TriMet is introducing a faster path for new hires, allowing you to qualify for MAX training right after bus operator training

A new fast-track for operating MAX trains can help move your career full speed ahead. TriMet has made it quicker than ever to join the team and become a MAX operator. Newly hired bus operator candidates not only get a $7,500 hiring bonus and earn a starting wage of $25.24 an hour, they also will immediately qualify for MAX training once they complete bus operator training. Previously, operators had to wait six months before applying to make the switch to the light rail system.

The move, made alongside Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757, is effective for operators hired between June 11, 2022, through June 2023. The quicker pipeline for new MAX operators comes as TriMet faces a severe operator shortage, which has led to canceled buses and trains almost daily. It is also forcing us to reduce service levels temporarily for buses starting Sept. 18, 2022. No cuts to MAX service are planned in order to preserve service as best we can for communities of concern. That’s why we are accelerating the path for new hires, allowing them to move to MAX more quickly.

We apologize to our riders for any delays they’ve encountered stemming from the operator shortage. We’re pulling out all the stops to hire and train more operators in the hopes of adding service levels back in 2023.

MAX opportunities

An operator’s transition from bus to rail may not be immediate, but it will be much faster than before. MAX classes begin about every four weeks and are limited to nine students to help ensure there’s individualized, hands-on instruction. In addition to the practical instruction—learning the technical ins and outs and actually operating a train—students receive further instruction in the classroom and using our virtual reality program, which replicates troubleshooting scenarios operators may encounter. During their 11 weeks of training, operators receive their full salary as they learn the nuances of something new and exciting.

MAX training is all about helping operators succeed! Demonstrating you can operate a train safely and within the bounds of federally mandated regulations is essential before graduating from the program. This high skills job comes with great rewards.

“The training was fantastic. If you make it through training, and you’re trusted to get on the rails, that means TriMet really knows you can do your job,” Rail Operator Jeff Flanagan said. “The most enjoyable part of the job would be knowing that you’re helping people get to and from work–and just to be able to operate a train. I think that’s a pretty cool opportunity, where you’re transporting anywhere from 40 to 60 to 100 people sometimes.”

If an operator does not pass the MAX training program, or simply decides it’s not for them, their job in bus transportation will still be waiting for them. From there, many opportunities for advancement and promotion exist, such as becoming a field supervisor, station agent, customer safety supervisor, dispatcher and more!

At the controls of cutting edge

New MAX operators will be on the cutting edge with the latest light rail technology. Starting later this year, the first of TriMet’s newest MAX trains—what we call our Type 6—will start arriving at our facilities. Manufactured by Siemens Mobility, these new models will replace our oldest trains—the ones with stairs at the doors—that have been carrying riders since 1986.

Those joining the ranks of TriMet’s MAX operators will be among the first to get behind the controls of these brand new vehicles and will play an important part in the agency’s future.

Join the team!

Looking for a change? Interested in new challenges? Eager to receive paid training that will set you up for success? New hires receive a $7,500 hiring bonus and starting salary of $25.24 an hour, whether you stay in bus or move to MAX. Operator jobs also come with stability, security and comprehensive benefits. These include insurance, a retirement account with an 8% agency base pay contribution, paid vacation and up to 40 hours of sick leave in the first year (with paid time off increasing over time) in addition to much more. More than even that, there are ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Visit trimet.org/careers to learn about all of the employment opportunities at TriMet.

Beginning with our fall service change in September, TriMet will shift, reduce or cancel some service until operator numbers increase further

TriMet is adjusting service on 10  bus lines this fall as we temporarily reduce service levels based on our available workforce. This comes amid the largest operator shortage in agency history. While most of the affected lines currently see low ridership, TriMet took a balanced and careful approach with an eye on preserving service in areas with high concentrations of people with low-incomes and communities of color.

Reduced service will take affect starting on September 18, 2022. We aim to begin adding back the service hours in 2023 as long as our operator ranks continue to increase.

“We would much rather be expanding our transit service. But by reducing our service levels, we increase our schedule reliability so riders experience fewer canceled or late buses,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue, Jr. “While rebounding from this historic operator shortage will take some time, TriMet is committed to hiring scores of new operators to meet the needs of our community.”

Temporary service level reductions

Beginning with our fall service change in September, TriMet will shift, reduce or cancel some service, with a focus on low ridership lines and times.

• Cancel two bus lines: 50-Cedar Mill and 92-South Beaverton Express
• Reduce service hours on three low-ridership bus lines to only run buses during peak travel time for high school students: 1-Vermont, 18-Hillside and 26-Thurman/NW 18th. With this change, line 26-Thurman/NW 18th Ave will also not have weekend service.
• Cancel extra weekday rush-hour trips on three bus lines as peak ridership trends have changed: 8-Jackson Park/NE 15th, 9-Powell Boulevard and 72-Killingsworth/82nd Ave
• Cancel extra trips added during the pandemic for physical distancing on one bus line: 81-Kane/257th
• Reduce frequency on one low-ridership bus line to hourly service: 82-South Gresham

TriMet will also be making some slight adjustments with our TriMet FX™ (Frequent Express) bus service launching on Sept. 18. The new service along Division Street will still give riders a faster and more convenient way to travel between Gresham and Downtown Portland, using longer buses with multiple-door boarding and transit-priority in key locations. Once up and running, it will improve service along the busy corridor, reducing travel times by 20%.

Buses on the FX2-Division line will run every 12 minutes for the majority of the day with only a couple of buses added during commuting hours. With the Line 2 being replaced by the FX2-Division, the Line 10-Harold St route will still change and weekend service will be added. But we will not be able to add buses during the weekdays as we had planned.

Forward Together

The trickle-down effects of our operator shortage can cause frustration despite our best efforts. In short: it’s been a challenge to hire and train enough operators to replace those lost to retirement and attrition. And we’re not alone. Because our operator shortage is part of a larger trend affecting transit agencies and industries nationwide, we’ve taken unprecedented actions to recruit and retain the talented workforce on which our riders rely. We’ve bumped up the starting pay to $25.24, boosted our hiring bonus to $7,500 and begun looking outside state lines to bring in new operators.

When we do grow our operator ranks and start adding back service, we want to make sure we are serving the needs of our community. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way people travel, TriMet has launched Forward Together, a comprehensive service analysis and community engagement effort to determine a better bus system. 

We’re taking a look at where buses are running now and where they should run. And the community is involved. We’re asking if we should focus buses on where people ride the most or spread them out to serve more neighborhoods. We’ll be sharing more about the effort in the coming months.

Join the team!

Join us in helping people reach destinations around the region while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution.

In addition to a starting salary of $25.24 an hour and a $7,500 hiring bonus, TriMet operators receive many other benefits that only increase over time:

• Operators receive regular pay increases over their first three years, with pay topping out at $68,000 annually for full-time employees.
• All new bus operators receive seven weeks of paid training, including commercial driver’s license (CDL) education and certification.
• With our retirement accounts, TriMet makes a monthly contribution of 8% for union employees based on their pay.

• Bus operators accrue one week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with time off increasing after the first year.
• TriMet offers health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans and contributes up to 95% of monthly health insurance premiums.  
• All employees and eligible family members can receive an annual transit pass (valued up to $1200).
• Employees and eligible family members have 24-hour access to five exclusive on-site fitness centers, with plans starting at just $13/month.
• TriMet bus operators receive representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757.

You can put yourself in the driver’s seat and join the TriMet team by visiting trimet.org/driveforus.

In addition to bus operators, TriMet needs new employees interested in developing and applying their skills to keep the light rail system rolling

Five years after joining TriMet’s Maintenance of Way Department, Casey Goldin sees his present-day position as a future for others. He’s a manager overseeing TriMet’s signals system for MAX. And like the green-means-go, red-means-stop signals motorists are familiar with, our signals help keep trains running safely every day.

It’s a fix-it-up type job, reinforced by high safety standards, for people adept at troubleshooting. And for Casey, the signals expert, the greenlight is on for applicants interested in taking a new and exciting professional step forward.

“We really invest in our people,” Casey said. “Coming here, you’re not going to be hired and forgotten. We’re looking to develop you into industry experts.”

As TriMet continues to prioritize the hiring of new operators, we’re also hiring for several positions within our Maintenance of Way Department. The team is responsible for a lot more than just signals. They inspect and repair everything in our light rail system’s right of way. In addition to signals, that includes track, overhead wires and substations. They’re responsible for many of the projects that keep MAX trains running safely and reliably, often supporting work performed by contractors on bigger projects.

Maintenance of Way jobs provide opportunities to learn and grow professionally. TriMet’s benefits include an 8% pre-tax contribution to your retirement account, low- to no-cost insurance plans, one week of paid vacation (with the ability to roll time over) and up to 40 hours of sick time, among many other perks.

Jobs from the ground up

Our Maintenance of Way Department inspects, fine tunes and fixes everything from the track on the ground to the overhead wires 30 feet up. At TriMet, “from the ground up” isn’t just the domain of our intricate rail system, it’s the approach taken with any new hire joining an established team of industry-leading experts.

 “We need people who really want to lead the industry,” Casey said. “If you see yourself someplace, we’re going to foster that and get you to where you need to be.”

Open positions include entry-level jobs where there are opportunities for advancement. A Track Trainee, for example, will receive paid training before graduating from our Track Maintenance Training Program. Pay for the union position starts at $26.17 an hour, in accordance with our Working and Wage agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757.

Other open entry-level positions in the department include Signal Trainee and Overhead Power Trainee. These positions provide ample on-the-job training and independent work opportunities as the trainees become more proficient. Candidates with some previous training in electronics and mechanical experience are encouraged to apply to these positions. Once brought on board, you’ll be paid while deepening professional skills that will put you on the path to success.

More senior positions include Overhead Power Maintainer, Traction Substation Maintainer and Signal Maintainer, with starting salaries above $37 an hour.

Join the team

The worker shortage is impacting industries across the United States, as more employees in their 50s and 60s have chosen to start enjoying their retirement savings. The proportion of the U.S. population that’s of retirement age rose from 13% in 2010 to 16.9% in 2020, according to the US Department of Labor.

With employee attrition and not enough applicants to meet our expected hiring goals, we’ve been facing the most significant operator shortfall in agency history. The Maintenance of Way Department is facing its own shortage, with staffing at about 60% of where it should be. That means plenty of open positions for people with varying levels of experience.

Once you are hired, you’ll enjoy generous benefits, including:

• 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 401(a)
• 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

Bringing in more exceptional employees is critical to keeping TriMet’s transit system operating at peak performance. With more people returning to transit, many of whom rely on it, you’ll be making a significant and positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people throughout the region. Join us to make a difference! Learn more and apply at trimet.org/careers.

Weekend shutdown of I-84 west near I-205 interchange from 10 p.m. June 24 through 4 a.m. June 27 to allow for construction on a new MAX bridge

A two-mile stretch of westbound I-84 near the I-205 interchange will close from 10 p.m. Friday, June 24, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 27, to allow crews to perform construction for a new light rail bridge over the freeway. Nighttime closures will also occur leading up to and immediately following the weekend shutdown.

I-84 west closure schedule

Weekday closures:

10 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly

June 22 & 23, June 27-29

Weekend closure:

10 p.m. Friday, June 24, to 4 a.m. Monday, June 27

The NE 102^nd Ave onramp will also be closed at these times.

The closures are part of TriMet’s “A Better Red” MAX Red Line extension and improvements project. During the weekend shutdown, crews will drill a 102-foot deep shaft for the new light rail bridge’s foundation next to I-84. Once completed, the bridge will add another set of tracks to carry MAX Red Line trains through the Gateway area, helping to alleviate bottlenecks there and improve reliability across the MAX system.

TriMet’s bus and MAX service will not be affected by the work.

Getting around the project

With construction taking place near the I-84 and I-205 junction, auto drivers heading west on I-84 will be able to take southbound I-205 as an alternate route. Drivers will want to merge back onto I-84 past the Gateway area. We encourage motorists to plan out an alternate route in advance and to expect traffic to be heavier than usual. You can visit ODOT’s TripCheck.com for real time traffic information. To plan a transit trip, go to trimet.org to use our Trip Planner and, for notifications about delays or disruptions, sign up for service alerts to be delivered directly by text or email. For information about the project, check out the webpage: trimet.org/alerts/i84/.

A Better Red to improve and extend MAX service

TriMet’s A Better Red project will upgrade our celebrated train-to-plane service to help serve more MAX Red Line stations, with improved efficiency that will be felt throughout our rail system. It will extend the Red Line west 10 stations to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, meaning more people will benefit from direct trips to and from Portland International Airport without needing to transfer. Currently, only the MAX Blue Line serves those ten stations.

Among the other improvements will be the addition of a second set of tracks in the Gateway area and near Portland International Airport. They’ll reduce the delays that happen when trains traveling in both directions have to wait for oncoming trains to pass. With the Gateway Transit Center serving MAX Blue, Green and Red lines, helping Red Line trains move more efficiently will also keep trains on time elsewhere. For more information about the project, visit trimet.org/betterred.