Night view of the MAX Orange Line light rail at Tilikum Crossing with the bridge and city lights in the background.

Portland-Milwaukie Lightrail

Trimet
Location: Portland, Oregon
Collaborators: Trimet (Owner) GreenWorks (Landscape Architect) Mayer/Reed (Urban Design Lead)
Role: Project Manager / Design Lead
Status: Completed 2015
Credits: Images courtesy of Landscape Architecture Magazine
Awards: ASLA Oregon Award of Excellence ASLA Oregon People’s Choice Award

The East Portland segment of TriMet’s MAX Orange Line exemplifies a holistic landscape architectural design centered on station identity, ecological resilience, connectivity, and pedestrian safety. Along the 7.3-mile line, a unifying framework ensures clarity and comfort, while each station creates a distinct sense of place through materials, art, and contextual details.

The landscape is envisioned as a pioneer community of species — plantings that establish, adapt, and thrive over time — creating moments of distinction at each station. Green infrastructure such as bioswales, rain gardens, and native plantings manage stormwater while enhancing habitat and bringing nature into the corridor. Connectivity is strengthened by pedestrian and bicycle routes, including an extended Trolley Trail, along with improved sidewalks and crossings that reconnect neighborhoods. The result is an inviting, multimodal transit environment that seamlessly blends community character with ecological resilience.

As an Associate with GreenWorks, Tim Strand was project manager and design lead for the east side Portland segment of this project.

GreenWorks Team: Mike Faha, Robin Craig, Tim Strand, Shawn Kummer

MAX Orange Line train passing a station at night with illuminated landscaping. Cyclist riding past native plantings and a boat-like metal art piece along the MAX Orange Line corridor.