From jobs to schools and services, TriMet improves connections to opportunities with August 2024 service change

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Summer rollout includes improvements to bus service; two new bus lines; new bus network in place of late-night/early-morning MAX service; expansion of MAX Red Line service to Hillsboro; and new names for three MAX stations

TriMet is rolling out one of our largest-ever service updates on Sunday, Aug. 25. Riders can expect new and more convenient transit options that provide fast and reliable connections to opportunities. From jobs and education to health care and social services, we’re improving service for current riders and bringing new service to areas that have been calling for more. 

As part of these changes, we’re adding new bus lines, adjusting routes and in some cases, eliminating low-ridership lines, so that we can use those resources where they’re needed most. We’re also expanding MAX service and beginning to fully realize the benefits of A Better Red, our years-long project to extend the Red Line into Hillsboro and keep MAX trains moving –- and on time –- across our entire light rail system. 

In addition, we’re changing late-night MAX service: Buses will run in place of trains during the late evening hours when there are fewer riders. While we will continue to provide reliable transit service in the same areas and for the same amount of time, this change will allow for additional overnight maintenance that will reduce delays and disruptions at times when most people are riding and relying on MAX to get where they need to go.

And that’s not all! TriMet will expand MAX Red Line service into Hillsboro and rename three MAX stations! Visit trimet.org to plan your trip! Set the date for Aug. 25, or later, to see how your travel plans might change.

Improving bus service with Forward Together

The bus service improvements are part of our Forward Together Service Concept. That’s a plan we created in partnership with the community in response to the changes in travel created by the COVID-19 pandemic. These improvements help fulfill the goals of Forward Together: to increase ridership and increase access to opportunities for people with low and limited incomes. Among the highlights:

  • Line 25-Glisan/Rockwood: We’re extending service to Reynolds High School and Mt. Hood Community College with buses coming more often, more hours of the day, every day.
  • Line 29-Lake/Webster Rd: We’re adding midday service to improve access to the Clackamas County Health Centers’ Behavioral Health clinics, which are moving to Lake Road.
  • Line 34-Linwood/River Rd: We’re extending Line 34 to Clackamas Heights.
  • NEW! Line 40-Tacoma/Swan Island: We’re launching Line 40 to connect Swan Island, Rose Quarter, Downtown Portland and the SE Tacoma St/Johnson Creek MAX Orange Line Station. Line 40 will replace lines 85 and 99 and replace Line 35 service to the South Macadam & Sellwood Bridge stops.
  • Line 76-Hall/Greenburg: We’re introducing a new connection between communities in Washington and Clackamas counties. We’re extending some trips on Line 76 east to the Oregon City Transit Center.
  • NEW! Line 153-Stafford/Salamo: We’re launching a new bus line to connect the communities of West Linn and Lake Oswego.
  • Lines 39, 44, 45, 51, 55 and 70: Schedules will be adjusted up to 5 minutes, to help students get to school on time.

TriMet will eliminate bus lines 85, 99 and 154 due to low ridership, and resources from those lines will be moved to new areas, to provide more reliable service. The Forward Together Service Concept includes replacement service for areas where bus lines are removed, where ridership supports it.

Late-night/early-morning MAX service provided by buses

We are introducing a network of buses that will run in place of MAX trains during late night and early morning hours. By providing late-night trips on buses instead of trains, TriMet will be able to complete more overnight maintenance projects. This will help us provide more reliable MAX service and reduce future planned and unplanned service disruptions that inconvenience riders during the busier hours. All light rail lines except the MAX Green Line will have a matching bus line that will provide service for late-night trains:

  • Blue Eastside bus: Riders traveling between Downtown Portland and Gresham will take late-night/early-morning trips on the Line 287-Blue Eastside Bus.
  • Blue Westside bus: Line 288-Blue Westside Bus will provide late night/early morning service between Rose Quarter Transit Center and Hillsboro.
  • Orange bus: Late-night/early-morning MAX trips have been provided by Line 291-Orange Night bus since the MAX Orange Line opened in 2015. We will remove “night” from the destination sign, for consistency.
  • Red bus: We’re moving late-night/early-morning MAX trips to the Line 292 Red Bus.
  • Yellow bus: We’re moving late-night/early-morning MAX trips to the Line 293-Yellow Bus.

The MAX Green Line will continue to operate with its current schedule, which can allow for additional overnight maintenance without an adjustment.

More MAX service and three stations get new names

Also happening on Aug. 25: a soft launch of service on our 10-station extension of the MAX Red Line, ahead of the official launch of the new service on Wednesday, Aug. 28. With our A Better Red project complete, we’re opening 10 existing Blue Line stations to Red Line trains, between Beaverton Transit Center and Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, which is getting a new name (see below.) Riders can expect wait times to be reduced by half in that area, as trains will arrive every seven to eight minutes for most of the day, every day.

In addition to the expansion of Red Line service, A Better Red improved reliability across TriMet’s entire 60-mile light rail system, with track improvements at Portland International Airport and Gateway Transit Center and a new station, Gateway North, for riders traveling from Portland International Airport.

As part of this comprehensive service change, we’re updating the names of three MAX Stations:

  • Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport will become Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds (MAX Blue and Red lines).
  • Tuality Hospital/SE 8th Ave will become Hillsboro Health District (MAX Blue Line).
  • Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center will be Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave (MAX Blue, Green and Red lines).

Let TriMet do the driving!

Every day, we’re finding new ways to make transit service faster and more reliable, while also providing a safe, convenient and easy way to get around. In addition to these service improvements, we’re working to improve the ride. That means you’ll see more safety and security personnel, increased enforcement of our Rules for Riding and cleaner vehicles, platforms and transit centers. 

If you are struggling to pay your fare, TriMet can help. Riders with low incomes can sign up for reduced fare through our Honored Citizen program or connect with a service provider who provides fares at no cost through our Access Transit Program.