The Southwest Corridor comprises multiple jurisdictions and many different neighborhoods, extending from South Downtown Portland along the Barbur Boulevard corridor to Downtown Tigard and further south along I-5 to Bridgeport Village. The organizing principle around this area is the proposed investment of a 12-mile Light Rail MAX extension along this alignment, meant to serve one of the fastest-growing corridors in the Metro Region.

Past transportation-related development projects have resulted in involuntary residential and business displacement of BIPOC communities, making a lasting impact on Portland’s Black community in North and Northeast Portland. Therefore, when the new Light Rail MAX extension was envisioned, the Portland City Council directed the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) to develop an equitable housing strategy to protect the people in the SW Corridor.

The Corridor is home to 10% of the Metro Area population, and it represents some of the most integrated neighborhoods in the Region including East African, Arab Muslims, White, and LatinX immigrant and refugee communities. The SW Equitable Development Strategy was developed to ensure the needs of these communities are met, with the SW Corridor Equity Coalition championing the implementation of this strategy through its member and their partners.