The rail crossing at the heart of Tualatin's commute.
The city is studying how to separate road traffic from the Portland & Western Railroad at the Tualatin-Sherwood and Boones Ferry crossing, a longtime bottleneck. Here is where the study stands.
If you have spent much time driving through central Tualatin, you have probably sat through it: the red lights at the rail crossing where Tualatin-Sherwood Road meets Boones Ferry Road, waiting while a Portland & Western freight train rolls through on the line that runs across town. It is one of the city's longest-standing congestion points, with a notable crash history on the corridor and periodic train delays for commuters at peak hours.
The city has been studying how to fix it for more than a year. For anyone weighing a home at 22379 SW 107th Ave or nearby, the outcome matters: this is the main artery connecting Tualatin's east side to Sherwood, Tigard, and downtown, and a reliable crossing shapes the commute in every direction.
The study so far
A timeline of the grade separation study.
Spring 2026
Council points to a bridge concept
In March 2026, the City Council directed engineers to keep investigating raising Tualatin-Sherwood Road over Boones Ferry Road and the railroad, a concept discussed at roughly $200 million. It was a direction to study further, not a commitment to build.
Summer 2026
Design charrette and early findings
A design charrette in June brought together staff, engineers, and the public, and study findings went before council that month. By August, the early alternatives analysis showed how hard the site is: most options carried serious constraints from floodplain, wetlands, and the rail line itself.
September 2026
Virtual open house and public survey
From September 14 through 27, the city ran a virtual open house asking residents what the future of the intersection should look like, from doing nothing to full grade separation. Thousands of daily commuters got a direct say in the options.
Where it stands now
Study phase only, no construction scheduled
The project is in concept evaluation and feasibility. There is no funded construction timeline, and engineers have cautioned that solving the crossing could push the backup elsewhere, with 90th Avenue flagged as a possible new bottleneck. Expect continued public engagement before anything concrete.
Why it matters
What a fix would mean for daily life.
A grade separation, if it ever gets funded, would take the road over the tracks so trains no longer stop traffic at all, eliminating the biggest variable in the daily drive. The study phase also feeds into the broader conversation about how Tualatin grows: housing at Basalt Creek, the downtown revitalization around the Commons, and a long list of commute options for Portland all depend on a transportation network that keeps moving.
Details, renderings, and the chance to sign up for updates are all on the City of Tualatin's project page, and the events page tracks the public meetings as they are announced. It is a long-horizon project, but a short drive to watch it develop.
Make Your Move
A home that sits on the right side of the bridge question.
22379 SW 107th Ave offers easy commutes in every direction while the city plans its next moves. Paul Knighton of MORE Realty can walk you through the neighborhood, the roads, and the rail crossing that sits at the center of it all.
Schedule a Tour