Beaverton council approves TV Highway BRT locally preferred alternative, OKs $1 million for project development

The Beaverton City Council voted 7-0 to approve the locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the TV Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, allocate $1,000,000 from Transportation Development Tax (TDT) funds toward project development, and direct the city manager to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with TriMet outlining partner contributions and roles.

The approval—moved by Councilor Hartmeyer Prigg and seconded by Councilor Dugger—responds to a steering-committee recommendation and advances the project into the next phase of work, project development. Andy Varner, Community Development Department director, and Jocelyn Blake, Government Relations Manager, presented the plan and answered council questions prior to the vote.

The LPA presented to council calls for 41 station pairs along the corridor, upgrades to station amenities, the purchase of 15 new vehicles, bus chargers and facility upgrades, rebuilding four intersections, transit signal priority upgrades at 59 signals, filling sidewalk gaps and improving crossings, and reducing the number of stops to shorten travel times. Varner described the LPA as a “concept plan that will lead the project” and identified six station locations…