the land for Wilsonville Station. Self-propelled, diesel-fueled rail cars are used for the line. The park-and-ride lot was partly built to allow for interconnection between the city's SMART bus service and the rail line. For the first five years of operation, Wilsonville will pay a maximum of $300,000 a year to help fund the annual operations of the TriMet
TriMet
TriMet, more formally known as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, is a public agency that operates mass transit in a region that spans most of the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon...
-operated line.