Tia York

  • We want your input! Weigh in on additional options for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project to keep buses out of traffic

    We want your input! Weigh in on additional options for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project to keep buses out of traffic

    Open houses invite feedback on transit priority concepts for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project; online event open now, in-person event Wednesday, April 23

    Aerial view of a Line 72 bus on Southeast 82nd Avenue

    TriMet is holding open houses on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project this month, and we want to hear from you! The purpose of the open houses is to learn how you feel about tools we are considering for speeding up buses and moving them around traffic.

    The 82nd Avenue Transit Project will improve travel times while providing better connections to jobs, schools, shopping, services and other destinations for those who live, work and move through the 82nd Avenue corridor. It lays the groundwork for TriMet’s next FX — Frequent Express — bus line. This will bring better, faster service with higher-capacity buses to 10 miles of 82nd Avenue, between Clackamas Town Center and the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland. 

    Fewer delays keep buses on time

    TriMet has already incorporated features into the design for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project that are expected to speed up bus trips by up to 20%. These features include consolidating existing stops, building up curbs for easier boarding, using bigger buses with boarding at all three doors and allowing bikes on board, to eliminate delays caused by loading. We’ll also use transit-signal priority for the project, where buses and signals communicate to give buses the go-ahead first.

    Even with these improvements, it may be harder for buses to stay on schedule as traffic congestion grows. The open houses will explore other transit-priority tools to keep buses moving, including bus lanes in key locations.

    Visit trimet.org/82nd to review the plans, weigh potential outcomes and leave your feedback. We’ll hold an in-person open house on Wednesday, April 23, 4-6:30 p.m. at PCC Southeast on 82nd Avenue. The open house will be in the Great Hall of the Mount Tabor Building

    More tools to keep buses moving

    Currently, 82nd Avenue is served by TriMet’s Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd. Not only does Line 72 see more riders than any other TriMet bus line, but it also experiences more delay. Congestion on 82nd is only expected to increase in the coming years, so transportation partners are taking steps now to look to the future and determine ways to keep buses – and the riders on them – moving past traffic. The open houses will explore additional transit-priority tools to speed up buses. These include:

    • Business access and transit lanes (BAT lanes): This would convert the existing curbside lane into a BAT lane, reserved for buses, right-turning autos and emergency vehicles. Car traffic would stay in the inner lanes, and business entrances would be accessible from the outer lanes, as they are today. We are currently studying two scenarios: one with some BAT lanes and one with more BAT lanes. 
    • Intersection widening: The project team is also studying the concept of widening 82nd Avenue near three congested intersections, to create space for BAT lanes while preserving existing lanes for people driving. This is being considered near SE Powell Boulevard, Holgate Boulevard and Foster Road.

    Find additional details on the proposals, including detailed descriptions and diagrams at trimet.org/82nd. The online open house will be open for feedback through Sunday, April 27.  It’s important to note the features under consideration will require additional study and analysis and may not be included in the final project, as they could bring costs that exceed project funding.

    The 82nd Avenue Transit Project

    TriMet FX® service on 82nd Avenue will mean less crowding on buses, fewer delays, faster trips, a safer environment for walking and rolling and a more livable, better-connected urban corridor. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the new service opening to riders in the summer 2029. 

    TriMet thanks our project partners for their continued support and coordination of planning efforts and funding opportunities, including Metro, the City of Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Port of Portland.

  • (VIDEO) Say ‘thanks’ to the region’s transit operators on Transit Driver Appreciation Day

    (VIDEO) Say ‘thanks’ to the region’s transit operators on Transit Driver Appreciation Day

    Join TriMet in recognizing the hard work and dedication of our region’s transit operators on Tuesday, March 18

    TriMet employees participate in “Tunnel of Appreciation” at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 2024

    What’s the best way to show a transit operator you appreciate the work they do?

    There’s the classic Portland way, with a wave and a “thank you” as you head out the door, and there’s the more formal way, when you call, text or connect with TriMet customer service online, to submit a commendation. For example:

    Shout-out to Operator Sean! His friendly face and cheerful greeting each morning on Line 14 get my workday off to a great start. I appreciate him, and I can see his other riders do, too.”

    “He is very personable… Being on a first-name basis makes me feel more connected to the community. He is also always on time and a great driver. I want him to know how much I appreciate him.”

    And there’s another way to show your appreciation: Transit Driver Appreciation Day is coming up on Tuesday, March 18. This one makes it easy for everyone, riders and non-riders alike, to say “thanks.” Simply share a wave, a smile or a kind word with any transit driver you see! Visit trimet.org/thankyou to learn more and find ideas for showing support.

    Look for our big public display in Downtown Portland. The annual “Tunnel of Appreciation” is a daylong gathering of cheering employees and supporters on the Portland Transit Mall. This year, we’ll come together from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Southwest 6th Avenue, between Alder and Yamhill, and Southwest 5th Avenue, between Main and Jefferson. We’re also posting banners that the public can sign, at PSU Urban Plaza and four regional transit centers: Beaverton, Clacakamas Town Center, Gresham Central and Rose Quarter. Stop by and join us!

    A little something for everyone

    Every day, TriMet operators maneuver massive machines – buses that weigh up to 40,000 pounds and MAX trains that weigh up to 100,000 pounds – safely through the streets of Portland and communities throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. They serve thousands of stops and stations and tens of thousands of people daily, but it’s the personal connections that keep them going.

    “Ninety-nine percent of it is just great people getting around. Sometimes, you know, somebody needs a little help. So that’s what we do,” said Line 14-Hawthorne/Foster bus operator, Sean.

    With about a decade of service behind the wheel for TriMet, Sean keeps the job interesting by connecting with riders one-on-one.

    “I talk a lot … probably more than I should,” he said. “But I greet everybody the same – always. And I thank you out the door.”

    “I want to make a commendation about one of my drivers that is super awesome. He’s helped me so much in the last 6 months. He’s been a really good spirit in my heart and kept me going. His name is Sean. He also got together with other people and got me an electric-powered wheelchair, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am.”
    – Bill

    One of those riders was Bill Townsend. Bill has a degenerative bone disease, and he recently started using a manual wheelchair to get around his Southeast Portland neighborhood. Bill rides the bus a lot, and it did not take Sean long to notice that using the manual wheelchair seemed to take its toll on Bill’s strength and energy. Sean wanted to do something to help. An unexpected message from his mom gave him an idea.

    Bill met TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. during a lunch visit with Sean in Southeast Portland

    “Bless her heart, she lost her little brother, my uncle,” Sean recalled. “She texted and said, ‘Hey, do you know anybody that could use a mobility device?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think I really do.’ And that was Bill.”

    Sean picked up the motorized device and held on to it until he could coordinate a special delivery for bus rider Bill, who in a very short time had become a close friend. 

    “We were texting back and forth, and Bill said, ‘I’ve got something to show you.’ He comes cruising down the road and I was like, ‘Wow, sweet!’ It was really heartwarming.” 

    More than 1,600 reasons to say ‘thanks’

    TriMet has more than 1,600 bus and rail operators, and Sean believes every single one would have done the same thing for a person in need.

    For 55 years, TriMet has helped millions of people travel throughout the three counties that we serve. Our buses and trains provide a safe, convenient and reliable ride to destinations across our service area, and the people who operate them bring a friendly face with a promise of hope and support along the way.

    Our operators are essential frontline workers who are up early and out late, connecting people to jobs, education, shopping and vital services. They are friendly faces with steady hands, cool heads and unwavering commitments to the community. Let’s join together, to give them their due, on Transit Driver Appreciation Day!

  • Lower your costs: Sign up for reduced fare and ride TriMet for $28 a month

    Lower your costs: Sign up for reduced fare and ride TriMet for $28 a month

    With the 2025 increase to the federal poverty rate, more people across TriMet’s tri-county service area qualify for reduced fare based on income

    During a time when groceries, electricity bills and other expenses are going up, bring monthly costs down by riding TriMet. TriMet’s Honored Citizen reduced fare allows for unlimited rides for $28 a month for those who qualify. More people signed up to ride with TriMet’s reduced fare based on their income in 2024 than ever before, and now a change in the federal poverty level gives even more people the opportunity to ride for less.

    More people qualify in 2025

    To qualify for Honored Citizen reduced fare based on income, you must be an Oregon resident between the ages of 18 and 64 and earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level. New 2025 income guidelines increased the federal poverty rate, which means the income level for those who qualify for TriMet’s reduced fare went up by more than a thousand dollars to $31,300 per year. Those who participate in an assistance program such as the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also qualify.

    It is easy to enroll. Go to trimet.org/income to fill out an application online and find a list of locations to get in-person help Those include the TriMet Customer Support Center, Portland State University Transportation Office and five Worksource Portland locations. Once enrolled, receive a personalized Honored Citizen Hop card pre-loaded with a month’s fare —$28 —at no cost. The card and first month of rides are free!

    With your Hop card in hand, start saving! Just remember to tap with every ride. The tap serves as proof of fare.

    More people signed up in 2024

    Last year, more than 15,500 people took steps to reduce their transportation costs with TriMet’s Honored Citizen reduced fare based on income. That is the highest number of new sign-ups we have ever seen since we added the income qualification in 2018. Where did all of those riders come from? The biggest driver was students returning to in-person classes at local colleges and universities following the COVID-19 pandemic. It makes sense. Whether it’s school, work, shopping or vital services, every ride on TriMet connects you with opportunity.

    More assistance available for those who need it

    TriMet also has reduced fare options for Youth ages 7 to 17, and our Honored Citizen fare is also available to those who are 65+, on Medicare or experiencing a verifiable disability. Honored Citizen reduced fare is also available to active duty, reserve and veteran members of the United States Armed Forces.

    More partnerships providing free and reduced fares

    For some facing challenges like housing and hunger, $28 per month is a hardship. That is why we partner with nearly 150 community-based organizations, agencies and service providers throughout our region to put free and reduced fare into the hands of those who need it. Since 2015, we have provided more than $15.3 million in assistance through our Access Transit Fare programs. These programs were designed to increase independence, improve access to employment and employment resources and provide connections for thousands of people in our community with low and limited incomes.

  • (VIDEO) Students, staff team up with TriMet for ‘I ride with Rosa’ assembly on Rosa Parks Day

    (VIDEO) Students, staff team up with TriMet for ‘I ride with Rosa’ assembly on Rosa Parks Day

    The first-of-its-kind Rosa Parks Elementary all-school assembly included a debut performance of the song, “We Ride with Rosa,” by Portland-based musician Aaron Nigel Smith

    Rosa Parks School student body performing ‘We Ride with Rosa’ as part of an all-school assembly

    Something special happened when TriMet teamed up with the students and staff of Portland’s Rosa Parks Elementary School. The students received an in-depth history and civics lesson about their school’s namesake: civil rights icon, Rosa Parks. 

    It is the second year we have worked with Rosa Parks School to highlight the celebration of Rosa Parks Day. No fares are collected on TriMet buses, trains or our LIFT paratransit service each Feb. 4, to honor Parks’ life and legacy. It’s an annual tradition for TriMet and our local transit partners, now in its fifth year.

    While riders hopped on board buses and trains to get going on Tuesday morning, students wearing bold black “I ride with Rosa” t-shirts took the stage inside the North Portland pre-Kindergarten through 5th-grade school. It was time for their first-ever “I Ride with Rosa” all-school assembly.

    Following an introduction by Principal Tina Joyce, each class performed a tribute to Rosa Parks. Students recited poems, prose and phrases spoken by Parks. They showed off artwork they had created and performed a reading of a play that described Rosa Parks’ history. They listened as TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. explained how her heroic acts still influence our world today. 

    “One significant outcome was the United States Supreme Court declaring that segregation on city buses was unconstitutional,” TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “The ruling helped bring equality to public transportation… That’s why we at TriMet live by the words you see printed on the tribute bus we have parked outside, we welcome all on TriMet.”

    The assembly culminated with a debut performance of the song, “We Ride with Rosa,” written by Portland-based, Grammy-nominated musician Aaron Nigel Smith. Smith, an experienced music educator, rehearsed the song with the student body for several weeks, to prepare them for the show.

    “We ride with Rosa
    Through the streets of change
    We ride with Rosa
    On our way to brighter days
    One woman’s courage
    Pave the road and showed the way
    We ride with Rosa
    Next stop Freedom Lane!”

    Following the performance, Smith led everyone in singing Happy Birthday to Rosa Parks. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1913, Rosa Parks would have been 112 years old today. She died in 2005. 

    Rosa Parks School students wearing ‘I ride with Rosa’ t-shirts pose in front of TriMet’s 2025 Rosa Parks tribute bus

    All are welcome on TriMet. Today we join transit agencies across the country in celebrating transit equity by honoring the late Rosa Parks. 

    This December marks 70 years since that fateful day that Parks chose to remain seated when she was told to give up her seat to a white person on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her bravery and defiance led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that segregation on city buses was unconstitutional and fueled the civil rights movement across America. 

  • Ride free on TriMet to celebrate Rosa Parks Day

    Ride free on TriMet to celebrate Rosa Parks Day

    To commemorate the birthday of the civil rights icon, TriMet will not collect fares on Tuesday, Feb. 4

    TriMet will not collect fares on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 — on what would have been the 112th birthday of civil rights legend Rosa Parks.

    It’s the fifth straight year that TriMet will celebrate the life and heroism of Rosa Parks by not collecting fares on our buses, trains and LIFT paratransit vehicles for the day. Our transit partners, C-TRAN and Portland Streetcar, also won’t ask for fare on Feb. 4, in support of transit equity.

    “Rosa Parks is an inspiration to me,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “Seventy years ago, she had the courage to defy injustice and segregation. By keeping her seat, she took a stand. As the first Black person to serve as TriMet General Manager, my life has been shaped by Rosa’s legacy, and I’m proud to say that on TriMet, all are welcome. Please, join us, and ride with Rosa!”

    On Feb. 4, there’s no need to buy a ticket or tap your Hop card – just come on board!

    Honoring Rosa Parks

    Rosa Parks is an important figure in the history of transit, as well as in the civil rights movement. In December 1955, she courageously refused to give up her seat on a bus in segregated Montgomery, Alabama. Parks was arrested and fined for her act of civil disobedience, and the incident inspired a federal lawsuit that led to the desegregation of all public transportation in the United States.

    Today, a major thoroughfare and an elementary school in North Portland bear Rosa Parks’ name, and she is widely celebrated as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” TriMet renamed our Portland Avenue MAX Yellow Line Station for Rosa Parks in 2009, and in 2020, our Board of Directors passed a resolution declaring Feb. 4 as Rosa Parks Day.

    This annual day of remembrance also acknowledges the role of transit in our community. Rosa Parks believed all should be welcome on transit, and no one should be treated differently because of the color of their skin. Accessibility and equity are key values for TriMet, and all are welcome on our buses and trains. We are proud to celebrate her legacy on Rosa Parks Day every year.

  • Open house provides peek inside plans for TriMet FX® service on 82nd Avenue

    TriMet welcomes feedback on the plans at an in-person open house and online, starting Jan. 22

    TriMet will share plans this month for faster, higher-capacity bus service on 82nd Avenue. We’re holding an open house, and people will have opportunities to provide feedback both in-person and online. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, we’re hosting an in-person open house on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project, our next TriMet FX® — Frequent Express – bus line. The event will be held at PCC Southeast. TriMet staff will be on hand to answer questions and share fact sheets and maps of the proposed route and station locations. We’ll also post the information at trimet.org/82nd, where you can leave feedback about the plan starting Jan. 22. If the project continues to move forward as planned, tens of thousands of riders along 82nd Avenue will be using the new and improved bus service in 2029.

    82nd Avenue Transit Project Open House
    Wednesday, Jan. 22, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
    PCC Southeast – Community Hall Annex
    2305 SE 82nd Ave.

    A TriMet bus serves a stop near Southeast 82nd Avenue and Division Street

    What is the 82nd Avenue Transit Project?

    TriMet’s 82nd Avenue Transit Project will bring high-capacity bus service to 10 miles of 82nd Avenue, between Clackamas Town Center and Northeast Portland’s Cully Neighborhood. Like our first Frequent Express bus line, FX2-Division, the future FX line along 82nd Avenue will use 60-foot articulated buses with three doors for faster boarding, bike storage on board and more room for riders to relax. Buses will arrive every 12 minutes or better and help riders reach their destinations faster, with next-generation transit-signal priority improvements that keep buses moving past traffic congestion. Riders will also have access to new bus stations with weather protections, lighting and real-time arrival information.

    The 82nd Avenue corridor is currently served by Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd. It is the busiest of TriMet’s 78 bus lines, with more than 65,000 weekly rides. Line 72 is also among the most delayed in TriMet’s system, due to increasing congestion along 82nd Avenue. The busy thoroughfare was a state highway until 2022 when the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) transferred ownership to the City of Portland. The transfer came with a commitment of $185 million for critical, safety improvements along 82nd that lay the groundwork for TriMet’s next FX – Frequent Express – bus line.

    With more than 65,000 weekly rides, Line 72 is the busiest of TriMet’s 78 bus lines

    Timeline and next steps

    What’s next? TriMet will collect and review comments and take all of the feedback into consideration as plans move forward. We aim to reach 30% design of the project by mid-year. Construction is set to begin in 2027, with service opening to the public in the summer of 2029.

    Join the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee

    TriMet’s recruitment for our 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC), a group that will play an important role in shaping the 82nd Avenue Transit Project, is ongoing. Members of the CAC will represent community interests and provide feedback to project decision-makers. Apply today through Monday, Jan. 27, at trimet.org/82nd.

    Project funding and additional support

    The total cost of the 82nd Avenue Transit Project is estimated at $320 million. TriMet expects up to $150 million to come from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Small Starts Program.

    Last month, Portland’s Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) awarded TriMet $55.5 million for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project – the largest local funding allocation to date. 

    The project gained momentum last summer after U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured the corridor and saw firsthand, the safety and congestion challenges people who live and work along 82nd experience daily. Within weeks of the visit, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded TriMet a $630,000 Areas of Persistent Poverty Grant, toward the project’s design.

    Also last summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded TriMet $39 million to purchase up to 14 zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses and related infrastructure for the project. TriMet received an additional $25 million USDOT grant to develop our Columbia Operations Facility, where the fuel-cell electric buses will be based, and to support our goal of a 100% zero-emissions bus fleet.

    Special thanks to our partners

    Thanks to the continued support of project partners who coordinated planning efforts and funding opportunities, including Metro, the City of Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Port of Portland. 

  • TriMet’s 82nd Avenue Transit Project fueled by $55.5 million grant from Portland Clean Energy Fund

    TriMet FX®–Frequent Express bus service will reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions and provide better access to jobs along 82nd Avenue, home to TriMet’s busiest bus line

    Riders can experience crowding and delays on TriMet’s Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd which provides more than 65,000 weekly trips, primarily along 82nd Avenue

    TriMet is celebrating a $55.5 million grant awarded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. The Portland City Council’s approval of the funding this week formalizes the partnership between TriMet and PCEF, and it authorizes an investment that helps set the transit improvement project in motion, with a strong foundation in a collaborative planning process led by Metro. With continued support from local and federal partners, our next Frequent Express bus line will be serving riders throughout the 82nd Avenue corridor within five years. 

    Currently, TriMet’s Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd serves 82nd Avenue, a corridor with the unique distinction of being one of the state’s most culturally diverse and historically disenfranchised areas. A lot of people who live and work along 82nd use Line 72. It is by far the busiest of our 78 bus lines, with more than 65,000 trips taken each week. Unfortunately, due to 82nd Avenue’s former development as a state highway, combined with increasing traffic congestion, Line 72 is also the most delayed.

    The 82nd Avenue Transit Project will complement the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Building a Better 82nd Project, which brings a number of safety improvements to the corridor. Once completed by the summer of 2029, the transit project will improve the ride for thousands of people who rely on TriMett to connect to opportunities throughout the region, with safe, fast and more reliable bus service that benefits the community and the environment.

    “When our buses are stuck in traffic, people can’t get to work, school or appointments on time, and that’s an equity issue,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “This generous grant from the PCEF begins to break down the barriers that exist along 82nd Avenue. The 82nd Avenue Transit Project is a gateway to opportunity, and this grant unlocks its potential.”

    The 82nd Avenue Transit Project received a $630,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) following Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s visit to Portland in July, pictured with TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr.

    With the support of our partners at PCEF, the project will also help develop and train the local workforce and invest in strategies to lower greenhouse emissions and cool the climate locally, such as planting trees along 82nd Avenue. These elements reflect priorities from a community-driven process aimed at equitable development. 

    “We hear time and again from people along the corridor: They no longer want a high-speed, loud and dangerous highway to cut through their neighborhood,” said 82nd Ave Coalition and Project Manager and Executive Director of Oregon Walks, Zachary Lauritzen. “The 82nd Avenue Transit Project is the opportunity to transition that highway into a multimodal street that prioritizes the bus riders who make Line 72 the highest ridership bus line in Oregon. By giving this line the space and priority it deserves, this project has the potential to make 82nd safer and cleaner, with the fastest, most reliable bus service in the state!”

    82nd Avenue Transit Project: the next FX bus line

    This route is based on a preliminary vote by the 82nd Avenue Steering Committee. A final vote is expected in early 2025.

    TriMet’s 82nd Avenue Transit Project will bring high-capacity bus service to 10 miles of 82nd Avenue between Clackamas Town Center and Northeast Portland. Like our first Frequent Express bus line, FX2-Division, the future FX line along 82nd Avenue will use 60-foot articulated buses, with more room on board for riders. Buses will arrive more often and help riders reach their destinations faster, with transit-signal priority improvements that keep buses moving past traffic congestion.

    Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded TriMet $39 million to advance the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. The grant will help TriMet purchase up to 14 zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses for the project, as well as the supporting infrastructure and workforce development. TriMet received an additional $25 million USDOT grant to develop our Columbia Operations Facility, which will one day house a fleet of fuel-cell electric buses as part of our transition to a 100% zero-emissions bus fleet.

    “PCEF’s support of the 82nd Avenue Transit Project is a major investment in creating a more sustainable, accessible and economically prosperous corridor,” said Duncan Hwang, a Metro councilor and Community Development Director at APANO. “Investing in this important project helps ensure that people and businesses along SE 82nd Avenue continue to have opportunities to thrive, grow and stay in the community.” 

    The project will include fuel-cell electric buses powered by hydrogen (Pictured: New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ 60-foot bus)

    Join the Community Advisory Committee

    TriMet is putting together a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), which will play an important role in shaping the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. Members of the CAC will represent community interests and provide feedback to project decision-makers. Learn more and apply at trimet.org/82nd. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.

    Timeline and next steps

    TriMet will host an open house in late January, to share information about the 82nd Avenue Transit Project with the community. We expect to select a contractor for the project by mid-year. The project’s Steering Committee, which includes representatives from community-based organizations including Oregon Walks, Clackamas Resource Center, Unite Oregon and the 82nd Avenue Business Alliance, will vote on a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) in early 2025. The LPA will include the final routing and general station locations. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with service opening to the public in the summer of 2029.

    Project costs are estimated at $320 million, with up to $150 million projected from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Small Starts Program.

    Thanks to the continued support of project partners who coordinated planning efforts and funding opportunities, including Metro, the City of Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Port of Portland. 

  • TriMet dedicates new transit mobility center to lifelong advocate for people with disabilities

    Named for TriMet Committee on Accessibility Transportation (CAT) Chair Jan Campbell, the new space will serve as an accessibility hub for riders unable to use TriMet buses and trains due to disability or a disabling health condition

    TriMet is opening a new transit mobility facility, with a new location and a new name. Located in the heart of Portland’s Lloyd neighborhood, the Jan Campbell Transit Mobility Center will provide a centralized location for people to interview and confirm eligibility for TriMet LIFT Paratransit Service. It will open for service on Monday, Nov. 25.

    Jan Campbell speaks with supporters following dedication event at TriMet’s new mobility center

    On Tuesday, Nov. 19, TriMet dedicated the new facility in Campbell’s honor, acknowledging her pioneering advocacy for greater public transit accessibility. A native Portlander and lifelong public transit user with paraplegia, Campbell helped create TriMet’s Committee on Accessible Transportation (CAT) in 1985 and has served as its chair ever since.

    “This facility is a testament to the power of advocacy, resilience, and the unwavering dedication of one remarkable person, Jan Campbell,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “Her leadership has set a high standard for accessibility and inclusion at TriMet, shaping our services to reflect values that matter—equity, dignity, inclusion and opportunity for all.”

    Campbell has been instrumental in creating change that promotes independence, empowerment, and well-being.

    Jan Campbell

    “I feel so honored and wish I could mention each one of you individually,” she said to the crowd gathered at the mobility center Tuesday afternoon.

    “You are the wind beneath wings, meaning that you have given me strength and support so that I can fulfill my vision, along with others, in breaking down environmental and attitudinal barriers so our world is welcoming to everyone.”

    TriMet LIFT is a shared-ride transportation service for people who are unable to use our fixed-route buses and trains due to disability or disabling health conditions. It provides vital transportation to our riders who are most vulnerable, many of whom rely on transit to connect with vital health services, including chemotherapy and dialysis.

    Relocated from Portland’s Old Town neighborhood, the new mobility center at Northeast 7th Avenue and Holladay Street provides an easier-to-access location for in-person interviews and eligibility certification required to utilize the service. It is well served by transit, with MAX trains and Portland Streetcar rolling by every few minutes and buses coming and going from stops nearby, for most of the day.

    The facility is equipped with new technology and features, including a specialized transit mobility course that simulates some of the challenges people with disabilities they may face when they ride our fixed-route transit service. The course also supports travel training for riders of those buses and trains.

    “We just want to make the system safe, welcoming and totally accessible,” said Campbell. “When we achieve that, we will have the best [transit] system in the country.”

    TriMet LIFT vehicle

    Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, LIFT service covers all locations that are within the TriMet service area, including portions of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. Last year, LIFT provided 50,000 of its 700,000 trips to vital medical appointments. The service scored a 98% approval rating in our latest Customer Satisfaction survey.

    Since 2023, more than 7,200 people accessed the transit mobility center to conduct LIFT eligibility activities. Today, more than 21,500 people in the tri-county area have qualified to receive LIFT services. Learn more about TriMet’s accessibility at trimet.org/access.

    About Jan Campbell

    Jan Campbell profile video (2021)

    Campbell has used a mobility device since she was two years old, when a virus attacked her spine. She vividly remembers what the world was like before the Americans with Disabilities Act passed and how it influenced her education, employment opportunities, housing, and most of all, her independence. 

    Campbell has been instrumental in creating change that promotes the independence, empowerment, and well-being of people with disabilities. In addition to the CAT, she served as the Disability Project Coordinator for the City of Portland and Multnomah County for 23 years. She has served on the Board of Directors for Disability Rights Oregon and is a member of the Northwest ADA Center’s Regional Advisory Committee.

    The Daily Journal of Commerce recently recognized her as one of its 2024 Women of Vision. She holds a lifetime achievement award from the Oregon Disabilities Commission, and she received the 2015 Women of Achievement Award from the Oregon Commission for Women. 

    Campbell is also the recipient of a 2024 honorary membership into the American Society of Landscape Architects, an honor reserved for eight individuals annually with achievements of national or international significance to the profession of landscape architecture, joining the ranks of President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Al Gore, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Secretary of State Colin Powell and other dignitaries.

  • TriMet launches survey to improve connections with riders of all languages

    With questions about transit use, language and communication preferences, the survey will help TriMet understand how to best support our community’s language needs

    Spanish translation

    At TriMet, we are always working to make our transit service better and more welcoming for all. To help us best support and communicate with riders who speak languages other than English, we want your feedback through a new survey.

    This survey will help us continue to give a voice to everyone in our community. The survey is available in 14 languages to help us reach more people than ever before.

    Completing the survey could take up to 10 minutes. At the end of the survey, you can enter to win a $100 gift card or a $50 Hop card.

    The survey will be open through Dec. 31, 2024. We welcome community members of all languages to participate.

    Why this feedback is important

    Data from TriMet and the 2020 U.S. Census shows that nearly 119,000 people or roughly 8% of residents over the age of five in our tri-county service area have limited ability to read, write and speak English. TriMet and our community partners connect with people in multiple languages about how to use our transit service through our outreach and at local events.

    This survey will build on that. We will use what we learn to improve access to TriMet services and make it easier to ride for people who may have difficulty understanding English.

    Our goal is to inform, motivate and empower everyone in our community to use public transit. Just like learning the alphabet is the gateway to language, understanding and using our region’s public transit system can be a building block to a better future.

    Available in 14 languages

    In addition to language, the survey asks questions about transit use, household and preferred methods of receiving information. It is available in English and 13 safe harbor languages. Safe harbor languages are non-English languages spoken by at least 5% of the local population or at least 1,000 individuals:

    ·       Arabic: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d531b9yzRaDJtuS

    ·       Chinese, Traditional: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56moHq3BKWHjaei

    ·       English: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wJpxTt5ff2ECzA

    ·       Farsi: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7a3dr4g0aqaMfVc

    ·       Haitian Creole: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ecmNlYFutQgI2G

    ·       Japanese: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Cyhc52tvEhPFl4

    ·       Khmer: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3sGnCvpXAZKMvMq

    ·       Korean: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1GfObgTIkcpuTiu

    ·       Russian: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38Jbcfg9UHy0iou

    ·       Somali: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_afnDAucZOzrjrOS

    ·       Spanish: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Rvno28yENtOpAW

    ·       Tagalog: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Y81hcBQvitpJSC

    ·       Ukrainian: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2snqJSvNN3ZSgUC

    ·       Vietnamese: https://trimet.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bqL3p0CsnkxZ782

    Share our language survey!

    We are always looking to connect with local community-based organizations, schools, and other groups serving our diverse communities to help share the survey. If you know of an individual or group that should be involved, direct them to one of the links above or trimet.org/survey. Thank you for helping us make transit better!

  • TriMet lanza una encuesta para mejorar las conexiones con los pasajeros de todos los idiomas

    Con preguntas sobre el uso del transporte público y las preferencias de idiomas y comunicación, la encuesta ayudará a TriMet a comprender cómo podemos atender mejor las necesidades de nuestra comunidad en cuanto a idiomas.

    English translation

    En TriMet, siempre estamos trabajando para mejorar y hacer que el servicio de transporte sea más accesible para todos. Para ayudarnos a apoyar y comunicarnos mejor con los usuarios que hablan idiomas distintos del inglés, queremos conocer su opinión a través de una nueva encuesta.

    Esta encuesta nos ayudará a seguir dándole voz a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad. La encuesta está disponible en 14 idiomas para ayudarnos a alcanzar a más gente que nunca.

    La encuesta se completa en 10-15 minutos. Quienes participen podrán participar en una rifa para una tarjeta regalo de $100 o una tarjeta Hop cargada con $50 en pasaje.

    La encuesta estará activa hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2024. Invitamos a participar a miembros de la comunidad de todos los idiomas.

    La importancia de esta información

    Los datos de TriMet y el Censo de EE.UU. de 2020 muestran que casi 119,000 personas, o alrededor del 8% de los habitantes mayores de cinco años en nuestra área de tres condados, tienen dificultades para leer, escribir y hablar inglés. TriMet y las organizaciones comunitarias que colaboran con nosotros informan a las personas en varios idiomas sobre cómo utilizar nuestro servicio de transporte público a través de enlace comunitario y en eventos locales.

    Esta encuesta se basará en ello. Utilizaremos lo que aprendamos para mejorar el acceso a los servicios de TriMet y facilitar el uso del transporte a las personas que puedan tener dificultades para entender el inglés.

    Nuestro objetivo es informar, motivar y animar a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad a utilizar el transporte público. Del mismo modo que aprender el abecedario es la entrada al lenguaje, comprender y utilizar el sistema de transporte público de nuestra región puede ser la herramienta para construir un futuro mejor.

    Disponible en 14 idiomas

    Además del idioma, la encuesta pregunta sobre el uso del transporte público, el hogar y los métodos preferidos para recibir información. Está disponible en inglés y en 13 idiomas de refugio. Los idiomas de refugio son idiomas, distintos del inglés, hablados por al menos el 5% de la población local o al menos 1.000 personas:

    Comparta nuestra encuesta lingüística

    Siempre estamos buscando organizaciones locales, escuelas y otros grupos que ayuden a nuestras diversas comunidades a compartir la encuesta. Si conoce a alguna persona o grupo que debería participar, diríjalos a uno de los enlaces anteriores o a trimet.org/survey. Gracias por ayudarnos a mejorar el transporte público.