Council Creek Regional Trail

See the 2015 Council Creek Regional Trail Master Plan.

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)

Community benefits include:

• Car-free travel, reducing climate impact and lowering transportation costs
• A fun, healthy way to get to work, run errands or catch a bus or MAX
• An alternative to TV Highway for cyclists and pedestrians
• An amenity to business districts and neighborhoods along the Corridor

East-West Trail

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.

Trail design uses the center of existing right-of-way for a raised trail and enhanced street crossings at each intersection.

Design considerations include a future TriMet light rail along the corridor, however the timeline is uncertain.

North-South Trail

Design has not started. This segment would extend the trail from Forest Grove to the Banks-Vernonia Trail.

Updates:

6/17/2026: We are waiting for approval from the Federal Highway Administration to move forward with trail construction.

Commissioner District 4

Funding

Cost estimate: $20 million (trail), $6.3 million (trail crossings)
Funding sources:

• MSTIP Opportunity Fund
• Transportation Development Tax
• RAISE Grant Funding
• Metro Regional Flexible Funds Allocation
• Road Fund

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Timeline

Planning start: 2021
East-West Trail:

• Trail design: Spring 2024-November 2025
• Street crossing design: February 2026-October 2026
• Construction start (expected): Fall 2026
• Construction finish (expected): Summer 2028

North-South Trail: Dependent on funding

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Project News

• Shaping the Future Council Creek Regional Trail: Input Needed on Safer Street Crossings

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Prior events and comment opportunities

Open House: May 7, 2026

• Council Creek Regional Trail Street Crossings Map (PDF 786.43 KB)

Open House: April 23-May 10, 2026

Open House: May 3-May 31, 2024

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

Past Steering Committee Meetings

• Sept. 19, 2022: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  09/19/2022 Meeting agenda (PDF 172.84 KB)
  Presentation (PDF 3.11 MB)
  Vision statement and goals (PDF 141.36 KB)

• Oct. 17, 2022: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  10/17/2022 Meeting agenda (PDF 4.73 MB)

• Nov. 21, 2022: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  11/21/2022 Meeting agenda (PDF 576.02 KB)

• Jan. 23, 2023: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  01/23/23 Meeting agenda (PDF 195.16 KB)
  01/23/23 Meeting packet (PDF 598.64 KB)

• March 20, 2023: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  03/20/23 Meeting agenda (PDF 195.59 KB)
  03/20/23 Meeting packet (PDF 2.01 MB)

• June 13, 2023: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  06/13/2023 Meeting agenda (PDF 195.37 KB)
  06/13/2023 Meeting packet (PDF 907.7 KB)

• Oct. 16, 2023: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  10/16/2023 Meeting agenda (PDF 194.54 KB)
  10/16/2023 Meeting packet (PDF 746.49 KB)

• January 9, 2024: 5-6:30 p.m., Held remotely via Zoom

  01/09/2024 Meeting agenda (PDF 194 KB)
  01/09/2024 Meeting packet (PDF 1.34 MB)