What will a streetcar to Montgomery Park mean for your day-to-day in Northwest Portland? If you live, shop, or own property near NW 23rd, Slabtown, or the historic Montgomery Park building, this project sits on your doorstep. You want the upside of better transit without surprises. Here is what is planned, what it could mean for property values and streets, and how to prepare. Let’s dive in.
What is the Montgomery Park Streetcar?
The City of Portland is advancing a Portland Streetcar extension that would continue the existing NS Line north into Slabtown and the Montgomery Park area. City Council adopted the Locally Preferred Alternative and the Montgomery Park Area Plan on December 11, 2024, and the project entered Federal Transit Administration Project Development on January 2, 2025. Metro endorsed the locally preferred route on July 31, 2025.
You can follow status and documents on the project page from the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The FTA’s project profile is the best source for federal milestones and process context.
- Learn more on PBOT’s project page: Portland Streetcar Montgomery Park Extension
- See the FTA project profile: Montgomery Park Transit Project
Where it will run in NW Portland
The extension will continue from the current NW 23rd and Northrup terminus along NW 23rd, with planned rehabilitation between NW Lovejoy and NW Vaughn. North of Vaughn, the streetcar will operate on a one-way couplet using NW Roosevelt and NW Wilson and end near Montgomery Park. The plan also extends local streets like NW Roosevelt, NW Wilson, NW York, and NW 25th to break up superblocks and improve circulation.
PBOT materials describe a broader corridor, while the FTA profile lists roughly 0.65 miles of new service from NW 23rd and Northrup to NW 26th and Wilson. PBOT sometimes cites a longer figure that reflects total new track within the couplet and related street work. If you see different numbers, that is why.
- Route and design overview: PBOT project page
Design highlights you will notice
The extension is planned to operate off-wire using hybrid battery streetcars, which means no new overhead poles and wires on NW 23rd. PBOT also plans to procure additional off-wire capable vehicles as part of a fleet upgrade. That approach is intended to reduce visual clutter and maintenance needs along the corridor.
- Vehicle and infrastructure details: PBOT project page
Streets, parking, and mobility changes
PBOT states the streetcar can fit within NW 23rd’s public right-of-way with minimal travel-lane impacts. On-street parking is expected to be retained as much as possible, though some spaces may be removed to add stormwater and accessibility upgrades. Loading zones are not planned on NW 23rd because none exist today.
The Montgomery Park Area Transportation Plan also recommends safer walking and biking connections. Expect protected bikeways on NW Roosevelt and NW Wilson, new stormwater facilities, and accessibility improvements as the district evolves.
- Parking, bikeway, and streetscape notes: PBOT project page
Timeline and funding
The near-term program focuses on design, engineering, and environmental review during Project Development. PBOT plans to seek federal funding in 2026, with construction currently targeted for 2028. Timelines can shift with federal decisions, design refinements, and bidding, so treat 2028 as a target rather than a guarantee.
Metro has already awarded $10 million to the project as part of a larger regional funding package. That early commitment signals regional support as the project heads into federal review and competitive grants.
- Metro funding summary: Metro Council investment approval
- Program schedule and milestones: PBOT project page
MPAP: housing, jobs, and public benefits
Adopted alongside the streetcar route, the Montgomery Park Area Plan sets a land-use framework for a new transit-oriented district west of Highway 30 between NW Vaughn and NW Nicolai. The plan anticipates more than 2,000 new housing units over time, with a goal of 200-plus affordable units, plus new commercial space and hundreds of jobs. A Public Benefits Agreement aims to capture value for the community, including affordable housing, middle-wage jobs, public open space, and cultural and historical commemoration such as York.
The plan preserves industrial land east of Highway 30 and includes minimum non-residential floor-area requirements to retain employment uses in new mixed-use development. These are goals and tools rather than guarantees, so results will depend on implementation and market conditions.
- MPAP and Public Benefits Agreement: Montgomery Park Area Plan
- City summary of the Public Benefits Agreement: BPS project news
Montgomery Park’s role in the change
The iconic Montgomery Park building was sold in 2024 to Menashe Properties for a reported 33 million dollars after a foreclosure process. How the new ownership repositions the complex will shape tenant mix, ground-floor activation, and the pace of nearby housing and retail. The building’s size alone makes it a central player in how Slabtown grows around the future terminus.
- Market context and sale reporting: Daily Journal of Commerce coverage
What it could mean for property values
Portland’s earlier streetcar corridors coincided with strong redevelopment in places like the Pearl District and South Waterfront. Academic reviews of rail transit show that property values often see a premium within a quarter to half mile of stations, although results vary by city, distance to stops, and housing type. Some properties immediately next to stops can experience mixed or smaller effects.
Translation for you as a homeowner or buyer. The streetcar can be a positive signal for long-term demand, but it is not a guarantee of price gains. Broader market forces, interest rates, and the pace of new construction will also influence outcomes.
- Evidence overview: National Academies review of transit and property values
Construction impacts to expect
Streetcar construction usually brings temporary lane work, curb and sidewalk changes, staging, noise, and access adjustments. PBOT has said it will coordinate to reduce disruption and support nearby businesses and residents. If you own or manage property on NW 23rd or within the couplet, plan early.
A simple checklist can help:
Confirm how any storefront or garage access will be maintained during phases.
Review temporary parking and loading options for deliveries and clients.
Track PBOT’s construction updates and outreach meetings.
If selling during construction, build extra time into your marketing plan and highlight long-term access benefits in your listing.
Construction FAQs and updates: PBOT project page
For sellers, buyers, and landlords
- Sellers near the corridor. If your timeline is flexible, discuss whether to list before work starts or after the first visible progress. Some buyers value getting in ahead of change, while others prefer to see finished streetscape upgrades.
- Buyers in NW Portland. Proximity to the NS Line and a future terminus can be a lifestyle win if you value car-light living. Ask your agent to weigh distance to planned stops, likely noise, and walk-shed improvements in your search.
- Landlords and small portfolios. Construction phase planning and post-opening repositioning can protect rent and retention. If you prefer a hands-off approach, Portland Modern’s integrated property-management arm can help you navigate both phases.
What to watch next
- Federal funding competitions in 2026 and any FTA ratings or approvals.
- Design decisions that affect parking, bikeways, and curb space on NW 23rd, Roosevelt, and Wilson.
- How the Public Benefits Agreement gets implemented, especially the affordable housing targets.
- Office and retail demand near Montgomery Park, plus any redevelopment announcements from the building’s owner.
When you want a grounded read on how this affects your block, reach out. For trusted guidance on timing a sale, bidding on the right home, or planning a hold strategy, connect with Lance Marrs.
FAQs
When will Montgomery Park Streetcar construction start in NW Portland?
- PBOT’s public schedule targets 2028 for construction, subject to securing federal funding and completing design and environmental review. See the latest on the PBOT project page.
How long is the extension and where does it end?
- The FTA profile lists about 0.65 miles to NW 26th and Wilson, while PBOT sometimes cites a longer figure that reflects total new track and street work. The line will operate along NW 23rd, then a Roosevelt and Wilson couplet to a terminus near Montgomery Park. Sources: FTA project profile and PBOT.
Will on-street parking be removed on NW 23rd?
- PBOT says on-street parking will be maintained as much as possible, with some spaces removed for stormwater and accessibility upgrades. Block-by-block details will be set during design. See PBOT’s project page.
Will homes near future stops go up in value?
- Many studies show positive effects near rail stops, but results vary and there can be mixed effects directly next to stations. Consider local precedent and broader market factors. Source: National Academies review.
Where can I find official updates and contact information?
- Start with PBOT’s Montgomery Park Streetcar page for updates, meetings, and contacts, and review the Montgomery Park Area Plan for land-use changes and public benefits.
