Shuttle buses to replace MAX service Oct. 25-31 as crews work to reduce heat-related delays
Summer may be over, but TriMet is already preparing for the next bout of high temperatures.
Beginning Sunday, Oct. 25, MAX Yellow Line will experience a week of disrupted service as TriMet undertakes a series of improvements. This work is necessary to strengthen the MAX system against the effects of extreme summer heat.
Shuttle buses will replace MAX Yellow Line trains between Interstate/Rose Quarter and Expo Center from Oct. 25-31. Regular Yellow Line service is scheduled to resume at the start of service on Sunday, Nov. 1.
During the project, MAX Yellow Line will run on its regular schedule west of the Interstate/Rose Quarter MAX Station, along 6th Avenue in Northwest and Southwest Portland. MAX Blue, Green, Orange and Red lines will not be affected.
The disruption is necessary to allow crews to make rail improvements at three locations along the MAX Yellow Line. This preventive maintenance will make the system more resilient during heatwaves. Crews will also deep clean our right-of-way to remove abrasive material from the track, such as sand and other debris.
For those traveling along the affected portion of the MAX Yellow Line, TriMet has resources available to help you get around the disruption. Visit trimet.org/improvements for more information.
Getting around the disruption
We suggest riders familiarize themselves with shuttle bus locations along the MAX Yellow Line before Oct. 25.
In most cases, stops for north- and southbound shuttle buses will be located across from MAX stations. These stops will share the same locations and stop IDs as our Line 293-Yellow Bus. A temporary shuttle bus stop that does not share a location with the Line 293-Yellow Bus will be added near Interstate/Rose Quarter (northbound).
Riders should follow posted signs, station announcements and Service Alerts. You can sign up now for service alerts at trimet.org/alerts. We encourage riders to plan for up to an extra 30 minutes for their trips. Shuttle buses will arrive about every 15 minutes throughout the disruption.
Why is this work necessary?
Just as many of us wilt under the scorching glare of the summer sun, rail systems face their own heat-related issues, including “sun kinks.” Despite being made of durable steel, rail expands under excessive heat. The solution is adding “expansion joints,” which reduce stress on the rail, allowing it to expand and contract without becoming wavy.
Completing this preventive work during the cooler fall months will help prepare the MAX Yellow Line for future periods of extreme highs and lows, reducing the potential for weather-related delays and emergency repairs.
Limiting barriers to travel
We appreciate our riders’ patience and understanding while crews complete this important work. We know how much the MAX Yellow Line means to you. For four weeks, it was your fast pass for getting around the southbound I-5 closure and the resulting congestion on nearby streets.
Because we know how important our rail system is, these types of state-of-good-repair projects are planned months in advance with our riders’ needs in mind. Crews need the space and time necessary to work safely and efficiently, which can make disruptions like this necessary, but our goal is always to limit barriers to travel and to provide information in a timely manner.
Making Transit Better
TriMet is committed to keeping our transit system in a state of good repair. Making targeted improvements across the system improves performance, reduces delays and saves money.
Over the past year, TriMet has completed a series of projects designed to strengthen the resiliency of our infrastructure. These projects include:
Rail inspections and deep cleaning in the Robertson Tunnel
TriMet made additional upgrades in and around the tunnel, including to the overhead wire tensioning system that keeps the wires powering MAX trains taut in extreme heat.
Installing Tensorex devices at key locations across the MAX system
These devices automatically adjust the tension of the overhead wires that power MAX trains as temperatures rise and fall, helping prevent heat-related disruptions and making the system more resilient during extreme weather. In addition to the Robertson Tunnel, we also added the system to the MAX Blue Line in Gresham.
Rebuilding and modernizing the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station
TriMet reconstructed the MAX station in 2025, adding new lighting, wider stairs, improved shelters and other upgrades to make the station safer, more accessible and more comfortable for riders.
Improvement projects like these only occur after months of careful planning. We appreciate your understanding whenever we work to improve the system. To find out more, visit trimet.org/bettertransit.