Services
- Landscape Architecture
- Urban Design
Sustainable Features
- Transit connections/alternative transportation
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How do you connect the city’s largest healthcare center located on a steep, forested hill with a planned transit station 300 feet below? That was the question posed to the joint venture team of ZGF-VIA-Mayer/Reed as part of TriMet’s Southwest Corridor light rail urban design. A critical component of the planned transit line, the connection to Oregon Health & Science University on Marquam Hill would provide over 18,000 employees per day with convenient access to public transportation. The solution must create a safe, accessible, and efficient connection that: is equitable for all users, ensures capacity for peak ridership, protects scenic views, maintains urban wildlife corridors and minimizes impacts to the Olmsted Brothers’ historic Terwilliger Parkway.
Our team established criteria and researched technical information for twelve potential above grade, below grade and on-grade connector types. We engaged with stakeholders – from elected officials to neighbors – to determine the most appropriate type of connector for the site. We recommended a funicular/inclined elevator option for several reasons. It moves people quickly in both vertical and horizontal directions. With its smaller footprint and lower structures, it has relatively low parkway impacts when compared to other options. It features a similar cable technology to the aerial tram nearby. When built, the inclined elevator will become one of the first in the nation and an iconic addition to Portland’s transportation system.
Owner: TriMet
Joint Venture: ZGF-VIA-Mayer/Reed
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How do you connect the city’s largest healthcare center located on a steep, forested hill with a planned transit station 300 feet below? That was the question posed to the joint venture team of ZGF-VIA-Mayer/Reed as part of TriMet’s Southwest Corridor light rail urban design. A critical component of the planned transit line, the connection to Oregon Health & Science University on Marquam Hill would provide over 18,000 employees per day with convenient access to public transportation. The solution must create a safe, accessible, and efficient connection that: is equitable for all users, ensures capacity for peak ridership, protects scenic views, maintains urban wildlife corridors and minimizes impacts to the Olmsted Brothers’ historic Terwilliger Parkway.
Our team established criteria and researched technical information for twelve potential above grade, below grade and on-grade connector types. We engaged with stakeholders – from elected officials to neighbors – to determine the most appropriate type of connector for the site. We recommended a funicular/inclined elevator option for several reasons. It moves people quickly in both vertical and horizontal directions. With its smaller footprint and lower structures, it has relatively low parkway impacts when compared to other options. It features a similar cable technology to the aerial tram nearby. When built, the inclined elevator will become one of the first in the nation and an iconic addition to Portland’s transportation system.
Owner