[IMAGE]TriMEt-MAX-train-full.jpg[/IMAGE]On Monday, Portland, Ore.-based TriMet, elected officials and project partners broke ground on a new MAX light rail station that has been in the works since 1997. The future Civic Drive Station will be the 85th along the entire 52-mile MAX system. The Civic Drive Station is located along the MAX Blue Line tracks at Civic Drive in Gresham.

TriMet and Metro committed to building the future station once there was enough development and density in the Gresham Civic Neighborhood to support it. The 130-acre site was formerly used by a mill.

"We are pleased to partner with Metro and the city of Gresham to turn this idea into reality, and provide high-quality transit service to this growing community and connections to the entire region," said TriMet GM Fred Hansen.

Officials participating in the groundbreaking included Metro Councilor Rod Park, Gresham Council President David Widmark, State Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, State Rep. Nick Kahl, ODOT Region 1 Manager Jason Tell and Center for Advanced Learning Director Bill Lesh.

The city of Gresham had the vision to develop the Civic Neighborhood into a vibrant community where people could live, work and recreate. The area boasts the Gresham Station shopping center, the five-story The Crossings apartment building, the Center for Advanced Learning, office space and LA Fitness, with more development planned in the future.

The station will cost $3 million, with funding provided from Metro and the Federal Transit Administration. The city of Gresham will contribute $600,000 for a future plaza adjacent to the MAX station that will also serve as a pedestrian connection between the station and future development.

Students from the Center for Advanced Learning worked with TriMet on pedestrian crossings, since the school is located across the street from the MAX station. The students helped develop recommendations for improving vehicle traffic and pedestrian activity that included installing a pedestrian crossing signal.

Civic Drive is located between the Ruby Junction/E 197th Ave and Gresham City Hall MAX stations. The station will have new pedestrian crossing enhancements, new shelters, new ticket vending machines, platform furnishings, security cameras and interactive public art.

The station is set to open this fall.