Residents in the Washington County area are looking at a potential game-changer for their daily commutes. The City of Hillsboro, in conjunction with TriMet and the neighboring cities of Beaverton and Hillsboro, is throwing its weight behind a fresh proposal aimed at untangling the knot of traffic that routinely forms around the SW 185th Avenue and Baseline Road intersection, particularly near the MAX crossing. According to information from the City of Hillsboro's official website, a Smart SW 185th Avenue Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) project is on the table for Metro's 2028-30 Regional Flexible Funding.
The plan involves outfitting the corridor with an array of high-tech sensors, including radars and cameras, that would sync traffic lights with the rhythms of rail transit. The resulting system is designed to dynamically adjust traffic signal timing in real-time, smoothing out the traffic flow and cutting down on wait times for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Moreover, the project promises to fast-track bus services by granting priority access to TriMet buses at the crucial intersection and creating a slip lane for more efficient use of the right turn lane by southbound buses.
What's more, this initiative doesn't just stand to benefit motorists. Pedestrian and cyclist safety is also a major focal point, with enhancements planned to avoid leaving them stranded at corners when trains disrupt the usual signaling cadence. And with a deadline for public opinion looming, the involved agencies are urging locals to make their voices heard. An online survey hosted by Metro, open until Wednesday, April 30, is seeking community feedback on the proposed undertaking. The clear message: taking a few minutes to weigh in could steer funding decisions for this and other regional transportation improvements.
It's a temporary salve, but an impactful one. As specified by Hillsboro's announcement, the Smart SW 185th Avenue ITS project is intended to serve as a stopgap measure, paving the way for smoother commutes until a permanent fix can be drawn up and financed. This would ideally take the form of an overcrossing that fully separates road from rail—freeing traffic from the grip of train schedules.
In the backdrop, Metro's regional flexible funds continue to play a pivotal role in channeling federal dollars into critical infrastructure projects across the region. With about $42 million earmarked for the 2028-30 period, the decisions made this summer could shepherd this innovative traffic solution from concept to reality, and hopefully put a dent in one of the area's most persistent traffic snarls.
