Construction has begun on two additional stories of parking at the SE Park Avenue Park & Ride 

TriMet kicked off a year-long project that will free-up more parking at an historically busy Park & Ride in North Clackamas County, giving commuters southeast of Portland more access to transit. The project will also fully realize the original plans for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project, which brought federal funds to the region for the MAX Orange Line, completed in 2015.

Construction will expand the three-story structure at the south end of the MAX Orange Line by two additional floors, adding 334 new spaces, including six accessible parking spaces. The project will also add wiring and equipment to support 40 additional electric vehicle charging stalls. The new parking will open in spring 2025, and the electric vehicle charging stalls will open at a later date. With the exception of the third floor, the Park & Ride will remain open during the majority of construction.

A five-story parking facility was originally planned for SE Park Ave, but TriMet deferred construction until we could ensure  federal funding remained in the project budget to build it. Development of the MAX Orange Line itself came in under budget, allowing us to tap federal money for the Park & Ride expansion. 

When the three-story Park & Ride opened in 2015, with 401 spaces, it quickly became one of TriMet’s most popular, often filling to capacity on weekdays or during events. TriMet had planned for this possibility, building the structure to allow for its future growth. As a short-term measure, TriMet entered into an agreement with the adjacent Milwaukie-Portland Elks Lodge #142 to lease spaces in its parking lot to manage overflow.

While demand is less today due to travel changes following the COVID-19 pandemic, adding the two new floors of parking now allows us to build for the future to match the growing transit needs in North Clackamas County—without inconveniencing riders. 

Short-term construction, long-term benefits

Expanding the garage will make it easier and more convenient for people to reach jobs, services or other important destinations. The SE Park Avenue Park & Ride is served by the MAX Orange Line and bus lines 33-McLoughlin/King Rd and 99-Macadam/McLoughlin. The Line 291-Orange Night Bus also serves the station from Downtown Portland, replacing MAX Orange Line trains after midnight. 

While both the garage and the onsite Bike & Ride will remain open during construction, the entrance from McLoughlin Boulevard will be closed through the project’s completion. Drivers will enter and exit from the driveway off Southeast Park Avenue. The sidewalk on McLoughlin Boulevard will remain open, however. The Park & Ride elevator will also be closed during construction. 

TriMet’s goal is for roughly 20% of the construction contract be set aside for certified disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms. DBEs are businesses owned by minorities or women at a level of at least 51%, with these contracts used to build a diverse and skilled workforce while at the same time making critical improvements to our region’s transportation system. 

Design and site features

In addition to increasing the garage’s capacity, the project will add decorative panels that vines will climb. The landscaping surrounding the garage will be temporarily removed during construction. It will be replaced when the project is completed. We’re also temporarily removing the garage’s rooftop solar panels to accommodate construction.

Learn more about the Park Avenue Park & Ride expansion at trimet.org/bettertransit/park.