Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project - FEIS - Volume 1 - TriMet

proposed light rail stations, but presents one-quarter mile data below for an assessment of the
balance of overall impacts and benefits.
The light rail project would provide a direct transit benefit to low-income populations (see Table
3.3-5). These benefits also include the improved circulation for streetcar and the transit travel
time savings for buses on the new transitway provided by the bridge. The proportion of lowincome
households within one-quarter mile of a station area for each of these alternatives is
slightly higher than the average within the Metro UGB, likely because the project uses rights-ofway
along several major existing transportation facilities that are commonly lower value
properties, including the UPRR. While each of these alternatives would serve many minority and
Hispanic people, none of the alternatives under consideration would provide a direct transit
benefit to areas with a higher concentration of minority or Hispanic residents than the average
concentration within the Metro UGB. The area with the highest concentration of minorities and
low-income households, Rockwood, already has access to light rail.
LPA to Park Avenue (2000
population within 0.25-mile of
stations)
MOS to Lake Road (2000
population within 0.25-mile of
stations)
Table 3.3-5
Characteristics of Potential Rider Populations
Probable Probable Percent Probable Percent
Population Percent Minority Hispanic Below Poverty
9,530 13.2% 4.4% 12.6%
8,605 13.5% 4.1% 12.9%
Metro UGB 1,190,993 18.7% 8.3% 9.4%
Sources: Metro, U.S. Census 2000, and E.D. Hovee & Company.
Note: In order to determine the exact proportion of minority, Hispanic, or persons below poverty level, a survey of all residents within the station areas
would be necessary. In lieu of a survey, an estimate of the probable proportion of residents within a quarter-mile radius of alternative stations has
been made. This has been done by taking a weighted average of representation of these groups within the census block groups that intersect the
quarter-mile radius, applying it to the estimated population within the radius, summing results for stations by alternative, and dividing it by total
population within alternative station radii.
Analysis for Ruby Junction Maintenance Facility
Fifteen parcels would be impacted by the expansion of the Ruby Junction Facility, located in the
Rockwood neighborhood in Gresham, Oregon. Within those fifteen parcels, nine residences and
eight businesses would be displaced; some parcels contain two buildings—a residence and a
business. The project would displace these residences and businesses, leaving just one nonindustrial
parcel in this community. With the LPA Phasing Option, the project would initially
impact nine parcels; four residences, three business, and two parcels that contain both a business
and a residence. TriMet will offer compensation and relocation assistance to eligible parties per
the Uniform Relocation Act, as described in Section 3.1, which would mitigate potential
financial impacts due to relocation.
Census data for the area surrounding the Ruby Junction Facility indicate that 40 percent of the
residents are minority and 35 percent have incomes below the poverty line (Table 3.3-2). Given
these data, initial observations had indicated that the expansion of the Ruby Junction Facility
could result in a disproportionate impact to low-income or minority populations.
3-72 Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project FEIS
Section 3.3. Community Impact Assessment