TriMet outlines TV Highway BRT design progress and $56 million funding gap

TriMet officials told the Washington County Coordinating Committee on May 18 that the TV Highway transit and safety project — a planned 16.2-mile bus-rapid-transit corridor between Beaverton Transit Center and Forest Grove — is moving through project development but faces a significant funding gap.

"We have a $56,000,000 funding gap right now," said Michael Kaiser, TriMet’s manager of small-starts projects, during a presentation that covered safety improvements, station amenities, vehicle choices and schedule. He said project development is locally funded and the design is approaching 30 percent completion, with TriMet preparing materials this summer for a federal Small Starts rating.

Kaiser and TriMet staff described the project’s primary aims as improving safety, travel time and accessibility on a high‑ridership corridor. Planned features include enhanced station crossings, enclosed shelters, lighting, real‑time arrival information and transit signal priority to improve speed and reliability. TriMet is evaluating vehicle length and propulsion and has tentatively moved toward 40‑foot buses using renewable diesel (R99) for near‑term feasibility while designing infrastructure to accommodate future 60‑foot or zero‑emission vehicles.

John Sero of TriMet stressed the need to balance costs and federal funding requirements: "Project development funds have been committed and secured," he said, noting TriMet’s $31 million commitment and Metro’s $28 million contribution so far. TriMet estimates a project cost scenario of about $304 million; if that level is achieved, the Federal Transit Administration could match up to $150 million under the Small Starts program, TriMet said. Absent additional funding, the agency currently identifies a $56 million shortfall.

Elected officials and county staff pressed TriMet on options to close the gap. Councilor Harris said there is disappointment that the project will not start with electric buses and asked that environmental justice and equity considerations be visible in procurement decisions: "It would be nice if they weren't subject to diesel fumes as much," Harris said. Kaiser and Sero responded that TriMet prefers zero‑emission vehicles but faces facility constraints at the Merlo (Merlot) operations facility and current budget realities; TriMet said it is building corridor infrastructure so future fleet changes are feasible.

TriMet outlined next steps and schedule: submit materials in August for a Small Starts rating, aim for a medium‑high rating by spring next year, reach 60 percent design by the end of the year, complete readiness reviews and, if funding and approvals align, start construction after receipt of a federal grant agreement with anticipated service opening in fall 2030. Kaiser said the agency is pursuing grants, potential additional partner funding and value engineering to reduce cost without undermining safety or service objectives.

"This is a hugely important project for TriMet, but also for our partners," Kaiser said, adding that cost pressures mean TriMet will continue to refine the scope and seek funding partnerships.

The committee welcomed the update and offered to continue coordination on legislative and local advocacy to support the project’s funding needs. TriMet agreed to provide further cost and design details at upcoming policy and budget checkpoints and community outreach sessions.