Clackamas County Hits the Brakes on Light Rail

The county sent a letter to Tri-Met asking to stop its plans for the Portland-Milwuakie Light Rail Project at the Clackamas County boarder. The commissioners voted 4-1 on January 31st to send the letter. The county says they need to get voter approval before they can acquire the land Tri-Met needs to complete the line. Back in November Clackamas County voters passed a bill requiring voter approval before they spend money on rail projects. Construction of the line began in July of 2011 when they began to erect the bridge portion over the Willamette. The cash strapped county is supposed to pay $22-million of the the $1.5 billion price tag. The letter says "Though we are not certain what the outcome of the vote will be, there is a potential that our voters may not support elements of the project necessary to advance the project". Completion of the Portland-Milwaukie project is set for September 2015.

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