Division Transit Project makes history as certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms paved the way for better FX bus service

TriMet, joined by the Federal Transit Administration and regional partners, held a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Portland Community College Southeast, to launch a new type of high-capacity bus service for the region.

TriMet FX® will provide faster, more reliable bus trips using longer buses with all-door boarding, streamlined stop locations, next-generation transit signal priority and dedicated bus lanes in key locations. The agency’s first FX line — FX2-Division — begins running on Sunday, Sept. 18, with service between Downtown Portland, Southeast and East Portland and Gresham.

Following the ceremony, TriMet, with the generous support of sponsors, kicks off a community celebration Saturday afternoon from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, presented by Raimore Construction, features family-friendly festivals along the route with free rides on the new green FX buses during the event.

A Division of Possibilities

TriMet welcomed FTA Region 10 Administrator Linda Gehrke to Portland to help commemorate the historic new FX service and the achievements made with the Division Transit Project. The project laid the infrastructure for the high-capacity FX service while making critical safety improvements in the Division Street Corridor and making history with the work accomplished by minority and women-owned certified businesses.    

TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr., Regional Administrator Gehrke, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and other project partners spoke at the FX2-Division Opening Ceremony about the transformation of the Division Street corridor and the new tier of bus service coming with the launch of FX.

“In January 2020, TriMet, the FTA and our partners kicked off the Division Transit Project surrounded by colorful images reflecting the diversity, culture and vibrant spirit of the Division Street Corridor; we launched a campaign we called ‘A Division of Possibilities’ and never has a slogan become more fitting,” said Desue. “Not only has the Division Transit Project made a better, faster type of bus service possible, the project transformed a high-crash corridor, making it possible to safely walk, bike and drive along and across Division Street. Now, more possibilities lie ahead with the launch of TriMet FX® — Frequent Express.”

“Today, we are celebrating another innovative project from TriMet — combining the capacity and reliability of the city bus with modern amenities that will mean a faster, cleaner, and smoother ride for people in Portland and Gresham,” said Gehrke. “FTA was happy to support TriMet’s Division Transit Project with $87 million, providing federal support to a project that will improve safety, lessen Portland’s environmental footprint and help get people where they need to go faster and more efficiently.”

“This project showcases how we can — and should — invest federal monies to help our local communities recover and become more livable,” said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon). “Investing in our communities — through transit, dedicated bike lanes and pathways, sidewalks, protected crossings — keeps people safe, healthy and economically secure.

“Metro and our regional partners have dedicated countless hours to plan high-capacity bus service in the Division Corridor that works with, and for, the communities it serves,” said Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. “It’s great to see our efforts and all the feedback from the community, especially those that served on the Community Advisory Committee, hit the road with the opening of the first FX line.”

FX: Faster, more reliable bus service

TriMet’s first FX line, the FX2-Division, will move more people faster and more efficiently along a 15-mile route, that connects Downtown Portland, Southeast and East Portland and Gresham. The new high-capacity bus service features new, longer bright green buses arriving every 12 minutes, all-door boarding and transit priority in key locations.

FX buses and all TriMet buses run on cleaner-burning renewable diesel. Known as R99, it’s a blend of 99% renewable and sustainable resources (like natural fats, vegetable oils and greases) and just 1% petroleum. TriMet will transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet, including FX buses, by 2040.

FX2-Division features:

• Stations located where rider demand is greatest to minimize travel times while providing important transit connections
• Longer, 60-foot articulated buses with room for 60% more riders
• All-door boarding with electronic Hop Fastpass® electronic fare readers inside all three doors to reduce stop times
  (Those paying with cash must use front door.)
• Bikes racks on board, rather than on front of the bus
• A new type of technology that people using mobility devices can self-operate to secure their device
• Business Access & Transit (BAT) lanes at key locations to move buses around traffic (The longest stretch of BAT lanes goes 12 blocks eastbound between SE 110th and 122nd avenues.)
• Next-generation transit signal priority to move buses around traffic and more efficiently along Division Street
  (The new technology tracks FX buses in real-time and allows them first access at intersections. It can extend green lights and shorten reds and allows for ‘queue jumping’—giving buses at stations or in bus lanes the green light first to cross intersections.)

Built by the community, for the community

The Division Transit Project will go down in TriMet and Oregon history. First, TriMet awarded Raimore Construction, a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), the construction award — the largest contract for a DBE in Oregon. With the project, Raimore was determined to lift up other minority-owned businesses, awarding them subcontracts on the project for electrical, flagging, trucking, landscaping and other work. To-date, more than 75% of the construction on the Division Transit Project has been completed by DBEs — Raimore and 41 other DBE firms. That is the highest percentage of DBE participation on any major TriMet project and any major public transit project in Oregon.

“The Division Transit Project created an opportunity to build something better together and this project has proven that construction can be an engine of change,” said Jeff Moreland Sr., president and CEO of Raimore construction. “Together, we have built more than a bus rapid transit project — we built up people through jobs, careers, and economic opportunity. Communities flourish and experience a sense of belonging when given the opportunity to participate, share in profitability, and truly benefit from these community building projects.”

“FX is more than just a transit line,” said Metro Councilor and APANO Community Development Director Duncan Hwang. “The project has brought significant community benefits to this area, including supporting minority-owned contracting businesses and the development of affordable housing. Now, our community can enjoy a faster and safer transit line, as well as other much-needed economic benefits.” 

During Saturday’s ceremony, TriMet General Manager Desue Jr. and Regional FTA Administrator Gehrke presented Moreland and Raimore with an award acknowledging the company’s work over the past two decades with TriMet and its historic accomplishments with the Division Transit Project. The award reads in part, “You have created a lasting legacy, representing what can be accomplished through intentional partnerships and a commitment to empowering other small, minority-, and women-owned businesses.”

TriMet DBE Program
TriMet adopted our first goals for engaging minority- and women-owned businesses in 1982. During the Interstate MAX project, TriMet created a DBE program that has become a national model. The program reflects the belief that people building the transit system should mirror the diversity of the region, by creating opportunities for DBEs as both prime and subcontractors on capital projects.

Connecting communities and opportunities

Before the worldwide COVID-pandemic, most TriMet bus riders along Division Street traveled on average about three miles. The new, improved FX service opens up new travel opportunities for reaching work, shopping, recreation and education.

“I am looking forward to the launch of the FX2 service along the Division Street Corridor,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. “These modern green buses will connect Portlanders to better jobs and services, helping businesses recovering from pandemic grow and thrive. Congratulations to TriMet on this historic moment.”

In addition to businesses, community services and venues, FX2-Division will serve multiple higher education institution. They include Portland State University in downtown Portland, OHSU at South Waterfront, Warner Pacific College and Portland Community College Southeast on Division Street, and Mount Hood Community College via a connection with TriMet’s Line 20 in Gresham.

“Gresham is a proud regional partner celebrating today’s historic launch after years of planning, collaboration, and community resilience,” said Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall. “The City of Gresham is committed to developing a transportation system that is more equitable, safer, innovative, and environmentally sustainable. This project represents the best outcomes government can achieve when we all work together for the betterment of everyone!”

Transforming Division Street into a safer place to travel

TriMet’s new FX2-Division buses will roll along a much different Division Street than three years ago before the Division Transit Project began.

“The connected efforts between PBOT’s Outer Division Safety Project and TriMet’s Division Transit Project have transformed one of the most dangerous high crash corridors in the region into a welcoming, safe access point for all—no matter how you choose to travel,” said Portland Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. “Making it safer, faster, and greener for people to move about their daily lives through a project that created living wage jobs enriches our entire region and public transit system.”

The combined improvements made by the Division Transit Project and the Outer Division Safety Project include:

• Protected intersections— the first of their kind in the Portland region— installed at three high-use intersections (122nd, 148th and 162nd avenues) create a safety barrier between people and vehicles
• Nearly 81,000 square feet of new sidewalks added to Division Street (59,000 square feet in Portland and 22,000 square feet in Gresham)
• 11 new marked crosswalks with stoplights, median islands or flashing lights
• 10 more signalized pedestrian crossings
• Upgrades and lighting improvements to existing pedestrian crossing signals
• New street lighting installed along the corridor at all new crossing locations
• Some 4.5 miles of protected bike lanes, with physical separation where possible, to better guard bicyclists against motor vehicles
• Protected intersections— the first of their kind in the Portland region— installed at three high-use intersections (122nd, 148th and 162nd avenues) create a safety barrier between people and vehicles
• Raised center medians between SE 80^th and 174^th avenues, a proven tool for reducing crashes

Other improvements have been made for a better customer experience for FX2-Division riders. Buses will serve 42 pairs of enhanced bus stations along the Division Street corridor. Many stops are more typical to MAX light rail stations, with amenities such as lighting, seating, real-time bus arrival information displays and weather protection.

FX2-Dvision Opening Ceremony

TriMet’s FX2-Division Opening Ceremony at PCC Southeast brought together elected officials, community partners, staff and others involved in the Division Transit Project, to celebrate the culmination of the project and launch of the new FX — Frequent Express — bus service.

Speakers included:

• Sam Desue Jr., TriMet General Manager
• Linda Gehrke, FTA Region 10 Administrator
• Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Congressman
• Lynn Peterson, Metro Council President
• Duncan Hwang, Metro Councilor and APANO Community Development Director
• Ted Wheeler, Portland Mayor
• Travis Stovall, Gresham Mayor
• Jo Ann Hardesty, Portland City Commissioner
• Jeff Moreland Sr., Raimore Construction President and CEO

Congressman Blumenauer and General Manager Desue honored Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick for her integral role in the Division Transit Project since the project’s inception. Along with Councilor Craddick, the late Metro Councilor Bob Stacey also was pivotal in the project from the beginning. A moment of silence was held for Councilor Stacey, who passed away on Sept. 8. Before joining Metro, Stacey had served as TriMet’s first Executive Director of Policy & Planning.

Also during the ceremony, the White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance Group delighted attendees with a Chinese Lion Dance. In Chinese culture, lions represent joy and happiness, and the dance is often performed during new year celebrations. General Manager Desue and Regional FTA Administrator Gehrke took part in a traditional feeding of lions with lettuce, which is a blessing of sorts for good luck and prosperity.

FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration

A community celebration is being held Saturday afternoon to mark the launch of the new FX line. TriMet thanks our generous sponsors for making the FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, presented by Raimore Construction, possible. Throughout the afternoon, people can visit three festival locations along the route: My People’s Market next to the OMSI/SE Water Avenue Station, PCC Festival Marketplace at PCC Southeast and Gresham Farmers’ Market.

Each unique site features local food and culture, live entertainment, exclusive giveaways and more. Visitors can participate in a paint-by-numbers mural activity at each festival site. The mural pieces, created by Portland artist Angelina Marino-Heidel, will be joined together and installed this fall on the Cascadia Health building at Southeast 42nd and Division.

In conjunction with the FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, the Division Midway Alliance is holding its annual Festival of Nations and many businesses are joining in the FX fun with offerings. People also have the chance to check out our big, new green FX buses and ride free during the celebration.

Funding the Division Transit Project

The Division Transit Project is projected to come in on or under budget. The initial cost was estimated at $175 million. TriMet thanks all our funding partners: FTA, City of Portland, City of Gresham, Metro, Multnomah County and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Funding Source
Amount
Federal - 5309 Small Starts Funds
$87,413,950
Federal - Other Funds (STBG, CMAQ, SP&R)
$31,617,758
Federal - ARP Act, Capital Investments 
$12,963,076
TriMet
$24,083,116
City of Portland
$17,730,001
City of Gresham
 $500,000
Metro
$285,612
Multnomah County
$130,000
ODOT
$104,388
Total
$174,827,901

The $87.4 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration comes from its Small Starts capital investment grants program. This was a one-time lump sum payment known as a single year grant agreement. Oregon’s U.S. Congressman Blumenauer helped create the Small Starts Program, which this project is funded under, and Oregon’s U.S. Senator Merkley strongly advocated for this project in his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Mark Dorn joins TriMet as our new Executive Director of Engineering, Construction and Planning. Dorn is a seasoned transit practitioner who brings more than two decades of multi-modal transit planning, engineering and design experience to the agency. He has overseen the engineering and construction of light rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar systems throughout the U.S. since 1992.

Dorn comes to TriMet from David Evans and Associates, Inc., where he worked as Director of Transit Design and Engineering, and prior to that, AECOM, where he served as Vice President of National Transit Practice. During his time with those companies, he was the design manager for the consultant team working on the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Extension Project.

Previously, Dorn served as Vice President of the Portland Transit Design Group Manager at URS Corporation where he provided project planning and design management support for a number of local transit projects, including the Portland Streetcar Eastside Extension (Central Loop), WES Commuter Rail and the Transit Mall renovation as part of the MAX Green Line project.

In addition to local transit projects, Dorn has been involved in the design and construction of multiple national projects:

• Valley Link Commuter Rail Project, San Joaquin Regional Rail Authority: 40-mile rail system connecting the Dublin BART rail station to the city of Tracy, California
• Oklahoma City Streetcar Project
• SEPTA Trolley Modernization Master Plan, Philadelphia, PA
• Seattle Streetcar – First Hill Streetcar Line: 2.5-mile Sound Transit funded streetcar system serving the International District, Seattle University and First Hill/Capitol Hill neighborhoods
• Detroit Streetcar Project (QLine): 3.3-mile starter line, providing rail service from downtown Detroit to the Amtrak Station in New Center
• Atlanta Streetcar Project: 2.7-mile loop service through the middle of Atlanta’s  downtown

“Through his work as a consultant on large transit projects, Mark has cultivated a rich history in transit around the region and the nation,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr.  “His extensive knowledge surrounding project delivery will be a significant asset to our Engineering, Construction & Planning teams and TriMet as a whole.”

“This seems a bit of a homecoming as I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with TriMet staff and regional partners on past transit projects,” said Dorn. “I look forward to leading the Engineering, Construction and Planning teams as we grow TriMet services and revitalize existing infrastructure to continue delivering the high-quality transit services our community deserves.”

As Executive Director of EC & P, Dorn will provide critical leadership for upcoming projects, overseeing the execution and administration of state and federal safety reviews, project requirements and the financial reporting structure for large projects.

Dorn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont and is a licensed professional engineer. His first day at TriMet will be Oct. 3, 2022.

About TriMet’s leadership team

TriMet’s executive team consists of the general manager, the chief operating officer and other chiefs/executive directors of the agency’s divisions.

The team works together to deliver safe and reliable transit service for residents of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The executive leaders are responsible for the performance of their employees, their budgets and ultimately their division’s role in the overall performance of the agency.  

Learn more at trimet.org/about/leadership.

Two new executives—both well-known at the agency—begin new roles to provide further leadership for the agency. The internal promotions will keep TriMet on solid financial footing while expanding our equity and inclusion efforts.

Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Officer

TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. has selected John Gardner to be the agency’s first Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Officer. Gardner has been with TriMet since 2015. He previously served as Director of Transit Equity, Inclusion and Community Affairs.

In the position of IDEA Chief, Gardner will assume an important role at TriMet that will focus and advance agency policies and initiatives to support a transit system that is safe, accessible and welcoming to all. He will report directly to the General Manager.

“John has championed issues around inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility and elevated TriMet’s position as an industry thought leader,” Desue said. “Under his leadership, we launched our successful reduced fare program for riders with low incomes and made other significant strides to ensure fair access to transit for traditionally underserved communities.”

“I look forward to working to advance TriMet’s commitment to equity,” Gardner said. “There is more we can do collectively to build on TriMet’s efforts to ensure all are welcome inside our agency and on the transit system, and I am dedicated to leveraging the internal and external expertise to expand diversity and inclusion.”  

Gardner will also oversee expanding management of our civil rights, disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) and workforce equity programs. Over his seven years with TriMet, Gardner has been a central figure in our inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility initiatives. He worked to strengthen our civil rights program and deepened our relationships with community-based organizations, especially those representing traditionally underserved communities.

Among the successes accomplished under Gardner’s leadership, TriMet has worked internally and with community partners to reimagine a transit system that is more safe and welcoming for all of our riders.

Among the initiatives implemented is the creation of our Safety Response Team. Recognizing that not all incidents that occur on the system require a police response, the Safety Response Team helps connect vulnerable riders and those near the transit system with programs and services to improve their lives.  

In 2018, Gardner led TriMet to becoming one of the first transit agencies in the United States to offer a reduced fare to riders based solely on annual income. The program provides relief at up to 72% off the cost of Adult fare, granting unlimited rides across our transit system for as little as $28 per month. More than 42,000 participants registered for the program in its first four years. This program is in addition to TriMet’s Access Transit programs that provide free or low-cost fares to nonprofits and community-based organizations that help those most vulnerable in our community. 

Working with TriMet’s Engineering, Construction & Planning Division, under Gardner’s leadership TriMet has expanded support for businesses owned by people of color and women through our nationally-recognized Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. In 2018, the agency awarded the primary contract for our Division Transit Project to Portland-based Raimore Construction, a certified DBE. This was the largest-ever award of a construction project to a DBE in the state of Oregon.

Executive Director of Finance and Administrative Services/CFO

Nancy Young-Oliver, who had served as TriMet’s interim Executive Director of Finance and Administrative Services/Chief Financial Officer from May through July, was promoted in August to officially take over the position. 

Young-Oliver has been with TriMet for more than seven years, serving as the Director of Budgets and Grants. She has overseen TriMet’s annual financial planning and budget development, including developing TriMet’s $1.9 billion fiscal year 2023 budget, which went into effect July 1, 2022. Under her leadership, TriMet’s budget team redesigned the TriMet budget format to add communication about agency priorities, planning and achievements. With that, TriMet received our first Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the fiscal year 2020 budget, and we’ve continued to receive the award annually.

Young-Oliver also has been responsible for TriMet’s debt management, performance reporting and analysis, fare revenue analysis and grants administration. She oversaw the issuing of TriMet’s first sustainability bonds, in October 2021, to fund projects that bring environmental and/or social benefits. The sustainability bonds proved so popular with investors that there was more demand than supply. The bond sales generated $200 million in new money to fund capital projects, including A Better Red: MAX Red Line Extension and Improvement Project and renovations at our Powell Operating Facility to prepare for the return of articulated 60-foot buses and our growing electric bus fleet.

Young-Oliver spearheaded the creation of TriMet’s Clean Fuel Credits program in 2020 as part of Oregon’s DEQ Clean Fuels Program. The program is designed to reduce the carbon emissions produced by the state’s transportation fuels by 10% by 2025. Young-Oliver has led negotiations for the sale of TriMet’s Clean Fuel credits to outside parties, which has resulted in an annual increase of $1.5 million in miscellaneous revenue.

“Nancy has a proven track-record of excellence at TriMet, and I’m thrilled to now have her in this leadership position,” Desue said. “Nancy’s dedication is clear and benefits our employees, riders and the public. She pushes the agency toward continuous improvement and always ensuring we are good stewards of the public funding we receive.”

“I am honored to lead TriMet’s Finance and Administrative Services Division and look forward to keeping the agency on strong financial footing long into the future,” said Young-Oliver. “We will continue to pursue opportunities to bring in more local and federal resources to help keep our community moving, while staying accountable to the region we serve.”

Young-Oliver is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, licensed Municipal Auditor, Certified Information System Auditor and Certified Fraud Examiner. She has in-depth knowledge of Oregon Budget Law, Oregon Municipal Standards, and Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards. She serves as an adjunct professor at Portland State University in Governmental Accounting and Forensic & Investigative Accounting/Justice for Fraud Victims.

Prior to TriMet, Young-Oliver worked at Moss Adams, LLP and the Oregon Secretary of State Audits Division, leading audits and fraud investigations. She currently serves as the chair of the Oregon Board of Accountancy.

About TriMet’s leadership team

TriMet’s executive team consists of the general manager, the chief operating officer and other chiefs/executive directors of the agency’s divisions.

The team works together to deliver safe and reliable transit service for residents of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The executive leaders are responsible for the performance of their employees, their budgets and ultimately their division’s role in the overall performance of the agency.  

Learn more at trimet.org/about/leadership.

Extension comes with annual salary increases

The TriMet Board of Directors approved a two-year contract extension between TriMet and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757 at the Board’s Aug. 10, 2022 meeting. The current union Working and Wage Agreement that had been set to expire on Nov. 30, 2022, will now extend through November 2024. Nearly all aspects of the current contract will remain the same, but the extension includes annual wage increases: 7.5% increase effective on December 1, 2022, and a 4% increase effective on December 1, 2023. TriMet staff represented by ATU 757 voted to ratify the contract in late July.

“Our union employees work incredibly hard to keep our transit service rolling, people throughout the region moving and our customers informed and safe,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “They deserve pay that reflects their vital role, not only at TriMet but in our community. I’m thrilled to see this contract extension and the salary increases move forward.”

“I want to appreciate the good relationship that we have building with TriMet now,” said ATU 757 President Shirley Block at the Aug. 10 meeting. “I want this Board to know that ATU stands behind TriMet trying to make anything safe for all our members. We appreciate the extra effort going on board.”

The contract extension and pay increases are important as TriMet works to end the most severe operator shortage in agency history.

Join Team TriMet

TriMet is offering a $7,500 hiring bonus for those joining our team as bus operators. The current starting pay is $25.24 an hour, which will increase Dec. 1, 2022, with the contract extension. Other benefits for operators include:

• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost
• Two retirement plans, with an 8% agency base pay contribution to employee’s 401a
• One week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with paid time off increasing over time
• Health and dependent care spending accounts
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program with mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, financial coaching and home ownership programs
• Annual transit pass (valued up to $1200) for employee and eligible family members
• 24-hour access to five exclusive, low-cost, on-site fitness centers
• Representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757

TriMet bus operators also qualify for MAX operator training after successfully completing bus operator training. Learn more and apply today at trimet.org/drive.

Tentative extension through 2024 includes wage increases

TriMet and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757 leadership are proposing to extend the current union Working and Wage Agreement that is set to expire on Nov. 30, 2022. The tentative agreement maintains all provisions of the existing union contract through November 2024, but includes important wage increases. If approved, the new contract would provide for a 7.5% increase effective on December 1, 2022, and a 4% increase effective on December 1, 2023. The raises are important, especially as the agency faces service cuts due to an historic operator shortage.

 “Our union staff are the lifeblood of TriMet, and I’m excited we can get a pay increase into their hands with this joint action,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “Our union employees have worked incredibly hard throughout this pandemic, keeping our community moving during a challenging time. I’m proud we can make this move for them.”

“The ink has barely dried on our last contract, and there are still some things to iron out there, but the parties will greatly benefit from this additional time to gear up for our next round of negotiations,” said ATU 757 President Shirley Block. “Far more importantly, this would bring our members some certainty. A moment to breathe, knowing that we won’t have to wait months or years on end for answers, for retroactive wages, while footing any extra healthcare bills while they wait.”

The tentative agreement would increase wages across all union work groups throughout TriMet. Union members must first vote to ratify the new contract and then the TriMet Board of Directors must vote to approve. 

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration dedicates $99.9 million in funds for project to increase reliability throughout the MAX light rail system

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration joined TriMet and our partners in breaking ground on A Better Red Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. The project will extend the MAX Red Line west into Hillsboro to serve 10 more stations. It also brings important track improvements between the Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport that will improve reliability on the Red Line, while keeping trains running on time throughout the entire MAX light rail system.

The new and improved MAX Red Line service will be up and running in 2024. The project is made possible thanks to a $99.9 million construction grant award from the FTA, which covers a substantial portion of the approximately $215 million cost of the project.

“FTA is proud to join our partners at TriMet to support the ‘Better Red’ project, which will connect riders throughout Portland to important parts of their lives, by extending the MAX Red Line light rail and improving public transportation throughout Portland,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “We commend TriMet’s commitment to improving service, reducing delays and protecting riders by focusing on ensuring a state of good repair.”

“TriMet appreciates the support of the FTA, Administrator Fernandez Nuria and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to improve our transit system,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue, Jr. “While the MAX Red Line has served our region well for the past 20 years, we’re looking forward to a ‘A Better Red’ that serves more people, provides a more convenient alternative than driving and increases reliability throughout our MAX light rail system.”

Track improvements to increase MAX reliability

A Better Red will add a second set of tracks in two sections of the MAX Red Line between Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport. That will reduce delays where currently MAX trains traveling both directions on a single set of tracks have to wait for oncoming trains. It will increase reliability system wide as those potential delays can cascade onto the MAX Blue and Green Lines at Gateway Transit Center as well as on to the other lines in the interconnected light rail system. Simply put, A Better Red will make the MAX light rail system – powered by 100% renewable energy – a more attractive and convenient transportation option.

“It is so wonderful that we now have a leader in the White House who believes in science and will serve as a strong partner in the City of Portland’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions,” Portland Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said. “Thanks to federal support and local community commitment, Portland has been a leader in the national movement to reduce carbon emissions by making it easier for people to walk, bike and take public transit. We are looking forward to federal support to help us go even further, to help us use public transit to ensure that everyone has access to housing and jobs, regardless of your race or income.

New station serves as gateway to Portland, wider region

With the second set of tracks being added near Gateway Transit Center, a new Gateway North Station will be built. This will be served by MAX Red Line trains heading south from PDX toward Downtown Portland and allow for more efficient travel. The MAX station at the airport will be renovated as part of the project.

“Transit connectivity is essential to our success at Portland International Airport,” said Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “Twenty years ago, TriMet and the Port worked together to establish the first ‘train-to-plane’ service on the west coast. Two decades later, our partnership continues with the Better Red Project – which stands to benefit visitors to the region, resident travelers, and airport employees.”

A new multi-use path being built by TriMet and the Port of Portland will connect the Portland International Airport and the renovated MAX station there with NE 82nd Avenue.

A Better Red brings a better ‘Green’ – Gateway Green

Two new bridges will carry the new section of track at Gateway Transit Center over existing trackway, the I-205 multi-use path, Interstate 84 and Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

The new bridge over I-84 will include a multi-use path that will connect the new Gateway North Station with the existing platforms and bus stops at the Gateway Transit Center. To the north, the path will provide new access into Gateway Green Park, currently accessible only from the I-205 multi-use path. This is possible only through an important partnership between Portland Parks & Recreation and TriMet.

Not only will the new path make it easier for people to access Gateway Green Park, it will provide access to the park for emergency vehicles. TriMet crews will also regrade the south end of the park to facilitate bigger and better mountain biking terrain.

More MAX service coming for Washington County

A Better Red will extend the MAX Red Line into Hillsboro. Currently, the Red Line ends at Beaverton Transit Center. By stretching the line west to serve 10 stations where only MAX Blue Line trains stop today, more people will enjoy a one-seat ride to Portland International Airport. It will also mean more service in a section of Washington County where MAX trains were often overcrowded prior to the pandemic. Four new light rail vehicles will be added to accommodate the increase in service. 

“We know that expansions in public transportation are especially important to people who struggle to find affordable, convenient housing near employment areas, shopping, medical services and recreation,” said Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai. “To Washington County, the Red Line expansion is more than an investment in transportation. It’s an investment in creating safer, healthier and more livable connected communities.”

Putting people and diversity to work

A Better Red project is expected to create up to 1,200 jobs. With TriMet’s long-standing commitment to support businesses owned by people of color and women, 20% of the project’s design has been awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms, with 20% of construction funding expected to go to DBEs. To date, 40 firms have worked on the project, 24 of which are certified DBE, Minority Business Enterprise or Women Business Enterprise firms.

Funding & partnerships

TriMet thanks A Better Red partners: Federal Transit Administration, Port of Portland, Metro and Portland Parks & Recreation.

Funding:
$104.0 m      TriMet
$99.9 m         FTA Small Starts / SYGA
$8.9 m           Regional Flexible Funds administered by Metro
$2.2 m           Port of Portland
————-
$215.0 m      Current total project cost