Resistance builds to Milwaukie MAX route

By Patrick Sherman

The Clackamas Review, Jun 6, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (9 Reader comments)

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Metro Councilor Brian Newman was surprised by what he sees as abrupt and unexpected resistance to plans for a light rail line through downtown Milwaukie along the existing Southern Pacific right-of-way by parents and teachers at the Portland Waldorf School.

“There are really three reasons why we were caught off guard,” said Newman. “First, this proposed alignment was already in place when they purchased the building. Second, in 2003 they came in and testified in favor of light rail. They did object to having a station too near their campus, but they didn’t say anything about the alignment itself.

“Third, there was a representative of the Waldorf School who was a member of the Milwaukie Working Group, which looked at issues concerning light rail in the north industrial area. They never said anything during that year-long process, which ended up affirming the proposed route through downtown.”

A group of about 30 protestors — including children carrying hand-painted placards — descended on city hall in Milwaukie on May 15 to demand that a supplemental draft environmental impact study about to get underway consider an alternative route for light rail, along McLoughlin Boulevard or Main Street.

All of the protestors said that they supported light rail, just not along the Southern Pacific rail line.

Newman, chair of the South Corridor Steering Committee which will ultimately determine what alternatives are examined as part of the environmental impact statement, struck a conciliatory tone.

“People’s opinions and concerns change over time,” he said. “I’m not criticizing them, but we were surprised.”

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