Recognizing the potential dangers is the first step in being safe around train tracks
TriMet is asking everyone to pledge to make safe decisions around rail tracks, as we observe See Tracks? Think Train® rail safety week, Sept. 23-29. This is an opportunity to educate the public and raise awareness to reduce the number of rail incidents, which result in more than 2,000 deaths annually in North America.
Across the Portland metro region, TriMet’s MAX and WES tracks run like a thread through the community, allowing trains to roll over city streets and zip through dedicated rail areas. They’re an important part of daily life, getting thousands of people to work, school, recreation and other opportunities.
But it’s important for the public to remember that a single MAX train, with two cars combined, weighs nearly 100 tons, and it can take several times longer than an auto to come to a stop while operating at the same speed. Light rail operators also need to account for passenger safety and stability, which can influence a train’s braking distance.
Safety requires everyone, looking out for ourselves and others, to stay safe around the tracks.
Six tips for rail safety
Ditch the distractions: Crossing train tracks might seem routine, but distractions can make them a gamble. A moment of awareness will make all the difference. Look up from your phone when walking through station areas or crossing the tracks. If you’re listening to something with headphones, remove an earbud or lower the volume so you can hear the train’s horn.
Stay in your lane: Don’t linger on the tracks when walking, biking or driving. Stick to designated crossings and intersections. At stations, make sure you’re well behind the white bumpy safety strips. And never walk along the tracks.
Stay alert: Treat the tracks like an active intersection. Always look both ways, and don’t forget: trains can come from either direction! Keep your eyes peeled for the possibility of a second train as you make your way across.
Make yourself seen: As daylight fades, amp up your visibility. Wear bright or reflective clothing, or consider bringing a light with you. If you’re driving, always use your headlights and take your time, especially when you’re in areas where trains share the road with autos and visibility is low.
Slow down: We’ve all run late for something! But a missed train is not worth the risk. Running across tracks or through station areas can be dangerous, especially if you trip and fall.
Clear your view: Hooded jackets or hoodies are practically required clothing in Portland, but they can also obscure your vision. Make sure you move them out of your view when you’re walking around or over tracks. The same goes for umbrellas. If you’re driving, ensure your mirrors are positioned correctly and your windshield wipers are working.
See Tracks? Think Train
For another year, TriMet is joining in a national effort to raise awareness around rail safety. Every three hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is struck by a train. Coordinated through Operation Lifesaver, Inc., the national rail safety education nonprofit, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other organizations, this year’s See Tracks? Think Train® initiative (formerly known as Rail Safety Week) focuses on the importance of making safe choices when walking or driving near railroad tracks and trains. TriMet is proud to have supported the cause since it began in 2017.
More than 850 people applied, 50 were hired, following TrIMet’s first-ever public recruitment of MAX operators
An unprecedented hiring initiative led to the one of the biggest waves of job applications in TriMet’s history, adding to a pool of candidates that will help fill vacant operator positions in the short and long term. More than 850 people applied to become among the first MAX operators hired from the general public following TriMet’s April announcement that we were fast-tracking some of the positions.
Of the 851 people who applied during the first round of external applications, between April and June, 50 were hired and invited to enter MAX operator training. The first classes with these students began in July.
Fast-tracking the positions meant candidates didn’t have to first undergo eight weeks of bus operator training. Nonetheless, they did have to meet several important requirements to be selected as a future MAX operator.
‘I applied the first day’
Chief among the hiring requirements: having one year of experience transporting people or goods, a safe driving record and the ability to obtain—or already possess—a valid “A or B” Commercial Driver’s license (CDL). Applicants could take three written DMV tests to obtain a CDL learner’s permit before entering training. For Larry, a longtime electrical contractor, operating heavy machinery was a part of his professional life for years—but it came with a catch.
“I was tired of doing career changes every six to eight months,” Larry said. He found himself moving from gig to gig, working for multiple companies a year with few opportunities to move up. “Being with TriMet and seeing all the opportunities—I’m excited to do rail and also see how far I can move up in the company.”
Another important requirement was having zeal for the job. Jake, a self-described “train guy” and former member of TriMet’s On-Street Customer Service team, had his sights on operating a train ever since growing up near the MAX Yellow Line.
“I told myself that as soon as they opened up MAX operator positions to non-bus applicants, I would throw my name into the ring,” he said, “I applied the first day it opened.”
Although the new MAX trainees come from different backgrounds, one thing they share is enthusiasm, especially for taking on new and fulfilling challenges. Tyler, another MAX operator trainee, gave up a job in web development for an opportunity to serve the community.
“To me, it’s one of the biggest landmarks of the city,” he said of the MAX system. “Working in web development, I didn’t feel totally fulfilled. Here, you’re performing a public service that everyone relies on, so you can feel pride in that”
Roughly half of the applications moved to the review stage, where the candidates’ combination of qualifications, driving records and passion for public transportation were considered. Some then moved on to interviews, background checks and conditional job offers. In the end, about 6% of the 851 candidates met all of the requirements and were invited to join an upcoming training class
The 12 weeks of training combine lectures, coursework and practical instruction behind the controls of MAX trains. In order for trainees to become MAX operators, they will have to first successfully graduate from the program and prove they can safely operate a train while at the same time providing exemplary customer service.
Jobs with great pay, benefits and support
The starting wage for a MAX operator is currently $29.18 per hour, with regular pay increases and a $7,500 hiring bonus for those who successfully complete training and join the team.
MAX operators receive other great benefits, such as access to overtime, generous retirement accounts—including an 8% employer contribution to TriMet’s 401a retirement plan—paid time off and career development opportunities.
Opportunities at TriMet are plentiful. Bus operator positions are also still available, and they too come with competitive pay and the same great benefits as MAX operators. They also come with the $7,500 hiring bonus! But if you have a more mechanical skillset, TriMet is also looking for diesel mechanics, with a starting salary of $41.39! Those positions come with a $2,500 hiring bonus.
New operators start this fall
New MAX operators will begin this fall after completing three months of training. This will be followed by a six-month probationary period.
They will start their new careers at TriMet during a time of expansion and improvements: At the end of this month, the MAX Red Line will be extended 10 stations west into Beaverton and Hillsboro, the final piece of our A Better Red project. It will be the first expansion of the MAX system in nine years. We are also currently testing our newest trains, the Type 6s, which we plan to introduce later this year. These and other improvements come as TriMet embarks on an ambitious series of service changes.
Moving forward
Starting Sunday, Aug. 25, TriMet will be rolling out one of our largest-ever series of service updates— improvements that will affect both trains and buses. As part of these improvements, TriMet will be:
Adding bus lines and adjusting routes to make service faster and more convenient, as well as to fulfill the goals of our Forward Together Service Concept.
Replacing late-night, early-morning MAX service with buses, allowing for more overnight MAX system maintenance during times when ridership is low.
Extending the MAX Red Line west 10 stations in Beaverton and Hillsboro, improving schedules and giving more people a one-seat trip to Portland International Airport.
We don’t stop moving—and neither do our careers. If you’re looking for a job with momentum, TriMet provides family-wage employment and pathways for advancement. Learn more at trimet.org/careers.
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.
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.
More enforcement and accountability aimed at making transit system cleaner, safer and more accessible
TriMet is redoubling enforcement of our rules for riding to improve cleanliness and accessibility on board while addressing inappropriate behavior. This is part of our ongoing and long-term efforts to give riders a better overall experience. Beginning July 1, our safety and security staff will start focusing on increasing enforcement on behavior and actions that are expressly prohibited by TriMet’s Code of Conduct—our rules for riding. These rules cover everything from paying your fare to not bringing items on board that leak and block aisles, as well as smoking of any kind.
It only takes a few seconds to complete a fare check.
With more safety and security staff now than ever before, TriMet believes it’s necessary to keep accelerating efforts to make the system cleaner, safer and more accessible. To achieve that, our Customer Safety Supervisors will be checking fares and, along with our Customer Safety Officers and Transit Security Officers, they’ll let riders know they need to follow all the rules. Most important are those put in place to make sure people can move safely through our vehicles, especially those who have disabilities and older adults looking to reach priority seating areas. Large items can block aisles and doors.
Items that leak create a sticky or slippery hazard. Large bags of recyclable bottles and cans may do both, not only creating messes but blocking safe access. We also prohibit grocery-store sized shopping carts and open containers of food or beverages that may spill. If you traveling to or from the airport or with children, travel luggage and strollers with kids are welcome on board, but they should not block aisles or doors.
Your help is always appreciated. We want to hear from you. If you see someone smoking or being disruptive, or carrying items that are blocking aisles or doors or are leaking, please alert our security team via our 24-hour security hotline: Text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE). This helps us respond to situations as they happen. You can also report graffiti, or damaged and broken equipment, using the same number. Or, you can contact TriMet security online.
Fares required
Make sure you tap every time before you board.
Valid fare is always required when riding TriMet. Those without valid fare face a citation with a fine of up to $250 or exclusion from the system. Those cited for not having proof of fare may have their penalty reduced, depending on their citation history. They can avoid a court record by paying a reduced fine, performing community service or, if they qualify, enroll in our Honored Citizen reduced fare program.
Oregonians whose income is less than double the federal poverty level or who participate in an assistance program qualify for our Honored Citizen fare, which is half the cost of our adult fare or a maximum of $28/month. Learn more online at trimet.org/income.
People with a disability, those over 65 and veterans, active-duty members of the military or reservists also qualify for the reduced fare.
TriMet’s Access Transit programs also work with nonprofits throughout the Portland area that help connect people in need with community assistance to provide free fares. Find out more at trimet.org/accesstransit.
Safe, clean and accessible
Cleanliness and safety also go hand-in-hand. Our riders thrive when they see a transit system that feels comfortable and inviting.
We have never given up sight of our riders’ comfort and safety. More enforcement starting July 1 is simply one more step in a series of improvements we’ve been making since 2022 to enhance security and improve customer support. Over the past two years, we’ve done the following:
Doubled the amount of frontline safety and security staff, bringing the number to more than 400 employees and contractors
Created a Security Operations Command Center to manage incident responses
Piloted a program to restrict elevator access to those with a valid form of fare
Expanded and made improvements to our network of more than 8,000 cameras
Increased our Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design initiatives to improve sightlines and lighting at transit centers, rail station and park and rides, making these areas brighter and reducing hiding spots by cutting back shrubs and tall plants.
We have also emphasized cleaner vehicles, platforms and transit centers by hiring more cleaners and maintenance staff, what we’ve dubbed our “Clean Team.” With more cleaning, customer support and security resources now than ever before, we’re using them day-in, day-out, to keep our riders and employees moving safely.
From June 16-21, nightly MAX service between PDX and Gateway will be disrupted beginning at 7:30 p.m.
A milestone approaches for TriMet’s newest trains before they enter regular service: testing on the MAX Red Line. It will happen this June over six consecutive nights. To provide dedicated space for testing, the Red Line will experience nightly disruptions from Sunday, June 16, through Friday, June 21, between the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and Portland International Airport.
To lessen the impact on riders, we’re limiting the disruption to evenings and the overnight hours when ridership is lower. Shuttle buses will replace MAX Red Line trains starting at 7:30 p.m. and last until the end of service, stopping at all closed stations between the Gateway Transit Center and PDX. Red Line service will then resume each morning on its regular schedule.
MAX Red Line service will be fully restored after testing is completed on Saturday, June 22.
The disruption is necessary to give our newest light rail vehicles— our “Type 6” MAX trains — dedicated track space to conduct electromagnetic compatibility tests. Electromagnetic fields are common. It’s how radio, TV and cellular signals are transmitted. During testing, crews will need to clear an area to set up equipment to measure the train’s electromagnetic characteristics to ensure the trains do not create excessive emissions and that emissions don’t interfere with safe train operation. These tests are required before any new light rail vehicle enters regular service, ensuring that it’s compatible with industry standards as well as our existing rail system.
June 16-21: Know before you go
We’ll be moving riders around the nighttime disruptions using shuttle buses. Those shuttles will run between Gateway and PDX, arriving about every 10 minutes. They will continue until the end of service in the early morning hours. There will be no impacts on the MAX Blue, Green, Orange or Yellow lines.
You can sign up for alerts now by going to trimet.org/emailupdates and be reminded of the disruptions directly as they approach. We encourage riders to plan an extra 30 minutes for their trips for the times when shuttle buses are operating in place of MAX service. Shuttle buses at PDX will pick up and drop off riders outside the doors of the lower baggage claim area, near the MAX station. Look for signs directing the way.
Luggage is welcome aboard MAX Red Line shuttle buses, but please keep in mind that there will be less space on board. We will have extra staff available to assist riders and help them make their connections.
We want to thank riders in advance for their patience and understanding. Although introducing a new type of train is involved work, it’s something that’s worth the investment. Light rail vehicles are capable of serving riders for decades. Our oldest trains have been in continuous operation for 38 years!
Type 6 testing
We’re eager to get our newest MAX trains rolling for riders. And we’re getting close! In total, we’re introducing 30 new vehicles, and we’ve been putting them through a series of tests these past several months to prepare them for service. Two trains have already entered the final operational testing phase, what we call the “burn-in,” where we run them out of service for 5,000 miles. The rest of the trains will go through a 1,500-mile burn-in.
TriMet expects to start introducing the new vehicles beginning this summer. Similar to all but our oldest trains, which were introduced in 1986, these are manufactured by Siemens Mobility. They feature operator cabs on both ends and space on board for 168 riders.
Once the trains are in service, riders will be greeted by a top-of-the-line vehicle that’s comfortable and efficient, with improved technology, better lighting, updated digital displays and improved temperature controls. They will also feature upgraded diagnostics, making it easier to predict when maintenance is needed. For more information, visit trimet.org/max6.
Non-TriMet employees are now eligible to apply directly for MAX operator jobs and enter training pipeline
TriMet is offering a fast track to a career in light rail operations. For the first time ever, we are seeking candidates from outside TriMet who are interested in becoming MAX operators. This comes as TriMet continues our biggest hiring push in the agency’s history.
Positions come with a starting wage of $29.18 per hour and a $7,500 hiring bonus, with regular pay increases as part of the Working and Wage Agreement between TriMet and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757. In addition to representation by the ATU, MAX operators receive great benefits, access to overtime, generous retirement accounts, paid time off and career development opportunities.
Beginning Friday, April 26, people with no prior TriMet experience can apply to become MAX operators at trimet.org/careers. This gives you the chance to join an exclusive team of dedicated, highly-trained light rail professionals who keep the region moving every day. No bus training is required!
After the hiring process, candidates will bypass the seven-week bus operator training and instead be slotted into the next available MAX training class. Due to the fast-tracking of available MAX positions, they are open to candidates with a safe driving record and who already possess a valid Class “A or B” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or who can obtain a CDL permit. This requires taking three written tests at the DMV. Once employed, TriMet provides CDL driving training, with new hires obtaining their licenses on the job.
MAXimum career potential
A MAX Yellow Line train travels through Downtown on its way to the Expo Center
We know that operating a train is a dream for many people. After all, it isn’t an opportunity that comes along often. It requires learning the “language of the railroad” and developing unique skills, along with committing to a culture of customer service and safety. No matter what position you fill at TriMet, you’re the point person to help our customers and make sure they feel safe and welcome. These foundational skills are priorities for TriMet, and excelling at them opens a world of possibilities!
In addition to the $7,500 hiring bonus, MAX operators receive a generous package of benefits that includes:
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 an employee’s 401a account
One week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with paid time off rolling over and 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 for employee and eligible family members
24-hour access to five exclusive, low-cost, on-site fitness centers
Representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 75
Requirements and opportunities
One of the unsung benefits of TriMet is the opportunity for career advancement. TriMet often hires from within for supervisory and managerial positions that require knowledge of our procedures and system. Exciting future career opportunities include Rail Training Supervisor, Rail Supervisor, Rail Controller, Rail Service Coordinator and many others.
MAX operator positions themselves were first extended to internal candidates before being made available to the general public. They require:
A high school diploma or GED
At least three years of driving experience with a clean record
Ability to obtain an Oregon or Washington Commercial Learner Permit
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position
Get hired, receive training
Becoming a MAX operator requires extensive training. During training, you’ll become an expert on each of TriMet’s five lines. Training lasts 12 weeks and includes classroom and field instruction behind the controls. In addition to obtaining your Commercial Driver’s License, you’ll learn the ins and outs of operating a train safely and ways to troubleshoot problems.
Join the team!
MAX operators in training.
TriMet is hiring for a whole range of positions amid an historically tight employment market. Nonetheless, jobs in transit remain competitive, appealing and stable. We continue to hire maintenance workers, technicians, cleaners, mechanics and operators.
Growth is our goal. This means bringing on even more operators–not only to match the current demand, but also to help meet future needs. Starting this summer, we will be increasing MAX Red Line service by extending it 10 stations west, from Beaverton to Hillsboro. Along with that, our Forward Together Service Concept emphasizes growing ridership and improving connections by expanding our Frequent Service bus network and extending bus service to new areas. This multi-year concept for service improvements, through 2029, requires bus and rail operators to support it. To learn more about all the jobs TriMet offers, visit trimet.org/careers.
Transit centers, rail stations and vehicles are focus of efforts to improve cleanliness, safety and the overall riding experience
Equipped with grabber claws and bright orange buckets, members of TriMet’s specially trained “Clean Team” receive the ‘all clear’ from their lookout to start walking the tracks when MAX trains have passed. Once on the tracks, they use the claws to scrape, pry and pluck away trash, filling their buckets with enough debris to make a significant dent in litter.
Each month, they collect roughly 1,200 pounds of trash across our transit system, the equivalent in weight to an adult female polar bear. Considering most of this waste is made up of scraps–empty cups, wrappers and cigarette butts–it’s a big haul. It’s also just one part of a larger initiative to spruce up our system through enhanced cleaning, with a growing, multi-team effort that TriMet spearheaded in late 2023 to improve the system’s overall look and feel.
The Clean Team is made up of employees from TriMet’s Facilities and Maintenance of Way departments, along with contractors specializing in painting and other repair work.
A new bus shelter at Gateway Transit Center, installed fall of 2023.
Six months after getting started, more than 100 internal employees along with contractors are now dedicated to the effort, which spans everything from deep cleaning stations, to removing and replacing bus shelters, to repainting stations and installing new signs everywhere we can.
It’s more than picking up trash—it’s a comprehensive series of upgrades to make the experience better for our riders. Altogether, the continuous work serves a dual purpose: In the short term, it addresses the use that our system sees from more than 1.3 million trips per week. But in the long term, it sends the message that litter, tagging and damaged amenities are not tolerated and will be addressed quickly.
Clean Team
At the Providence Park MAX Station, a pressure washer is blasting away dirt and bird droppings. It’s something you might see elsewhere in the system right now, in part as a preemptive measure to maintain safety and cleanliness.
Pressure washing has become one of TriMet’s priorities in 2024. After all, the cleaner a station is, the more inviting it is. With more than 90 stations in the MAX light rail system, some receive extra attention due to higher ridership and the number of pigeons they attract.
Compared to two years ago, TriMet has more than doubled the number of times we have cleaned stations in the first quarter of 2024. We are already on track to wash and scrub stations more than 2,100 times this year!
Station Pressure Washing
Year
# of treatments
2022
251
2023
379
2024 (1st quarter)
531
Compared to two years ago, TriMet has more than doubled the number of times we have cleaned stations in the first quarter of 2024. We are already on track to wash and scrub stations more than 2,100 times this year!
The emphasis on stations will be expanded starting this summer. Crews will start rehabilitating every MAX station, spending about one month per station improving the tactile strips, repainting shelters and performing other upgrades. This comes on top of the bus shelters we have already replaced throughout the system.
Preventing damage
TriMet’s Clean Team is also working to prevent concrete from buckling, making it safer to walk by protecting stations and sidewalks from cracks that could create hazards. Often, this results from roots damaging concrete as trees grow.
Crews have started replacing the metal grates around trees, which can become tripping hazards when heaved up. They’re using a softer material that, unlike concrete, allows the trees to receive water but prevents roots from breaking through the surface. For empty tree wells, where trees have already been removed, crews have filled them with concrete to create a flat surface. It also makes them look better.
Making it cleaner and safer
Cleanliness and safety go hand-in-hand. Our riders thrive when they see a transit system that feels comfortable and inviting. TriMet’s enhanced cleaning comes as we also continue building out a comprehensive series of safety and security initiatives.
Since 2022, TriMet has more than doubled the number of safety and security personnel we have on the system. That number will continue to grow in the months ahead, with TriMet’s 2025 approved budget quadrupling the safety and security budget compared to where it was in 2022.
In addition to having more safety and security personnel out on our system, our Clean Team and other field staff provide an extra presence. Among them are end-of-the-line cleaners. They are stationed at key transit Centers and MAX stations to take care of spills and trash during parts of the service day. They help make sure vehicles remain welcoming while in active service.
You, too, can do your part to help our Clean Team and take pride in the system.
Use trash cans at stations and on board vehicles.
Don’t feed the pigeons.
Report unwanted or inappropriate behavior.
To report a non-urgent concern directly to TriMet Security 24 hours a day, text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE), or submit a report online. And for more information about TriMet’s security initiatives, go to trimet.org/security.
A section of Gresham’s MAX Blue Line will be closed from April 7-13 for rail crossing upgrades
Improvements are coming to a rail crossing in the heart of Gresham, work that will increase the durability of the MAX system and create a better commute for riders and motorists alike. For crews to complete the work, a section of the MAX Blue Line will be closed between E 172nd Avenue and Cleveland Ave MAX stations from Sunday, April 7, through Saturday, April 13.
The work will impact five MAX stations, with shuttle buses serving all closed stations and taking riders between E 172nd Ave and Cleveland Ave. We have tried to arrange shuttle buses so riders won’t have long waits, but changes to the MAX schedule may impact connections.
Bus Line 20-Burnside/Stark will also experience a minor detour in both directions while construction is taking place.
We encourage riders to plan their trips now at trimet.org/planner, using April 7-13 as the dates, and to expect them to take a little longer. As buses may be a faster option for some trips, it’s also important to note that FX2-Division–as well as lines 9, 20, 25 and 77–may experience higher ridership during the disruption.
The Gresham MAX Improvements Project will replace the crossing and rail located at the intersection of Southeast Stark Street and East Burnside Street, near the Rockwood/SE 188th Ave MAX Station. The intersection is a busy one, located in an area that has seen growing transportation demands since 1986. That’s when the MAX Blue Line opened. In the following 38 years, the crossing has seen countless vehicles–trains, cars and trucks–travel over it. Rail crossing improvements like this one are an important part of providing efficient, reliable and safe light rail service–now and in the future.
Getting around the disruption
Sign up for service alerts now for a reminder about this disruption and others that may affect you. You can do so at trimet.org/email. During the disruption, TriMet will have On-Street Customer Service as well as other field staff at stations to provide in-person guidance on making connections.
Shuttle buses will be clearly marked, arriving about every 15 to 20 minutes. No other MAX service will be impacted by the disruption.
Why rail crossings?
A car travels across the rail crossing at East Burnside and Southeast Stark streets as a MAX approaches in the distance.
Rail crossings can see more activity than almost any other place on the MAX system. They’re built to withstand decades of jostling and heavy vehicles traveling over them, both light rail and automobiles. But there comes a time when crossings should receive some attention. This not only prevents the possibility of unplanned repairs and keeps people moving, it ensures our light rail system is as safe and reliable as it can be.
After decades of use, crossings can begin to sink and dip when vehicles pass over them. The upcoming work will benefit MAX Blue Line riders, who will feel a smoother rider once it’s completed. Motorists will likely feel less of a jolt when they drive through the intersection as well.
Making Transit Better
TriMet works continuously to improve our MAX and bus systems. Over the past several months, we’ve completed major construction on portions of the A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements project, including the completion of a second track and new MAX station at Portland International Airport, the result of four months of work last summer, and the new Gateway North MAX station and MAX bridges just north of the Gateway Transit Center. Also in March, we completed work that ultimately will allow us to extend the MAX Red Line to Hillsboro starting later this summer. While the Gresham MAX Improvements Project is unrelated to A Better Red, it is part of the overall goal of making transit better.
We thank our riders for their patience as we complete the work, which will also include litter removal and station deep cleaning. The upgrades will make this part of the MAX system more resilient at the same time as improving the riding experience by making it smoother and quieter. For more information, visit trimet.org/improvements.
Proposals aimed at adding and expanding bus service, improving MAX maintenance and reliability and speeding up trains head before TriMet Board March 27
TriMet’s Board of Directors will take up proposals next week at their March meeting that are geared toward improving bus and MAX service. They’ll begin considering two ordinances, one for our Fiscal Year 2025 service plans, which includes expansion of night buses to replace late-night MAX trains, adding three bus lines and adjusting 30 others, as well as bringing bus service hours within 5% of pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The second ordinance calls for closing the Skidmore Fountain MAX Station to speed up MAX Blue and Red Line service.
The Board is meeting Wednesday, March 27, at Clackamas Community College, rooms 170/172 in the Harmony West Building, 7738 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie. They will hold a public hearing as part of the first reading of each ordinance, as required by Oregon Budget Law. Public forum will begin at 9:30 a.m., with in-person sign-ups beginning at 9 a.m. Virtual testimony sign-ups will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. For more information on sign-up for virtual testimony or to provide written testimony, visit trimet.org/meetings/board.
TriMet previously engaged the community around the proposals. We conducted outreach and held a series of open houses in fall 2023 about our Forward Together bus service improvements, receiving more than 1,700 comments. Additional outreach and open houses were held in January 2024, focused on the second year of bus service changes under our Forward Together plan, as well as the MAX night bus network and Skidmore Fountain concepts. More than 1,000 comments were received. The proposal to close the Skidmore Fountain MAX Station has gone through extensive outreach previously and years of review.
Forward Together enters year two
TriMet’s bus service improvements are in full swing through our Forward Together Revised Service Plan. They’re designed to build better connections and increase ridership. After all, riders are front and center in the improvements, playing a major role in crafting the Forward Together plan in 2022. Our goal is to focus on how and where people ride, and to improve connections to destinations, particularly for people with low and limited incomes.
The second year of Forward Together looks to add three bus lines to our Frequent Service network, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or more often for most of the day, every day. Plans also call for three new bus lines and changes to 27 other bus lines.
Improving MAX reliability with a night bus network
TriMet has the second-shortest overnight maintenance period of any transit agency in the United States that operates light rail. That’s despite just 2% of MAX riders making trips after midnight. In late summer/early fall of 2023, an average of just over 1,200 trips were taken across all MAX lines between midnight and the start of service shortly before 4 a.m.
Providing late night transit service on buses along the MAX lines would extend our light rail maintenance period, reducing the need to disrupt MAX service during the day in order to accomplish critical rail improvements and reduce unplanned disruptions as well. A longer period of downtime on the MAX system would also allow maintenance teams to perform more thorough cleaning and detailing work aboard our trains after hours. While the overnight window differs by MAX line, there is currently only a 47-minute period when no trains are running anywhere on the system.
We’re modeling the proposed MAX night bus network after the existing Line 291-Orange night bus. Line 291 was established in 2015 to provide more service from Downtown Portland to Milwaukie while at the same time giving crews a window to perform work on MAX tracks.
Similar to Line 291, the night buses would replace trips after midnight on the MAX Blue, Red and Yellow lines. For the Blue Line, its shuttle buses would be split between two separate segments due to its length — a Blue Line East, between Cleveland Ave in Gresham and Goose Hollow, and Blue Line West, between Hatfield Government Center in Hillsboro and the Rose Quarter Transit Center. This will help buses stay on schedule and give operators more opportunities for breaks. A MAX Green Line night bus is not needed because the Green Line already has a nearly five-hour overnight work window. Additionally, service between Milwaukie and Downtown Portland would be added to the Line 291-Orange Night Bus, which currently offers only southbound service to Milwaukie.
Skidmore Fountain: streamlining service
The best transit system designs strike the right balance between speed and convenience in order to maximize ridership and serve the community. With this in mind, TriMet has examined ways to speed up service, including the removal of some MAX stations in Downtown Portland.
In 2019, TriMet conducted a station optimization study to determine whether the closure of four downtown stations could improve efficiency and retain convenience. TriMet identified the Kings Hill/SW Salmon, Mall/SW 4th Ave, Mall/SW 5th Ave and Skidmore Fountain MAX stations as the best candidates for consolidation. While the other stations have already closed, Skidmore Fountain, which is only two blocks from the Old Town/Chinatown MAX Station—or 500 feet—underwent a multi-year review. TriMet is moving to close the station in fall 2025 as it has not met the two conditions identified to remain open: 1) ridership did not increase at the station and 2) development in the area did not occur. In addition to the Old Town/Chinatown Station being just two blocks away, the Oak/SW 1st Ave Station is also close by, just four blocks to the south.
Evaluations following the closures of the Mall and Kings Hill/SW Salmon stations found time savings of two minutes, which we hope to further improve with Skidmore’s closure.
Monday, March 4, marks the opening of the Gateway North MAX station and end to major construction between Gateway and PDX
The Gateway Transit Center reopened to MAX trains Monday, March 4, with its first expansion in nearly 40 years. Community leaders were on hand, not just to celebrate the end of a weeks-long disruption to the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines, but also the conclusion of a major milestone in a multi-phased MAX reliability project that began two and half years ago.
Joining TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. Monday were Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Metro Council President Lynn Peterson and Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold.
From left to right: Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Metro Council President Lynn Peterson, TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr.
Thanks to A Better Red, MAX Red Line trains are now traveling on a double set of tracks between the Gateway area and Portland International Airport. This improves reliability across the entire MAX system. Red Line trains heading to Downtown Portland and farther west now have a faster, more efficient route and serve a new station, Gateway North.
“The new station allows for more efficient travel from PDX to Downtown Portland. That is important as we look to the future and revitalizing our region’s economy,” TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. said. “During this pivotal time in our city’s history, investments in infrastructure projects — such as A Better Red — and attracting events and visitors will improve our economy, combat climate change, promote equity, and connect people to jobs, services, venues and opportunity.”
“TriMet’s improvements to the MAX Red Line, including the opening of the new Gateway North MAX Station, are an important step to ensuring Portland has a world-class public transportation system,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler. “This project not only contributes to our city’s economic resiliency but will also significantly broaden residents’ access to employment and essential services, reinforcing our dedication to creating a more connected, equitable, and thriving city for all Portlanders.”
“I’m proud of the partnership we have with TriMet, as investments in public transit is an investment in climate action,” City Commissioner Carmen Rubio said. “Investments like A Better Red and TriMet’s other transit-oriented development work demonstrates a shared commitment with the city to sustainability that addresses both our climate and housing crises.”
Building strong connections
The Gateway Transit Center is where the A Better Red project kicked off with a groundbreaking near where the pedestrian path is now located. The project that followed has been made possible through a $99.9 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and financial support from local partners.
Metro allocated nearly $9 million in formula-federal funds to the project, and the Port of Portland provided another $2.3 million. Altogether, federal and local partners contributed about half of the overall cost of the project.
“The A Better Red project is an important step forward in making our transportation system safer, easier to use and more reliable,” Metro President Lynn Peterson said. “Extending the Red Line further into Washington County (later this summer) means more travel options for commuters on the west side, cutting travel times throughout the Tualatin Valley. And it improves access to important destinations like downtown Portland, the Oregon Convention Center, the Oregon Zoo and Portland’s Centers for the Arts.”
A Better Red has been TriMet’s largest MAX construction project since the MAX Orange Line and Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, opened in 2015. Due to its scope, the MAX Red Line project required years of planning, coordination and construction to execute on existing rail lines and across busy freeways.
With ODOT’s support, TriMet was able to build new bridges over I-84. Three partial closures of I-84 were necessary to put the bridge spans in place. This was critical to the success of the project. We appreciate drivers’ patience during these brief closures.
TriMet appreciates our partnership with the Port of Portland, which made last summer’s 126-day shutdown–our longest ever–possible. During that phase of the project, crews added roughly half a mile of new track and rebuilt the Portland International Airport MAX Station to accommodate the new track. We again thank those who were heading to and from the airport during that time, such as airport employees, for putting up with those challenges for four months.
“Today’s opening makes it easier for people to get in and out of PDX quickly,” Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold said. “The MAX Red Line improvements are going to bring more accessible, efficient transit to everyone who lives in and visits our region.”
Moving people
The re-opening of the Gateway Transit Center and grand opening of Gateway North mark the end of major construction of A Better Red on the east side. Since the project broke ground began in fall 2021, crews had been working on a series of major changes between Gateway and Portland International Airport, a stretch of the MAX system that is now more than two decades old.
A partial list of improvements made over the past two years include:
Adding new track and systems in the Gateway area
Building new bridges over I-84 and existing tracks to carry trains, pedestrians and cyclists. (The pedestrian and cyclist portion of the bridges will open later this spring.)
Constructing the Gateway North MAX Station
Creating a pedestrian path connecting Gateway North to the main Gateway Transit Center
Adding a half mile of new track near Portland International Airport
Rebuilding and improving the Portland International Airport MAX Station to accommodate the new track
Creating a new pathway to Gateway Green, the nearby park popular with cyclists
With the MAX Blue and Green lines also shut down since Jan. 21, crews also made improvements to the MAX system that runs along I-84, modernizing and replacing older equipment.
We’re also excited to see improvements to the new pathway to Gateway Green, the nearby park popular with cyclists. It will open this summer. We appreciate the partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation, Friends of Gateway Green and the Northwest Trail Alliance, as impacts were necessary for A Better Red and a better Gateway Green.
Final disruption approaches — March 16-24
One more planned disruption for the A Better Red project is scheduled for the MAX Blue Line in Hillsboro from Saturday, March 16, through Sunday, March 24.
The disruption is needed to extend the MAX Red Line 10 stations from Beaverton Transit Center to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, which we expect to open in late August. With most of the construction on the west side completed, crews will use the disruption to finish signal work.
The disruption will be limited to the MAX Blue Line in Hillsboro. For all other lines, trains will be running on their regular schedules and continue serving all of their stations. TriMet will have On-Street Customer Service personnel and other staff available to help riders make their connections during the disruption.
A Better Red
We look forward to the full completion of A Better Red with extended MAX Red Line service this summer. It will mean even more people will have a one-seat ride to the airport and increase MAX service for those living on the west side.
Partnerships have been key to the project’s success, and there is no greater partnership than with our riders. A Better Red would not be possible without them! Thank you for your patience as we’ve moved forward on these critical improvements to our rail system to help more people ride. Every time someone leaves their car at home for a shared ride on transit, it’s better for our environment and our community. For more about A Better Red, go to trimet.org/betterred
