SMART Timeline

Date Description
1988 Wilsonville Innovative Transportation Association successfully petitions TriMet to withdraw and form an independent city-owned transit system.
1989 Contractual service agreement granted to Buck Ambulance Service; Door–to-door service begins.
1991  First passenger van purchased and drivers hired. Wilsonville Area Rapid Transit (WART) provides “next day” service and is free to riders.
1992 Ridership grows. City maintenance department recognized for refurbishing GMC buses. 
1993 First fixed routes begin to major employer sites from Oregon City, Tualatin and Barbur Blvd Transit Center.
1994 WART (Wilsonville Area Rapid Transit) becomes SMART (South Metro Area Rapid Transit).
1995 SMART enhances service: adds City Hall to route # 203 where it meets with TriMet # 96. New #204 “Crosstown Shuttle” begins.
1996 New shelter and transit center opens at City Hall. 
ADA (American with Disabilities Act) plan completed and implemented. 
Midday service added to route # 204
1997 Three, low-floor, 30 passenger buses added to fleet. 
Salem route #1X service begins.
European commuter train makes demonstration run from Wilsonville to Beaverton
1998 SMART adds more Dial-a-Ride service to Charbonneau District.
1999 Washington County Commuter Rail Study Phase II completed 
SMART ridership growth continues, additional trips added to routes.
2002 The SMART Options program begins helping employers promote commuter benefits to employees. 
2003 Route 205 begins service to Canby.
2005 SMART ART on the bus program talks with over 250 Wilsonville students about Transportation Options.
2006 The Walk SMART program logs over a billion steps and 1,000 participants.
2007 Construction at the new Multi-modal Wilsonville Station begins. Brush is cleared for the park and ride lot, concrete is poured for the Commuter Rail platform. 
In 2007, the bus system's name was officially changed to South Metro Area Regional Transit.
2008 SMART administrative offices move to north Wilsonville to join the bus fleet and maintenance facility on Elligsen Rd. Wilsonville Transit Center now complete.
2009 January 12th, SMART changes bus routes and expands service for WES commuter rail.  All routes now transfer at  the new Wilsonville Transit Center. SMART Celebrates 20 years of service.
2010 August 2010 - ARRA funded projects complete;
    Transit Operator break-room & public restrooms
    Community Landmark Clock Tower
    Transit Amenities 
2011 SMART Operations Center (fleet and administration facilities) Design phase underway, Connect Oregon III grant approved, construction slated for completion in November 2012.
2012 August 2012 - Hosts first Wilsonville Sunday Streets event.
2013 The newly constructed SMART Operations Center and Fleet Facility opens January 2013 at 28879 SW Boberg Road.
2014 SMART Transit Integration Project approved for implementation by City Council.

The City of Wilsonville begins the process of updating its Transit Master Plan to include a 20 year projection of service and projects.
2015 SMART added two 40’ diesel-electric hybrid buses to the fleet. These buses were funded by a federal Clean Fuels grant.
2016

 A Dero bike repair station added to SMART Central Transit Center
2017
 

Wilsonville City Council unanimously approved and adopted the SMART  2017 Transit Master Plan.
2018

Council approves the Programs Enhancement Strategy (Appendix G of the Transit Master Plan) that allows SMART to improve service with new Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund.
2019

SMART Celebrates 30 years. SMART revealed its first two new Proterra electric buses and deployed them on Route 4.
Route 2X now terminates at Tualatin Park & Ride, and becomes it's only out of town service that is FREE.
Real-Time Route information display board added to Wilsonville Transit Center.
2020 SMART goes fare free on all routes except the 1X and Out of town Dial-a-Ride service
2021 The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is collaborated with  SMART to support more reliable travel by using the highway shoulder for transit vehicles. This innovative concept is referred to as Bus on Shoulder. The pilot project extended approximately two miles in both directions of I-5 between the I-205 interchange and Elligsen Road. Authorized buses  use the shoulder in clearly marked areas when traffic drops below 35 mph. This project ran for a year and was successful. Bus on Shoulder continues on this 2X route.
2022 SMART begins offering a subsidy for vanpools that travel into and out of Wilsonville in partnership with Commute by Enterprise.  SMART begins pilot project with the Wilsonville Library to offer Books on the Bus at locations within  Wilsonville. The City of Wilsonville begins the process of updating its Transit Master Plan to include a 20 year projection of service and projects.
2023 SMART installs electronic readers at (21) bus stops. This new wifi connected service provides real time next bus arrivals. Wilsonville City Council adopted the new updated Transit Master Plan
2024

Transit Oriented Development Project at the Wilsonville Transit Center began in 2024. This building will be named Vuela and is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2026. 
Vuela will include:
•121 homes affordable to households making between 30% and 80% of Area Median Income, with a focus on family-sized units
• A permanent home for Wilsonville Community Sharing, the city’s social service agency and food bank
​​​​​​​• SMART Welcome Center for transit information and other spaces.

 

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