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Council Creek Regional Trail

The goal of the Council Creek Regional Trail is to create a corridor that creates commuting and recreational opportunities for all who bike, hike, roll and stroll.

See the 2015 Council Creek Regional Trail Master Plan.

CCRT Logo

Plans for the full 15-mile trail include:

  • An east-west segment connecting Hillsboro to Forest Grove (6 miles, in progress)
  • A north-south segment connecting Forest Grove and Banks and the Banks-Vernonia State Trail (not yet started)

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Community Benefits:

  • Car-free travel, reducing climate impact and lowering transportation costs for all
  • A fun, healthy way to get to work, run errands or catch a bus or MAX
  • An alternative to TV Highway
  • An amenity to business districts and neighborhoods along the Corridor
  • Opportunity to pilot new, innovative design and technologies for public transport
  • Shared, improved oversight of the Corridor
     
Council Creek Regional Trail Corridor Map Graphic

Shared Vision

The Council Creek Corridor Working Group, formed in 2020, is working to make this vision a reality through the following strategies:

  • Preliminary engineering and design of the regional trail funded by a Metro grant
  • Working to preserve right-of-way for public use
  • Tracking and securing local, regional, state and federal funding

Project Timeline

Planning in 2021, Final design in 2024, Construction in 2025 and Opening in 2029

Progress: The East-West Segment

This portion of the trail will use the existing railroad right-of-way between the Hatfield Government MAX station and Forest Grove (21st Avenue and Douglas Street, east of Pacific University). Train traffic has not used this section of railroad since 2015. Preliminary design work on the east-west segment has started, thanks in part to a $1.5 million Regional Flexible Funds Allocation (RFFA) grant from Metro in 2020. Work will include community and agency discussion on selecting the form and function of the trail.

Project Updates

A central path through the corridor following the existing railroad tracks was chosen for the trail alignment by the Council Creek Regional Trail Elected Officials Steering Committee at its March 2023 meeting. Members considered three possible alignments--central and on either side--across six segments.

The central path was chosen as the best balance of terrain, environmental and economic factors. Further study is required at the Dairy Creek crossing to determine whether the existing bridge will be used or a new bridge will be constructed.

map showing the trail allignment down the center of the corridor
Chosen trail alignment follows the existing railroad tracks down the center of the corridor.
 
Funding

To date, $25.3 million in local, regional and federal funding has been committed to completing the trail. Total cost is currently estimated at $28 million (subject to change).

  • $1.5 million Regional Flexible Funds Allocation (RFFA) grant from Metro in 2020 (includes $154,050 local match).
  • $17.5 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in November 2021, including $5.3 million in local matching funds:
    • $3.2 million from Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP) Opportunity fund
    • Combined contribution of $2.1 million from Washington County and cities of Hillsboro, Cornelius and Forest Grove
  • $6.3 million Regional Flexible Funds Allocation (RFFA) grant from Metro in 2023 (includes $789,000 local match).
  • The project partners continue to seek more funding to build the project as envisioned in the 2015 Master Plan.
Council Creek Regional Corridor Working Group Members
  • City of Banks
  • Clean Water Services
  • City of Cornelius
  • City of Forest Grove
  • City of Hillsboro
  • Metro
  • Oregon Department of Transportation
  • TriMet
  • Washington County
Elected Officials Steering Committee Meetings

Join online:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83885682742
Join via phone (audio only):  346-248-7799; Webinar ID: 838 8568 2742

If you need a sign or spoken language interpreter, please call 503-846-3968 (or 7-1-1 for telecommunications Relay Service) at least 48 hours prior to this event.

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Contact(s)

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