MAX Red Line Extension and Reliability Improvements

Stacy Witbeck served as the general contractor for this multi-scope expansion of TriMet's MAX Red Line in Portland, Oregon, delivered under a CM/GC contract.  

The project addressed three interconnected improvements along the active light rail corridor: at Portland International Airport (PDX), Gateway Transit Center, and the Beaverton-to-Fairplex segment — each designed to increase system capacity and extend access to more riders.  

Need 

The MAX Red Line carried growing ridership across one of the region's most traveled corridors, but single-track segments and limited station connections constrained how reliably and frequently trains could run. TriMet needed targeted infrastructure upgrades to remove bottlenecks, strengthen connections at major transit hubs, and bring more communities within direct reach of the Red Line.  

Work 

• Double tracked and rebuilt PDX station 
• Double tracked, added a station, and built a bridge over UPRR and I-84 at Gateway Transit Center 
• Extended the Red Line from Beaverton Transit Center to Fairplex station 
• Upgraded track, switches, signals, and completed three signal house cutovers 
• Constructed two station platforms and an operator break building 
• Built two bridges and 60,000 sq. ft. of retaining walls 
• Installed a 16-in. earthquake resistant ductile iron waterline 
• Relocated the airport's 18-in.sewer force main and reconfigured the 8-in. water line serving the glycol fill station 
• Installed 1.5 miles of new bike paths 
• Executed eight scheduled service shutdowns with no unplanned service impacts 
• Delivered 320,000+ worker hours with zero recordable or lost-time incidents 

Collaboration  

Stacy Witbeck partnered with Modern Railway Systems (MRS) on the train control system scopes across the Gateway, PDX, and Fairplex segments. MRS designed, installed, and tested train control equipment, updated system logic, and ensured seamless communication between new and existing infrastructure throughout the corridor.  

Impact 

Double tracking at PDX and Gateway eliminates a longstanding systemwide bottleneck, reducing delays across both the east and west sides of the metro area and delivering more reliable, on-time service regionwide. The extended Red Line gives passengers a seamless one-seat connection between Hillsboro and PDX, improving travel efficiency and accessibility along one of the corridor's most in-demand trips. 

The new Gateway Green Park connection also expands access for pedestrians and cyclists while improving emergency vehicle reach into the park. 

Innovations   

At the Gateway Green flyover bridge, the team employed a precast straddle-bent bridge cap in lieu of conventional cast-in-place construction.  This eliminated the need for falsework shoring within the track ROW and minimized disruptions to train operations running on seven-minute headways. 

Awards 

• 2025 ACEC Oregon Excellence Award, Best in Category – Transportation 
• 2025 ACEC Oregon Engineering Excellence Award, Best in Category – Transportation 
• 2025 Daily Journal of Commerce Top Projects 
• 2025 ENR Northwest Best Projects:  Finalist Northwest Project of the Year 
• 2025 ENR Best Projects Excellence in Safety 
• 2025 ENR Best Projects Best Renovation/Restoration