TriMet shuttle buses will move riders around Sunday’s partial-day closure as crews tackle regional graffiti along I-84

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Comprehensive efforts spearheaded by the Oregon governor’s office and the Oregon Department of Transportation will require a partial-day disruption to MAX Blue, Green and Red lines

MAX Blue, Green and Red lines will be disrupted for part of Sunday, July 14, between NE 7th Ave and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center for graffiti and trash removal along a stretch of TriMet’s light rail tracks that parallel Interstate 84. Shuttle buses will serve closed stations from the start of service until around 6 p.m. on Sunday.

A five-mile stretch of I-84 will be closed in both directions from 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13, to noon Sunday, July 14. Along with MAX light rail, heavy rail traffic will also stop. One bus line, Line 70-12th/NE 33rd Ave, will be detoured off of the NE 12th Avenue bridge until 12 p.m. when I-84 reopens to autos.

A stretch of TriMet right of way next to I-84 has been tagged. Areas like this will be cleaned on Sunday, June 14.

The cleanup is part of a coordinated effort among six agencies led by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). In addition to ODOT and TriMet, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), Multnomah County and Metro are involved in addressing the community issue of graffiti in the area. The cleaning teams will focus on a portion of I-84, roughly between the Lloyd Neighborhood and Interstate 205. This section of I-84 is both a highly visible and heavily trafficked part of the Portland metro region and an area prioritized by the Portland Central City Taskforce established by Governor Tina Kotek.

“Partnerships like this one are so important, as we join together to restore civic pride and make our community safer and more livable.” TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. said. “I’d like to thank Governor Kotek and the Oregon Department of Transportation for their vision to rejuvenate this and other transportation arterials through Portland, and I applaud this collaboration with PBOT, Union Pacific, Metro and Multnomah County to make it happen.”

TriMet will need to cut electricity to the overhead wires that power trains to allow crews to safely access areas in and around our tracks. The closure is an opportunity for TriMet to further enhance our cleaning efforts. It allows crews to reach areas in our right of way that are not safe when trains are running. Although crews will complete their work and I-84 will reopen at noon on Sunday, it will take time to repower the MAX system. We appreciate our riders’ patience as we do this work and get trains back on regular schedule. 

Partial-day MAX disruption

A partial-day MAX disruption on a Sunday is intended to lessen the impact on riders, but we understand there are those who will need to get around the closure. Here’s what riders need to know:

  • Shuttle buses will replace MAX Blue, Green and Red line trains, serving all closed stations between NE 7th Ave and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center.
  • Shuttle buses will arrive about every seven minutes.
  • The disruption will begin with the start of service early Sunday and end by 6 p.m.
  • Sign up for Service Alerts now at trimet.org/alerts.
  • Bus lines FX-2, 9, 12, 15, 19, 20 and 77 may experience higher ridership, as they may be used as an alternative to MAX service.

During the highway and rail track closures, upwards of 100 workers from the six agencies will join private contractors to remove trash and clean graffiti along the corridor, moving west to east. Along TriMet property, crews will focus on walls, poles, trackways and hard-to-reach areas that are visible when traveling by train.

Commitment to cleanliness

With a commitment to cleanliness, we’re proud to join efforts to revitalize community resources that have been marred by an uptick in vandalism in recent years. TriMet has added staff and contractors to make enhanced cleaning a priority. In this year alone, we have more than doubled the number of times we’ve been able to pressure wash stations.

Removal of litter, repairs and repainting have also been priorities, especially through Downtown and along I-84. These are among our oldest and most used stations, serving multiple MAX lines and tens of thousands of riders every week.

Cleanliness and safety go hand-in-hand. TriMet believes our riders and the entire community thrive when they see a transit system that feels comfortable and inviting. We recently announced a renewed focus on our rules for riding to make our system cleaner, safer and more accessible. That includes not allowing anything that leaks, such as large bags of recyclable cans and bottles, along with open containers of food and beverages that may spill and make a mess. Any large items that block aisles and doors are not allowed on board. Smoking of any kind is also prohibited.

Learn more about our rules for riding as outlined in the TriMet Code of Conduct. TriMet’s enhanced cleaning, increased code enforcement and partnership with other local agencies come as we also continue building out a comprehensive series of safety and security initiatives.