Your digital ticket doubles as your TriMet ticket for up to three hours before and after matches
Timbers and Thorns fans take note: On match days, it just got easier to get to and from Providence Park. Beginning with the Timbers’ regular season home opener on February 24, and lasting all season long, you can ride TriMet buses and MAX trains to the match using your digital game-day ticket as your fare.
Beginning three hours before kickoff and ending three hours after the match, your ticket to the game doubles as your ticket to ride. Just plan your trip at trimet.org, then once you board, show your digital match-day ticket to the bus operator. If you’re taking MAX, your Timbers or Thorns ticket will be your proof of fare if you’re asked by our Customer Safety Supervisors. Then, just sit back, relax and leave the driving to us.
TriMet’s partnership with the Timbers and Thorns FC makes it easier to get to and from games, but the benefits go deeper than that. Riding transit to and from the game is fun and convenient, a way of building camaraderie with fellow fans without the hassle of finding parking. Plus, it’s a guaranteed “W” for the environment no matter how the game turns out. Every time you ride transit, you’re helping to relieve congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By taking automobiles off the road for unnecessary trips, we can all do our part to help the region realize its carbon-reduction goals.
Planning your trip
Planning your trip to the match is easy using TriMet’s trip planner on trimet.org, with information on travel and walk times, as well as transfers. You can also use the webpage on your mobile phone to track TriMet’s buses and trains in real time on our interactive map.
Keep in mind that stations, buses and trains may be busier than normal. Stay safe and watch out for each other, and if you see unsafe behavior or conduct that makes you uncomfortable, text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) to contact the TriMet Security Support team 24 hours a day, or submit a report online. You can also report it to TriMet personnel. For urgent concerns, alert the operator or call 911. We will have extra security staff available at Providence Park before and after matches.
Gateway North MAX Station, the first new station in nine years, opens March 4 when the disruption ends
Like a train rolling down the tracks, completion of the second of three major phases of TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project is getting closer. Once that second phase finishes on March 4, TriMet will reach another milestone on the way toward improving how riders move through a main connector for the MAX system. Not only will these changes help riders roll more efficiently through the Gateway Transit Center—where the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines meet—but they will also prevent trains from backing up on other sections of the MAX system.
Despite a harsh winter storm that shifted the disruption’s end date by one week, crews have been working around the clock for the past three weeks to finish construction just north of the Gateway Transit Center. Currently, MAX Blue and Green line service is disrupted. MAX Red Line service is temporarily suspended, and shuttle buses are serving all closed stations. We are encouraging riders to consider other transportation options during the disruption, if possible, including TriMet’s regular bus service.
Along Interstate 84, other crews are using the disruption to make further improvements to TriMet’s oldest section of trackway. They have been replacing rail and upgrading rail ties, in addition to deep cleaning stations and picking up litter.
The six-week disruption is an investment of time and resources necessary to complete multiple improvement projects at the same time, preventing the need to disrupt service in the future to do this work. We thank our riders for their understanding and patience as we enter the back stretch of the work, and we look forward to returning MAX Blue, Green and Red Line trains to regular service in March, with improved service through the Gateway Transit Center.
Gateway growth
The Gateway Transit Center is both growing and becoming more efficient thanks to this work. It’s necessary to meet the needs of the MAX system, which has quadrupled in size since it and the transit center opened in 1986. Not only that, it will help accommodate future growth. The centerpiece of the transit center’s expansion will be the new Gateway North MAX Station. While this will be its own separate station, it will also be part of the now-larger transit center, connected via a pedestrian pathway.
Crews have made considerable progress on Gateway North, with the station’s structures mostly in place. Hop readers, ticket machines, lighting and shelter glass will be installed over the next couple of weeks. That’s also when crews will put the finishing touches on the concrete pathway, which will allow riders to easily make their connections.
Focus on the future
With track work at the Gateway Transit Center nearly complete, most of the remaining work involves tying it into the existing system. These improvements, along with the extended MAX Red Line that will complete this summer, will improve reliability and allow us to add capacity.
On the west side, work continues on making Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport the new end of the MAX Red Line. Crews are finishing a new pedestrian crossing, along with a signals and communications room, both of which are on track to finish by the end of March. The Red Line extension will then open to the public this summer, along with a new break building for operators.
A Better Red
A Better Red is reaching the end of the line, with about 90% of the project done. While we still have to finish the current disruption and put the final touches on the 10-station MAX Red Line extension to Hillsboro, it won’t be long before riders will have a one-seat trip between Fair Complex, near Hillsboro Airport, and PDX.
Improvements around the Gateway Transit Center and the airport — including the addition of a second track, a rebuilt PDX station and the new Gateway North MAX Station— will improve reliability across the entire system. For more information about A Better Red, go to trimet.org/betterred.
Starting Feb. 25, riders will see increased service on several bus lines, schedule improvements to keep buses on time and a route extension to help workers reach jobs
Editor’s note: This news release has been updated with more information.
As we continue working to make TriMet bus service better, we’re listening to our riders who say they want to see more buses at more times!
Starting Sunday, Feb. 25, we’re rolling out improvements on several bus lines, including four in our Frequent Service network, to better serve riders.
That means more buses arriving in the mornings and evenings on several of our most-used lines. Another line in Troutdale will be extended, making it easier for riders to reach major employers like Amazon and FedEx.
What’s new?
We’re improving some of our bus routes and connections. These upgrades are outlined in our Forward Together service concept, developed with the community, which we began implementing last summer.
Frequent Service
Buses on Frequent Service lines arrive every 15 minutes or better for most of the day, every day.
Starting the week of Feb. 25, we’re expanding Frequent Service on the following lines:
Line 12-Barbur/Sandy Blvd
Line 57-TV Hwy/Forest Grove
Line 75-Cesar Chavez/Lombard
On weekdays, when more riders rely on TriMet, buses will arrive more often earlier in the morning and later in the evening on these lines. That effectively extends our Frequent Service hours on those lines, making them more convenient for more riders.
We’re also adding more morning and afternoon buses on a fourth Frequent Service line, Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd, to better serve McDaniel High School families on weekdays. Line 72 buses are often full around the time school opens and lets out. These additional buses mean more riders can take TriMet to their destination at peak times.
TriMet’s Frequent Service network includes 18 of our most-used bus lines — including our latest addition to the network, Line 48-Cornell, which was upgraded to Frequent Service in November 2023.
Route extension
Workers at the Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park also have reason to rejoice.
We’re changing the route of Line 77-Broadway/Halsey and increasing service, extending some trips to the industrial park to better serve workers.
TRIP, as it’s sometimes called, has become a major job center in East Multnomah County, with companies like Amazon and FedEx employing thousands of workers there.
Extending Line 77 will make trips to TRIP faster and better for those workers who rely on TriMet. More buses will come around shift changes, dropping off arriving workers and picking up those heading home for the day, at stops conveniently located close to Amazon and FedEx’s facilities.
Schedule adjustments
Some TriMet riders will see their bus arrival time shift by as much as six minutes.
We’re adjusting our schedules on the following lines to improve connections and keep buses on time:
Line 1-Vermont
Line 10-Harold St
Line 11-Rivergate/Marine Dr
Line 16-Front Ave/St Helens Rd
Line 33-McLoughlin/King Rd
Line 39-Arnold Creek/Hillsdale
Line 291-Orange Night Bus
Some lines will see smaller adjustments to help riders make transfers and give operators breaks.
We encourage riders to use our online trip planner at trimet.org to plan their trips and see when their bus will arrive.
Moving Forward Together
Through our Forward Together service concept, we’re redrawing our map of bus lines in response to community feedback, ridership data and TriMet priorities.
This is a long-range project with equity at its heart. TriMet’s goal is to increase ridership and create better connections to jobs and services for people with low and limited incomes.
Making these service improvements is a years-long process. We started rolling out Forward Together service improvements last summer, and we have much more still to come.
All of our service improvements depend on staffing. We haven’t been able to roll out improvements as quickly as we’d like because we’re still dealing with an operator shortage.
We are working to add operators — applicants are eligible for a $7,500 bonus if hired — as well as maintenance workers, with a $2,500 hiring bonus for many of those positions, too.
Join the team! Visit trimet.org/careers to learn about opportunities at TriMet, including upcoming hiring events. You can also find directions on how to apply on our website.
Some Type 1s have been sent off to recycling to make room for the trains of the future
The first time Roger Andreassen walked up the steps of a MAX train, he felt at home. It was January 1986 and a mere 30 minutes into his job as a “commissioning engineer”— one of the people making sure that what was then TriMet’s new fleet of 26 light rail vehicles worked properly. The recent University of Portland graduate saw the future of regional transit in front of him: sparkling chrome and fresh vinyl seats, with a subtly European flavor to the design.
Up until then, the mid-1980s, TriMet had only run bus service. The introduction of MAX light rail was a decades-in-the-making shift in transportation planning—not just for TriMet, but for most of North America. The agency was only the second city on the West Coast—behind San Diego, Calif.—to construct a light rail line, and one of only a handful in all of the United States, Canada or Mexico. TriMet had hired a few experts from the East Coast to assist with getting the new trains and line ready, but for the employees and consultants of a brand new rail system like TriMet’s MAX, it was trial by train.
“People like me—we just learned on the job,” Andreassen says, recalling that early experience.
It’s been 38 years and Andreassen is back with TriMet as a project manager, this time with decades of experience under his belt as he works to test and commission TriMet’s newest fleet of light rail vehicles. He’s part of a larger team of experts working on the process of bringing these state-of-the-art trains to riders.
Known as the Type 6 and manufactured by Siemens Mobility, these light rail vehicles come with a variety of new features, including the ability to predict maintenance issues before they happen. There are digital destination displays for riders, LED lights along the doors to assist with boarding and improved temperature controls. The biggest difference are the computers. The Type 6 vehicles can be described as a computer network on steel wheels. By comparison, the first trains TriMet introduced in 1986 were completely analog.
Farewell, Type 1s
You may be seeing fewer Type 1s rolling by, with their distinctive boxy look and elevated floors. TriMet has begun decommissioning some of the trains to make room for the Type 6s at our Ruby Junction Operating Facility. The process involves our mechanics first removing parts from the trains’ HVAC systems, followed by the wheel trucks, gearbox oil, hydraulic fluid, batteries and other components that cannot be recycled.
Once that happens, most vehicles are separated into sections and then placed onto the back of a 50-foot truck for transport. For a fully intact vehicle, the process is more complicated. There is only one company on the West Coast with the ability to transport an intact vehicle, and it requires special permits. Where it can go is limited as well because of its size. It’s a process that takes considerable time and planning and must be coordinated to take place as TriMet receives new trains to test.
Preserving history
The Type 1s aren’t gone yet, nor are they all going away forever. At Radius Recycling in North Portland, they’re being turned into rebar, which will be used to construct new buildings. Plans also call for the preservation of at least one MAX train car. It will go to the Oregon Electric Railway Museum in Brooks, Ore., the largest trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest, featuring a collection of vehicles from around the world.
At the museum, the Type 1 would join other vehicles from Portland’s transit past—including cars from the Mt. Hood, Broadway, Council Crest and Portland interurban systems. The museum features an operational rail yard, where visitors can take rides on the various vehicles. That’s the proposal for the Type 1, allowing rail enthusiasts to continue hopping on board the original MAX well into the future.
Type 6 testing
Preparing the Type 6 trains for service is underway, with 14 of the 30 vehicles currently on site at Ruby Junction.
They continue to go through rigorous static and dynamic testing on the test track at Ruby Junction and on the mainline during non-revenue service hours. This is the final step where engineers test propulsion and braking at high-speed. Upon completion of testing, the vehicles then operate at least 1,500 mile in simulated revenue service prior to being certified to transport passengers. It’s an extensive process, during which every system is tested multiple times to ensure they meet all safety and performance requirements.
‘A better vehicle overall’
For Andreassen, he’ll be sad to see the Type 1s go, but he’s also excited about the next generation of MAX trains. The older cars were expected to last 30 years, and they have exceeded that. They have become the very definition of vintage, with replacement parts having become impossible to obtain, he says.
Now when he walks through a new Type 6, he sees how just how much regional transit has evolved from the early days nearly 40 years ago.
“You’re trying to strive for a better vehicle overall,” Andreassen says. “For TriMet, it’s to have something that is cost effective and reliable, and for the riders it’s so they can enjoy it more.”
For more information about the next generation of MAX train, go to trimet.org/max6.
TriMet will not collect fares on buses or MAX trains on Sunday, Feb. 4, in our fourth annual tribute to the civil rights icon
On Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks changed the course of history when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of defiance and resulting arrest sparked protests from the streets of Montgomery that inspired change across the United States. Rosa Parks’ brave act became a cornerstone of the civil rights movement and the catalyst for a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court affirming transportation equity as a civil right.
Celebrate with us! TriMet will not collect fare on Sunday, Feb. 4, in honor of Rosa Parks, on what would have been her 111th birthday. Ride the bus, MAX or LIFT paratransit, and take time to reflect on the great contributions of the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” Our partners at Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN join us in our annual tribute to Rosa Parks by also not collecting fares every February 4.
“As TriMet’s first Black General Manager and a person of African American heritage, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus affects me personally,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “I am humbled and beyond proud to lead an organization that provides a public service where all are welcome. TriMet connects people — all people, no matter the color of their skin or where they came from — with opportunity. Ride with us on Rosa Parks’ birthday and think about how we got here. And give thanks.”
We ride with Rosa!
The TriMet Board of Directors passed a resolution in 2020, declaring Parks’ birthday as a day of remembrance across our 533-square-mile service district. Outgoing District 5 Director Keith Edwards, a leader in the local Black community and a lifelong community activist, proposed the annual observation.
“Rosa Parks revealed to the nation the inequities borne from ignorance. She said no more,” said Edwards.
Riding on Rosa Parks Day? Here’s what you need to know:
As Rosa Parks’ birthday falls on a Sunday this year, TriMet buses and trains will be following their regular Sunday schedules.
You won’t need to tap your Hop card or buy a ticket at the station. Just come on board!
If you tap your Hop card, you will receive a confirmation, but no fare will be deducted.
Ticket machines will not allow any ticket purchases on Feb. 4.
Fare collection resumes at 3 a.m. Monday, Feb. 5.
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
Expansion of MAX night buses and closure of Skidmore Fountain MAX Station to reduce maintenance disruptions and move trains more efficiently in Downtown Portland
TriMet is moving forward on two efforts that will improve MAX service. One will speed up MAX Blue and Red Line trips through Downtown Portland. The other will allow more overnight maintenance work in an effort to reduce planned and unplanned disruptions to all MAX lines. Both will make our light rail system more reliable and improve the overall experience for our customers.
Expanded network of MAX night buses proposed
TriMet plans to establish a network of night buses in place of late-night MAX trains, expanding on our Line 291-Orange Night Bus that has been in service since the MAX Orange Line opened in 2015. Adding night buses across all MAX lines and moving late-night/early-morning MAX trips to those buses would allow for more overnight maintenance projects on the MAX system and reduce unplanned service disruptions as well as multi-day disruptions for MAX improvement projects.
TriMet has the second-shortest overnight maintenance window of any U.S. transit agency that runs light rail service. There are only 47 minutes in which no MAX trains are running anywhere on our 60-mile light rail alignment, drastically restricting what work can be completed overnight. On average, transit agencies have a two-and-a-half-hour gap, with some agencies exceeding four hours. Long service hours also lead to excessive wear and tear on rails, track equipment, overhead wires and trains. That, in turn, means more maintenance must be done to keep a light rail system and vehicles in a state of good repair as required by the Federal Transit Administration and necessary to provide reliable transit service for our riders.
MAX ridership in the overnight hours is much lower than during the day. In a two-month period in late summer/early fall of 2023, on average just over 1,200 trips were taken across all MAX lines between midnight and the start of service shortly before 4 a.m. That compares to more than 70,400 trips taken between 4 a.m. and midnight. By providing late-night trips on MAX night buses instead of trains, TriMet will be able to get more standard maintenance, repairs and improvements done on the MAX system, without impacting the vast majority of riders.
The development of individual MAX night bus service hours, routing and schedules is still underway. TriMet will share more details as the plan evolves.
Streamlining MAX stations in Downtown Portland leads to time savings
TriMet is renewing plans to close the Skidmore Fountain MAX Station to improve MAX trips through Downtown Portland. The Skidmore Fountain Station was one of four that had been proposed for closure previously to make trips faster and more efficient. TriMet conducted extensive outreach over ten months, in 2018 and 2019, before closing the other three stations — Kings Hill/SW Salmon, Mall/SW 4th Ave and Mall/SW 5th Ave MAX stations — in March 2020. TriMet decided to re-evaluate closing the Skidmore Fountain Station in the future if it didn’t meet two conditions: 1) ridership did not increase at the station and 2) development in the area did not occur. With those conditions not being met, TriMet is proposing to close the station in fall 2025.
The Skidmore Fountain Station is very close to two other stations — the Old Town/Chinatown Station, about two blocks, or 500 feet to the north, and the Oak/SW 1st Ave Station about four blocks to the south. Keep in mind that a two-car MAX train is 200 feet long. With the three stations within a third of a mile, MAX Blue and Red Line start and stop several times, leading to slow trips along 1st Avenue, between the Steel Bridge and the SW Morrison Street/Yamhill Street couplet.
Since TriMet closed the Kings Hill/SW Salmon, Mall/SW 4th Ave and Mall/SW 5th Ave MAX stations, MAX Blue and Red Line trips through Downtown Portland are a minute and a half faster each way. That adds up to about 46 hours and 38 minutes of travel time savings a week for thousands of riders. Closing the Skidmore Fountain Station is expected to reduce MAX trips by another 45 seconds in each direction.
The TriMet Board is expected to consider the Skidmore Fountain Station closure and hold a public hearing in April, with a vote in May.
Share your feedback
TriMet is hosting a series of open houses, Jan. 25-Feb. 1, to share the service improvements from our Forward Together plan, developed with the community, which we hope to roll out in the coming year and a half. Share your thoughts on those bus service improvements as well as the plans for the Skidmore Fountain Station closure and expansion of MAX night buses. Events will be held virtually and in-person, with multi-lingual representatives. People can also share their feedback online through Feb. 11, or learn more about the open houses at trimet.org/plan.
With construction now fully underway, the disruption will last for the next six weeks, with MAX service reopening on March 4
The region’s weeklong dangerous and destructive winter storm has shifted the timeline for the MAX disruption necessary for TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project.
The disruption to the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines is now underway. With the shifted schedule in place, we plan to return the lines to regular service on Monday, March 4.
The new completion date gives crews the time they need to finish vital work on A Better Red around the Gateway Transit Center, as well as make improvements to the MAX system along Interstate 84 and elsewhere. Completing all of these projects will help prevent the need for further disruptions in the immediate future.
Safety comes first in emergencies
We know riders and people across the region have been through a challenging week, and we appreciate their understanding as we transitioned our transit system from emergency weather operations to the planned A Better Red disruption on Sunday, Jan. 21. This came after restoring MAX service system wide, except on the MAX Red Line, on Saturday, Jan. 20, following the unrelenting cold and bouts of snow, high winds and ice. Our focus was on the safety of our riders, employees and equipment during the extreme conditions, as well as keeping as much transit service moving as possible and restoring service that had to be suspended.
Power outages, downed trees, packed ice and frigid temperatures created many challenges, and our crews sprang into action, working around the clock to tackle issues as they emerged. We enlisted the help of staff from nearly ten contractors who had been standing by for the Better Red project work to begin. They quickly shifted to assist our employees with our recovery efforts, especially on the MAX system. They helped remove snow and ice from trackways, rail crossings and platforms, as well as downed trees and make repairs to our overhead wire system that was damaged on the west side.
While we had to pause major portions of the project, some crews were actually able to get a bit of the construction underway during the storm, including some work on the new track and station just north of Gateway Transit Center, but, understandably, the conditions weren’t the best for that type of work.
With the storm finally past, TriMet’s focus can now be on the future—improving our riders’ overall experience by relieving a chokepoint in our system. This will have positive impacts across the entire MAX system and allow us to grow our light rail network in the future.
Getting around the disruption
With major construction on A Better Red having resumed, our top focus is on getting you around the disruption. We are running shuttle buses to replace light rail service on the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines. Trips will take longer, and in some cases regular bus service may be faster. Our trip-planning tool—trimet.org/planner—will give you the fastest route from point A to point B during the disruption. But in many cases, transferring to shuttle buses will be necessary. Please consider other transportation if traveling through the disrupted area, if possible.
Here’s what you need to know:
MAX Blue Line: The Blue Line will be split into two sections. Trains will operate between Hatfield Government Center in Hillsboro and NE 7th Ave in Portland as well as between E 102nd Ave and Cleveland Ave in Gresham. Shuttle buses will serve stations between NE 7th Ave and E 102nd Ave.
MAX Green Line: Green Line trains will only travel between Clackamas Town Center Transit Center and SE Main St. Shuttle buses will run directly between SE Main St and Gateway Transit Center. At Gateway, those continuing west toward Downtown Portland will need to transfer to Blue Line shuttle buses heading to NE 7th Ave. In Downtown Portland, there will be no Green Line trains running. Use MAX Orange and Yellow lines or regular bus service along the Transit Mall on 5th and 6th avenues.
MAX Red Line: Red Line service will not operate during the disruption. Use the MAX Blue Line between Beaverton Transit Center and NE 7th Ave and shuttle buses between NE 7th Ave and Gateway Transit Center. For trips to and from the airport, a Red Line shuttle bus will run between Gateway and PDX, serving the three stations along the way.
MAX Orange and Yellow lines: MAX Orange and Yellow line service will not be affected by the project, and trains will operate on regular schedules.
A Better Red
A Better Red is TriMet’s multi-year project to extend the MAX Red Line west to Hillsboro and improve train movement through the Gateway Transit Center and at Portland International Airport. Despite the recent weather challenges, the project remains on schedule to be fully completed this summer. As one of the largest civil construction projects in Oregon, work cannot be limited to the summer months without significant increases to both its cost and schedule.
Improvements have been happening to the MAX Red Line as we make progress on the project that kicked off in the fall of 2021. Last summer, crews added a second track near Portland International Airport and rebuilt the MAX station there. These enhancements opened in October, following 126 days of construction. Upon completion of the current disruption, Red Line riders will experience a new inbound-only MAX station, dubbed Gateway North, along with new track and bridges to speed-up travel. The final phase of the project will be the Red Line extension ten stations west to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, which will open in August 2024. We thank our riders for their patience during the different stages of construction. Not only will the project improve the MAX Red Line, it will increase reliability across the entire MAX system. For more information, go to trimet.org/bettered.
Open houses will be held Jan. 25-Feb. 1, with public input welcomed
***UPDATE (June 2025): Hiring bonuses for new operators have now closed.***
At TriMet, we’re continuing to redraw our bus service map in 2024 — and we need your help.
This spring, we will be putting the finishing touches on a plan to run more frequent buses along routes where we see high demand, extend service hours and days on multiple bus lines, adjust schedules to keep buses on time, and more. You’ll start seeing some of those improvements on Aug. 25, 2024.
It’s the next piece in our Forward Together service concept, which will guide our bus service improvements over the coming years.
Our goal with Forward Together is to increase ridership and expand and improve service and connections for people with low and limited incomes.
To accomplish that goal, we’re counting on feedback from our riders. We’ve already made changes to our earlier proposals based on public input and available staffing. Once more, heading into Forward Together planning for 2024-25, we want to hear from you.
Open houses
Make your voice heard at one of TriMet’s upcoming open houses.
We’ll share the details of our proposed service changes for 2024 and 2025, and TriMet representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Attendees will be able to submit their input as well.
Open house dates
Thursday, Jan. 25, from 5-6 p.m. on Zoom. This virtual open house will be held in English and Spanish.
Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 4-6 p.m. in the Tualatin Public Library Community Room, 18878 SW Martinazzi Ave. in Tualatin. This in-person open house will include information in multiple languages.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 5-7 p.m. in the Portland Community College Rock Creek Event Center, Building 9, 17705 NW Springville Road in Bethany. This in-person open house will include information in multiple languages.
Thursday, Feb. 1, from noon-2 p.m. in the University of Oregon White Stag Block, Rooms 142/144, 70 NW Couch St. in Portland. This in-person open house will be held in English and Spanish.
After the open houses, we’ll gather up the feedback we’ve received and use it to help shape the final version of our service plan for the year.
Submit your comments
Can’t make it to an open house? Not to worry — we still want to hear from you.
Have your say in TriMet’s Forward Together planning process by submitting your comments at trimet.org/plan. You can also give us a call at 503-238-7433 (RIDE) and share your thoughts on our proposed bus service.
Our public comment period on this round of Forward Together service improvements ends Sunday, Feb. 11. If you’d like to provide feedback on the plan, be sure to do so by then, to ensure what you have to say is considered as we wrap up our service plan.
We’ll present the results of our public outreach to the TriMet Board of Directors in March. A vote on the final service changes will likely take place in May. That will clear the way for new and improved bus service to begin as soon as August this year, if operator staffing allows.
Improving service
TriMet is proposing changes to 24 bus lines in the next round of our Forward Together service improvements, as well as three new bus lines to better serve riders.
More frequent buses
Three of our most popular bus lines would be upgraded to Frequent Service, meaning buses will arrive every 15 minutes or better for most of the day, every day:
Line 52-Farmington/185th
Line 77-Broadway/Halsey
Line 87-Airport Way/181st
Those aren’t the only bus lines we plan to upgrade. Some lines would have their routes extended, so they serve significantly more stops. Additionally, some lines would see buses arrive more often. Lines to be upgraded include, but are not limited to:
Line 17-Holgate/Broadway
Line 24-Fremont/NW 18th
Line 29-Lake/Webster Rd
Line 67-Bethany/158th
Line 81-Kane/257th
Replacing bus lines
With Forward Together, we’re taking a look at our entire bus system and figuring out how to serve our riders in the most efficient, most equitable way we can. That means some riders will see new line numbers on their routes, either because we’re introducing a brand-new bus line or we’re changing which lines serve their stop.
Under our proposal, the following line numbers would be retired and replaced with new service:
Line 21-Sandy Blvd/223rd
Line 80-Kane/Troutdale Rd
Line 85-Swan Island
Line 99-Macadam/McLoughlin
Line 154-Willamette/Clackamas Heights
Skidmore Fountain MAX Station
Along with these bus service improvements slated to begin as soon as August 2024, TriMet is also considering a plan to close the Skidmore Fountain MAX Station in September 2025. Attendees can learn more about this proposal at the open houses and comment on it as well.
Public input has consistently helped to shape TriMet’s Forward Together service concept.
TriMet incorporated feedback we received after we first unveiled Forward Together in 2022, which was reflected in our first round of service improvements last year.
That feedback has also influenced our planned second round of improvements in 2024-25.
TriMet is hiring!
Forward Together is a years-long overhaul of TriMet’s bus service.
Over the course of this project, our goal is to increase ridership, improve connections and expand bus service throughout the region. We want to provide better service for communities of need, add service in emerging neighborhoods and employment areas, and increase the frequency of buses in areas where we see high demand.
To add bus service, however, we need to have operators to drive those buses, and maintenance workers to keep them on the road.
Limited staffing has forced us to slow the pace of our service improvements. We had hoped to roll out some of the upgrades we’ve proposed for August sooner, but we delayed them due to our operator shortage.
You can help! Visit trimet.org/careers to learn about opportunities at TriMet. We are offering $7,500 hiring bonuses for bus operators, including part-time positions, and $2,500 hiring bonuses for mechanics and maintainers, along with great benefits and competitive salaries. Together, we can keep the tri-county area moving.
Note: Due to extreme winter weather in January 2024, the completion date for the project shifted. The following media release has been edited to reflect that change.
Riders can plan ahead now, as MAX Blue, Green and Red line trains will return to regular service on Monday, March 4
Construction on TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project will close the Gateway Transit Center to MAX trains for six weeks. With the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines impacted, shuttle buses will serve closed stations through the end of the disruption on March 3, with regular service returning on March 4. TriMet will also use this opportunity to perform reliability improvements to the MAX system along Interstate 84 and just east of the transit center.
MAX Blue and Green line service will be disrupted for the duration of the project. MAX Red Line service will be temporarily suspended. That means no MAX Red Line service from mid-January and through February. Riders should consider other transportation options during the disruption, if possible, including TriMet’s regular bus service.
What riders need to know
MAX Blue Line: The Blue Line will be split into two sections. Trains will operate between Hatfield Govt. Center in Hillsboro and NE 7th Ave in Portland as well as between E 102nd Ave and Cleveland Ave in Gresham. Shuttle buses will replace trains between NE 7th Ave and E 102nd Ave.
MAX Green Line: Green Line trains will only travel between Clackamas Town Center Transit Center and SE Main St. Shuttle buses for the Green Line will take riders between SE Main St and Gateway Transit Center. At Gateway, riders continuing west toward Downtown Portland will need to board shuttle buses heading to NE 7th Ave. In Downtown Portland, there will be no Green Line trains running, so riders should use MAX Orange and Yellow lines or regular bus service along the Transit Mall on 5th and 6th avenues.
MAX Red Line: Red Line service will not operate during the disruption. Riders can still use the MAX Blue Line for trips between Beaverton Transit Center and NE 7th Ave and shuttle buses for trips between NE 7th Ave and Gateway Transit Center. For trips to and from the airport, shuttle buses will run between Gateway and PDX, and they will serve all stations along the way.
MAX Orange and Yellow lines: MAX Orange and Yellow line service will not be affected by the project, and trains will operate on regular schedules.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4igjRBdREc
We are grateful for your continued patience and cooperation as we work on this critical phase of construction. When regular MAX service resumes on March 4, there will be a new MAX Red Line station called Gateway North serving inbound Red Line riders. Red Line trains will use the new bridges and track that construction crews have spent more than two years building. Adding this new station at Gateway will improve train movement at this busy connection point for three MAX lines, enhancing reliability across the entire system by reducing delays and making trips from the airport into Downtown Portland more efficient.
Tips for riding
Consider using alternative modes of transportation during the project. As much as we want to welcome you on board, we expect shuttle buses to be more crowded during this phase of the project.
Consider using regular bus service. You can easily plan your trip and track your bus at trimet.org.
Plan at least an extra 60 minutes for your trips.
Follow us on social media. We have several social media accounts that can keep you informed with the latest developments, news and service information. Follow us on Instagram, @TriMet on X (formerly Twitter) and on Facebook. We also post timely service information on X @trimetalerts, and you can even message your questions to @trimethelp.
Sign up to receive Service Alerts and information about A Better Red sent directly to your phone or email at trimet.org/email.
Bus lines serving the Gateway Transit Center and stops near MAX lines will likely see increased ridership during the disruption. While buses may be fuller than you’re used to, please remember to make the priority seating area available to seniors and people with disabilities.
Better Red – building progress
Disruptions are sometimes necessary for large-scale projects, as they give crews the room needed to work safely and around the clock. Construction of TriMet’s A Better Red project began in 2021 with the goal of delivering important track improvements between the Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport, as well as extending the Red Line into Hillsboro. These will improve reliability on the MAX Red Line, while helping keep trains running on time throughout the entire MAX light rail system.
The project has been made possible thanks to a $99.9 million construction grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which is covering a substantial portion of the approximately $215 million cost. With Better Red now 85% complete, it has delivered on its promise of investing in workforce development and transportation improvements that will contribute to the region’s carbon emissions goals.
Through 2023, more than 406,000 work-hours have been spent on construction activities, making A Better Red among Oregon’s largest civil construction project currently and TriMet’s most substantial light rail project since the MAX Orange Line opened in 2015. Over the course of more than two years, 400 tons of new rail have been installed along with 4,400 new concrete ties, all of which have been procured within the United States.
Since getting underway, the project has reshaped the MAX Red Line, with new bridges fortified over I-84 by 1.3 million pounds of structural steel and 63,000 square feet of retaining walls constructed. Riders are already enjoying new features, including the updated Portland International Airport MAX Station and the second track installed near it.
The multi-year project remains on schedule, with the extension to Hillsboro opening in late August 2024. For more information on the project, visit trimet.org/bettered.
Free rides are back from 8 p.m. Dec. 31 through 3 a.m. Jan. 1, and MAX hours will be extended
Planning to be out and about this New Year’s Eve? Ride for free with TriMet!
Hop on MAX and TriMet buses and ride for free Sunday, Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m., through Monday, Jan. 1, at 3 a.m. Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN, TriMet’s transit partners, are also lifting fares on New Year’s Eve.
Traffic fatalities in Portland reached a record high in 2023, and we know the risk of crashes is higher on holidays like New Year’s Eve. TriMet is proud to continue our long-running tradition of free rides on the last night of the year. Don’t drink and drive — count on TriMet to get you to and from your destination.
Check trimet.org for the latest route information and to plan your trip.
Ride on MAX
Staying up late to ring in the New Year? So is MAX! We’re extending service hours on MAX light rail into the early morning of Jan. 1, 2024.
The MAX Blue Line will operate about three hours later than usual for Sunday service, with the last westbound train leaving the Cleveland Ave MAX Station at 1:57 a.m. and the last eastbound train leaving the Hatfield Government Center MAX Station at 1:31 a.m.
The MAX Green Line will operate about two hours later than usual, with the last westbound train leaving the Clackamas Town Center Transit Center at 2:12 a.m. and the last eastbound train leaving the Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave MAX Station at 2:18 a.m.
The MAX Orange Line will also operate about two hours later than usual, with the last northbound train leaving the SE Park Ave MAX Station at 1:56 a.m. and the last southbound train leaving the Pioneer Place/SW 5th Ave MAX Station at 2:02 a.m.
The MAX Yellow Line will also operate about two hours later than usual, with the last northbound train leaving the Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave MAX Station at 2:27 a.m. and the last southbound train leaving the Expo Center MAX Station at 1:32 a.m.
The MAX Red Line will operate about an hour and a half later than usual, with the last westbound train leaving the Portland International Airport MAX Station at 1:56 a.m. and the last eastbound train leaving the Beaverton Transit Center at 12:20 a.m.
Remember, you can always check trimet.org to find train arrival times at each station, plan your trip and track your train.
Go by bus
TriMet buses will follow Sunday schedules on New Year’s Eve. Bus lines that do not typically run on Sunday will not be operating.
Be sure to check trimet.org for your bus line’s schedule. You can also plan your trip, complete with connections to MAX, Portland Streetcar and other bus lines, and track your bus as it approaches your stop.
Stay safe
Our Customer Safety Supervisors will be working throughout the system to keep riders and operators safe on New Year’s Eve.
With more people expected to be traveling on New Year’s Eve, we encourage everyone to:
Be alert and pay attention around buses and trains.
Put away your devices and look both ways whenever crossing the street or tracks.
Be respectful of operators and other riders.
Check your surroundings for personal items before getting on or off a TriMet vehicle.
Report any unwanted behavior or disruptive conduct.
We’ve made it easier to report security concerns 24 hours a day. For non-urgent matters, text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) or submit a report through the “security” button on trimet.org.
If you see something suspicious or dangerous while traveling, say something to a TriMet employee or call 911.
Plan ahead
For decades, TriMet has offered free rides to support safe, responsible celebrations on New Year’s Eve. Our goal is to help everyone get around the Portland metro area safely and start 2024 right.
Plan ahead by visiting trimet.org. You can find multiple options for how to get where you’re going, identify the way you want to go, and even print or save a link to your trip plan so you can refer back to it later. We’ll highlight each step along the way, so you can be sure you’ll know how to get there. And if you’re traveling after midnight, remember to set the date for Jan. 1, 2024!
Our web app also lets you track your train or bus in real time.
New Year’s Day service
New Year’s Day falls on a Monday. However, due to the holiday, MAX and bus lines will be operating on their Sunday schedules Monday, Jan. 1. Bus lines that do not run Sunday will not be operating. WES commuter rail also won’t be in service.
TriMet’s Customer Support Center at Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Lost & Found at the TriMet Operations Headquarters on SE 17th Avenue will be closed on New Year’s Day. Both will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 2.
