Quatama/Northwest 205th Avenue

Infobox Station
name=Quatama/Northwest 205th Avenue

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image_size=250px
image_caption=View from the north
coordinates=coord|45.523127|-122.888732|display=inline,title|type:railwaystation_region:US-OR
address=
line=MAX Light Railrail color box|system=TMTC|line=Blue
other=
platform=Island platform
tracks=2
parking=Park & Ride
bicycle=Lockers & Racks
baggage_check=
passengers=
pass_year=
pass_percent=
pass_system=
opened=September 12 1998
closed=
rebuilt=
ADA=yes
code=
owned=Trimet
zone=3
services=
mpassengers=The Quatama/Northwest 205th Avenue station is a light rail station on the MAX Blue Line in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The station is the 13th stop westbound on the Westside MAX from Downtown Portland and includes a park and ride lot. Quatama Station is named after the area which includes Quatama Road to the south of the station. Opened in 1998, the stop is near high-tech industries and the Amberglen business park that includes Oregon Health & Science University's West Campus in Hillsboro that includes the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

History

During the planning stages of the light rail line, Hillsboro rezoned much of the area around the station to increase building densities. Initial planning for a light rail line on Portland's west side began in 1979, with groundbreaking on the Westside MAX project coming in 1993.Hamilton, Don. Creating a lifeline to guide community growth. "The Oregonian", September 9 1998.] On September 12 1998, the Quatama station opened along with the Westside MAX line. [Mapes, Jeff. Gore walks tight line on Clinton. "The Oregonian", September 13 1998.] In 1998, and again in 2004, the weather vane at the station was vandalized. [Olsen, Dana. Vandals damage artwork. "The Oregonian", April 28 2004.] Within several months of opening, the park and ride lot was at 92% capacity and by July 1999, the lot was filled to capacity during the peak travel times on the MAX line. [Oliver, Gordon. Mixed results for MAX’s ultimate test. "The Oregonian", July 13 1999.] [Hamilton, Don. Park-&-Ride lots use fluctuates in wake of Westside light rail. "The Oregonian", November 19 1998.]

A fight injured a 17-year old at the station in October 2000. [Frank, Ryan. Aloha teen knifed in fight at MAX station. "The Oregonian", October 18 2000.] Hillsboro planned to improve street connections to the station as part of the planned redevelopment in the south Tanasbourne area announced in 2006. [Bermudez, Esmeralda. Plan highlights. "The Oregonian", November 16 2006.] The station’s platform was vandalized in a graffiti spree in June 2007 along with several surrounding developments. [Snell, John. Hillsboro Boys arrested in tagging spree. "The Oregonian", June 27 2007.] In October of that year a 12-year old was attacked with a hammer at the station. [Crombie, Noelle. Public Safety. "The Oregonian", October 24 2007.]

Details

Designed by the architectural group OTAK Inc., the station features a single island platform between the two tracks.Colby, Richard N. Tracking art plans. "The Oregonian", August 3 1995.] Located on northwest Quatama Road at northwest 205th Avenue in Hillsboro, the station is served by the MAX Blue Line. [http://trimet.org/max/stations/quatamss.htm Quatama/NW 205th Ave MAX Station.] TriMet. Retrieved on July 18 2008.] Situated in fare zone 3, the station includes a park and ride lot, bike lockers, bike racks, has a variety of public artwork, and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The station sits on 3.35 acres on the south side of the rail line. [ [http://washims.co.washington.or.us/GIS/index.cfm?id=30&sid=3&IDValue=1N235DD00102 Assessment & Taxation Report.] Washington County. Retrieved on July 18 2008.]

Public art

Artwork at the station has a theme of understanding nature. [http://trimet.org/publicart/bluelineart.htm Art on Westside MAX Blue Line.] TriMet. Retrieved on July 18 2008.] One piece of art reflecting that theme at the stop is a weather vane designed by Michael Oppenheimer.Hamilton, Don. Sculptures will let riders know which way wind is blowing. "The Oregonian", July 23 1997.] The weather vane is titled “Cattail Tunes” and is based on the plant that grows in nearby wetlands. Constructed of stainless steel rods, the piece is composed of five rods standing 24 feet tall and six feet apart.Windy art. "The Oregonian", July 23 1997.] The rods are topped with metal cattail heads, each a different height so that they sway differently from each other.

Continuing with the natural elements theme, the platform has animal tracks etched into the concrete while the windscreen in the passenger shelter includes a map of the watershed for the Tualatin River etched into the glass. Across from the platform is a plaza titled “Flow” which features a simulated creek in the concrete. Along the creek are boulders that have scientific images engraved into them, along with a water basin that illustrates how water run-off occurs. The inspiration for this artwork comes from an arrangement made by a Japanese Macaque at the Oregon National Primate Research Center across the street from the station. Designers for the artwork at Quatama Station were Jerry Mayer, Valerie Otani, Bill Will, and Fernanda D'Agostino.

References