TriMet can take you to and from many of the season’s celebrations, and trimet.org makes it easy to plan before you go

All the good cheer of the most wonderful season of the year tends to disappear in holiday traffic. But before your heart shrinks three sizes too small and your skin sprouts green shag, remember there’s an easier way around congestion with TriMet. In the spirit of the season, the biggest and most useful gift we can give riders is a convenient trip where we’re in the driver’s seat and finding parking isn’t an issue.

It wouldn’t be the holidays without crowds, which may lead to delays no matter how you decide to travel. Being patient will be important, especially when traveling to busy shopping destinations or during popular events. You can easily plan and track your trip at trimet.org. Just check trimet.org/alerts before you go.

Pioneer Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

This year’s holiday festivities start with the flip of a switch, as the City of Roses will once again turn into the City of Lights. Portland’s Tree Lighting returns to Pioneer Courthouse Square the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 24. The annual event will take place between 5:30-6:30 p.m. and feature a sing-a-long led by Thomas Lauderdale from Pink Martini, local musicians and chorale singers.

With as many as 15,000 on hand for the festivities, MAX platforms at and across from the square will be closed for safety from 3 p.m. until about 7 p.m., or when the crowds disperse. They include:

• Pioneer Square North
• Pioneer Square South
• Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave Station

To reach the square, get off one stop before or after.

All MAX lines may experience minor delays due to the large crowd. Buses will detour off of SW 6^th Ave. until about 7 p.m.

We will have extra personnel out during the tree lighting providing security and helping people get around. They will include bus and rail supervisors who serve multiple roles, including operator support, encouraging safe behavior and assisting riders with questions. Let them or other TriMet personnel know if you need help or if you have an issue to report.

If you see something out of the ordinary, you can text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE), or submit a report online, to report a non-urgent concern directly to TriMet Security 24 hours a day. For an urgent concern, alert the operator or text or call 911 in an emergency.

Bus detours around Clackamas Town Center

The Clackamas Town Center’s parking lot can become busy during heavy holiday shopping. With the Clackamas Town Center Transit Center nearby and buses serving the parking lot directly, TriMet will detour buses around the Clackamas Town Center on the three busiest shopping days of the year.

The bus detours will be in effect between 1-6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, Saturday, Dec. 23, and Sunday, Dec. 24. The Clackamas Town Center Transit Center itself will remain open, and the bus detours will not affect MAX Green Line service.

The stops that will be temporarily closed (ID 13247 and ID 13248) are located off of Ring Road, which loops around the parking lot. The stop for eastbound Clackamas Town Center buses (ID 12921) will be moved to a temporary location between the entrance of the Cinema and Monterey Avenue.  From the temporary stop, buses will travel to the SE Fuller Rd MAX Station, where riders can transfer to the MAX Green Line.

At the Fuller Rd MAX Station, riders can board a Green Line train to continue to the Clackamas Town Center mall stop (ID 13132). Westbound buses will serve a temporary stop at the SE Fuller Rd MAX Station before continuing to the Clackamas Town Center Mall stop (ID 12922). We will have signs posted and customer service representatives out to help people make their connections if needed. Riders can also get off at the Clackamas Town Center Mall stop (ID 12922) and proceed about ½ mile to Clackamas Town Center Transit Center to board MAX.

Take TriMet to holiday events!

A new tradition is starting this year, with the City of Portland’s introduction of an ice rink and holiday marketplace, Woodsy Winter Village, near the west end of the Morrison Bridge. The marketplace and ice rink will be located on Southwest Naito Parkway between Harvey Milk and Morrison streets. They’ll be open from Dec. 16 through Jan. 28, with the ice rink operating from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through December except for Christmas Day. Stations for MAX Blue and Red line trains are located within a few hundred feet, as are stops for bus lines 15-Belmont/NW 23rd and 16-Front Ave/St Helens Rd. The Portland Transit Mall, with bus and rail service serving multiple lines, is also located less than half a mile away.

The always popular Zoo Lights at the Oregon Zoo has also returned through Jan 7, 2024. With the Washington Park MAX station, served by the MAX Blue and Red lines, located near the entrance of the Oregon Zoo, Zoo Lights remains an ideal destination for those looking to leave their car at home.

In Washington County, the annual Tree Lighting at Orenco Station will happen on Nov. 25 from 4-6 p.m, with the lighting itself happening at 5:30 p.m. The MAX Blue Line serves Orenco Station, as do bus lines 47-Main/Evergreen and 48-Cornell. 

The Spirit of Gresham Holiday Tree Lighting is set to dazzle and delight on Dec. 2 at the Arts Center, 488 NE Third Ave. The event starts at 5 p.m., with the tree lighting scheduled to happen at 6 p.m. The Arts Center is about a five minute walk from the Gresham Central Transit Center, which is served by MAX Blue Line as well as bus lines, 2, 9, 20, 21, 80, 81, 82 and 84.

There are many other events, marketplaces, festivals and concerts happening throughout the season, and we don’t want you to miss out. Check events calendars to see what’s happening near you and then go to trimet.org to see the best way of getting there.

Stay alert and use caution

There are bound to be a lot of distractions during the holidays. Don’t get so caught up that you aren’t being safe, especially at MAX and road crossings. Look both ways and make sure an umbrella, hood or other clothing doesn’t block your view. And if you can, bring a light or reflective clothing to help our operators and other drivers see you better. It’s going to be dark and busy, so stay alert, safe and seen.

While riding, if you see something that doesn’t seem right, let us know. Text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) to report non-urgent security concerns 24 hours a day. For emergencies, alert the operator or contact 911. Learn about other efforts to make your ride safe at trimet.org/security.

Forward Together improvements starting Sunday, Dec. 3: Frequent Service upgrade for Line 48-Cornell, route change for Line 62-Murray Blvd, more weekend service on Line 70-12th/NE 33rd Ave, plus changes at Sunset Transit Center and schedule improvements to help keep buses on time

***UPDATE (June 2025): Hiring bonuses for new operators have now closed.***

Better bus service is coming to Washington County! Starting Sunday, Dec. 3, we’re upgrading Line 48-Cornell to Frequent Service, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or better for most of the day, every day. The Line 48 upgrade is part of our latest Forward Together service improvements. 

As part of these updates, we’re also moving part of the Line 62-Murray Blvd route, adding weekend service on Line 70-12th/NE 33, reorganizing bus stops at Sunset Transit Center and updating schedules to keep buses on time. Visit trimet.org and plan a trip for Dec. 3 or later to see how your ride might change!

More Frequent Service for Washington County

With the upgrade, Line 48 will become the 18th bus line in our Frequent Service network, with buses that are ready when you are! In addition to providing more buses at more times, we’re also speeding up Line 48 by moving the route to Barnes Road. We’ll replace Line 48 service to Cedar Hills by moving Line 62-Murray Blvd. to Cornell Road.

Line 48 provides daily bus service between Hillsboro Transit Center and Sunset Transit Center in Beaverton. Along the way, it offers connections to MAX and additional bus lines, some of which also offer Frequent Service. Line 48 provides more than 7,000 weekly trips according to data collected in spring 2023, with access to major regional health care and event centers, as well as the Hillsboro Airport.

More weekend bus service on Line 70

Line 70-NE 12th/33rd Avenue is also getting an improvement! We’re increasing weekend bus service between Milwaukie and Northeast Portland.

Schedule adjustments to keep buses on time

We’re adjusting schedules between four and seven minutes to help keep buses on time. The following bus lines will see notable changes starting Dec. 3:

• Line 20-Burnside/Stark

• Line 39-Arnold Creek/Hillside

• Line 51-Vista

• Line 74-162nd Ave

• Line 87-Airport Way/181st

Some bus lines will see smaller adjustments, but every minute counts when you’re riding transit. That’s why we encourage all riders to plan ahead and double-check the schedules before heading out on Dec. 3 or later.

Making way for more buses at Sunset Transit Center

Our planned service improvements will bring more buses through Sunset Transit Center in Beaverton, so we are reorganizing stops to help reduce confusion and keep everyone moving. Riders on lines 20, 48 and 59-Walker/Park Way will use new stops at Sunset Transit Center. Our partners with the POINT, Forest Heights Shuttle and PCC Shuttle are also moving bus stops at Sunset Transit Center, starting on Dec. 3.

Forward Together

Forward Together is our roadmap for increasing service by more than 30% in the coming years. The comprehensive service concept, which was developed in close partnership with the community, focuses on increasing ridership and improving connections to destinations for people with low and limited incomes. 

We began adopting Forward Together service proposals in May, as we added back service hours that were reduced in 2020 when COVID-19 put the brakes on the largest bus service expansion in our history. This past August, we rolled out the largest package of Forward Together service improvements to date, and we’re building on that progress in December. 

We continue our work to overcome a historic operator staffing shortage, as plans for service expansion are closely coordinated with current and projected staffing levels. We’re hiring! Visit trimet.org/careers to see a complete list of opportunities. All new bus operators are eligible for a $7,500 hiring bonus.

Benefit grants active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and reserves greater access to jobs, educational opportunities, health care and services, at a fraction of the cost

TriMet is expanding our Honored Citizen fare program to honor active and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces in a lasting salute to their courage and sacrifice. We’re rolling out this new, reduced-fare military benefit on the day before Veterans Day is observed, but it extends well beyond a single day of recognition. Granting Honored Citizen fare to members of the military who have valiantly served this country is year-round recognition of their heroism and sacrifice.

With Honored Citizen fare, those who currently serve or have been honorably discharged from the military can ride TriMet buses and trains for half price. Frequent riders save even more. TriMet’s Hop Fastpass® system guarantees that riders with Honored Citizen fare pay no more than $28 per month for unlimited rides on TriMet. That’s a 72% savings off the cost of an Adult month pass, which is $100.

With this announcement, TriMet became the first large transit agency in the country to offer a reduced fare for both veterans and active duty military. 

“As a veteran of the U.S. Army and a proud American, this is personal to me,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “With this program expansion, TriMet will give active duty military and veterans recognition and respect, and we will improve their opportunities to access health care, educational services and jobs by providing rides at a reduced cost. I can think of no greater way for TriMet to honor the people who have valiantly served this country.”

TriMet’s Board of Directors adopted an ordinance at their October meeting that expands the Honored Citizen Program to include veterans and current members of the military. Their action came just six months after Vietnam-era Air Force veteran Dale Thaler first went before the Board to propose the change during the public hearing portion of its April meeting. He gave passionate testimony before the board again, when they began considering the ordinance in September. 

“For me, Honored Citizen status isn’t about the cost to ride. I don’t expect a free ride, and I’m not asking for one,” said Thaler. “It’s about giving the recognition, the respect and the gratitude to those who are willing to make sacrifices to allow every American the opportunities and unparalleled freedoms that we enjoy.”

How to sign up and start saving

TriMet’s Honored Citizen reduced fare program is open to riders based on age, disability, income level or military status. All participants must provide proof of eligibility to receive their personalized Honored Citizen fare card. Veterans, reservists and active duty military members must complete an application and provide any of the following information to the TriMet Customer Support Center in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

• CAC card for active duty military
• Uniformed Services ID card or driver’s license with veteran classification
• Copy of DD214 Certificate of Release/Discharged from Active Duty and photo ID

Members of the military will receive their initial Honored Citizen fare card free of charge. Cards will be valid for five years. Once loaded with value, the card must be tapped to a Hop reader with every ride to activate cost savings.

Committed to equity

As a public transportation agency, TriMet serves a broad and diverse community, and we are committed to equity and inclusion. Our values are rooted in ensuring all riders have fair and equal access to transit services. All are welcome on our transit system. Learn more at trimet.org/equity.

Activities to take place at Washington Park MAX Station, will help better prepare the region for potential emergency events

TriMet and public safety partners will be conducting a full-scale emergency response exercise on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. Activities will involve at least 225 people from more than 20 agencies and emergency management partners. The drill will better prepare our region, first responders and TriMet personnel for the potential of threats against the transit system. The exercise will take place at our Washington Park MAX Station—both at the station’s surface-level plaza and some 260 feet below on the platforms in the Robertson Tunnel. This will require disrupting MAX Blue and Red lines for the day. 

Scenarios to test and increase regional preparedness

The regional, full-scale exercise will involve fire, medical and police personnel, as well as TriMet staff. It will include two simulated events: an active attacker and a hazardous materials incident. 

The drill is funded through a Transit Security Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those grants are awarded to agencies “to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from terrorism and to increase transportation infrastructure resilience.”

“There is no known threat to TriMet’s system, but it is vital that we as a public transit provider and our regional first responders remain vigilant and prepared for a coordinated response in the event that ever changes,” TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson said. “We appreciate our riders for their understanding about the disruption to our service for the day, as this exercise is an important part of our comprehensive safety and security efforts and preparedness.”

Washington Park Station closed, MAX Blue and Red lines disrupted

The Washington Park MAX Station will be closed and off limits to the public on Sunday, Nov. 5, and MAX Blue and Red lines will be disrupted for the entire service day. This will allow crews to prepare for and conduct the exercise, then clear personnel and equipment and prepare for the return of regular MAX service on Monday, Nov. 6. Shuttle buses will provide service between Sunset Transit Center and Providence Park stations. MAX Red Line trains will run only between Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport. Trains and shuttle buses will run on regular Sunday frequency—every 15 minutes. 

If riding MAX Blue or Red lines on Sunday, plan an extra 15 to 30 minutes for trips through the disrupted area. Consider using bus lines 20-Burnside/Stark and 58-Canyon Rd to avoid the disruption. If heading to PDX, use Blue or Green Line trains to reach Gateway Transit Center and transfer to Red Line trains. Plan and track rides at trimet.org.  

Tunnel exercise required by FTA

The Federal Transit Administration requires transit agencies to conduct emergency exercises related to critical tunnel infrastructure such as TriMet’s Robertson Tunnel through the West Hills. The tunnel consists of twin, three-mile tunnels spanning between Multnomah and Washington counties. Elevators take people some 260 feet between the surface level at Washington Park and the platforms below, making it the deepest transit station in North America and the fifth deepest in the world. MAX operations through the tunnel began in September 1998, when the MAX Blue Line extension between Downtown Portland and Hillsboro opened. 

Emergency response exercise participants

This is TriMet’s first full-scale drill in the Robertson Tunnel since 2014. In addition to TriMet staff, personnel from the following agencies are involved: American Medical Response (AMR), Dikason Medical Services, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Gresham Fire Department, Gresham Police Department, Kaiser Permanente, Multnomah County Emergency Medical Services, Multnomah County Health Department, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, NW Oregon Health Preparedness Organization, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Oregon Health Authority (OHA), OHA Health Security Preparedness and Response, Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU), Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC), Portland Fire & Rescue, Portland Police Bureau, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA), Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Department of Health, SenseMakers LLC.

Construction activities to make way for hollywoodHUB, a community-centered, mixed-use, transit-oriented development with affordable housing, neighborhood-gathering space and modernized transit facilities

Big changes are coming to TriMet’s Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center in Northeast Portland. Construction has begun on a series of projects that will transform the transit center into affordable homes, bustling retail and community-gathering spaces – all just feet from TriMet buses and trains.

Turning underused land into homes, community space

In the coming years, what had been nearly 35,000 square feet of underutilized land will become the site of hollywoodHUB, a mixed-use building and community space, with some 224 permanently affordable apartments. The former dead-end portion of Northeast 42nd Avenue will become a new public walkway, featuring a redesigned connection to the Hollywood MAX station.

For TriMet, the project represents an opportunity to fully realize the potential of an underutilized site. The Hollywood Transit Center opened in 1986 as part of the original 15-mile MAX line between Gresham and Downtown Portland. Changes over the past 37 years, including the city’s need for more affordable housing, spurred a closer look at the site as a new home for transit-oriented development and modernized transit facilities.

Temporary tribute mural being removed

To make way for the hollywoodHUB, TriMet’s must first demolish the existing ramp and stairs. A temporary, accessible structure will be installed to maintain access to and from the MAX station before TriMet creates a new, permanent ramp later in the construction. This does mean removing the tribute mural that has graced the walls of the ramp structure since 2018.

The “We Choose Love” mural, designed by artist Sa’rah Farahat, was commissioned as a temporary tribute following the devastating attack on a MAX train pulling into the Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017. Ricky Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche were killed and Micah Fletcher was seriously hurt after coming to the defense of two teenagers targeted by an individual spewing hate.

A spontaneous outpouring of emotion, support and community filled the walls of the ramp structure in the weeks after. People shared expressions of grief and gratitude in colorful chalk. That was inspiration for the design of Farahat’s temporary mural that weaved together color, text and images across nearly 2,000 feet of wall space at the Hollywood Transit Center.

“I remain committed to the words that were written, spoken and made into action by citizens of Portland who demand safety and love for all,” artist Sar’ah Farahat said. “To you who visited We Choose Love as a way to mourn and spread care, may the words sprout like seeds in your heart. Now is your time to bloom.”

While the memorial was intended to be temporary, it will be reflected in the design of the final development. The vivid colors and calls for peace will be incorporated into the permanent ramp and walkway area as a long-lasting remembrance of that tragic day and the outpouring of love and community.

Bringing permanently affordable homes to the heart of Hollywood

The entire hollywoodHUB development project is a partnership between TriMet, developer BRIDGE Housing, and resident services provider Impact NW*.
Service provider has been updated.

Funding for the affordable housing element comes from many sources, reflecting the building’s size and its large number of units. Most notably, Portland Housing Bureau and Metro pooled resources to provide $31.95 million of affordable housing bond funding, sourced from the Portland Housing Bureau’s 2016 and Metro’s 2018 bond programs. With the combined resources of both bond programs supporting it, hollywoodHUB has received the largest funding award ever issued for an affordable housing project in Portland, an indication of the scale and impact of this project and the urgent need for affordable housing across the region.

On Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, TriMet and partners took part in an official groundbreaking to begin TriMet’s ramp demolition and construction work. That will be followed, in the summer of 2024, by the first phases of constructing the hollywoodHUB development.

“This project extends beyond mere transit infrastructure. It encompasses TriMet’s commitment to making our region one of the world’s most inclusive, sustainable and livable places,” TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. said. “We’re revitalizing this transit center into homes and community space seamlessly linked to TriMet’s bus and MAX service and other shared mobility options.”

“BRIDGE Housing congratulates our partners at TriMet on reaching this important milestone for the hollywoodHub, laying the foundation for an inclusive, equitable, transit-oriented community in alignment with our commitment to fostering vibrant and accessible neighborhoods,” President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing Ken Lombard said. “Today’s celebration reflects the power of our collective will to meaningfully address the housing crisis. While much work lies ahead, we’re proud to partner with this stellar team to help meet the needs of working families in the City of Portland.”

“We believe transit and housing are key elements to maintaining a healthy society,” Metro Councilor Mary Nolan said. “This project is an example of all of us working together to take care of one another. Providing families with a stable place to live, grow and thrive is essential in building stronger communities.”

“We are thrilled to be working closely with TriMet on this development,” Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio said. “In just a few short years, hundreds of low-income Portlanders will call the hollywoodHUB home and will be able to take advantage of fantastic transit access to get to work, school and play. Thank you to the voters of Portland for supporting the Housing Bond measures that made this project possible.”

The hollywoodHUB will bring 224 new units of affordable housing within steps of TriMet’s buses and trains. Overall, 151 of the homes will be at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), while 71 units will be at or below 30% AMI, including 55 homes with rental assistance vouchers ensuring residents only pay 30% of their income on rent and utilities. Impact NW will serve as the resident services provider, ensuring inclusive supportive services to building residents.

According to data from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the region is about 90,000 housing units short of meeting the needs of people living at or below poverty. In 2018, voters approved Metro’s $652.7 million bond program, which earmarks money for permanent affordable housing projects across Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.

Housing solutions through transit-oriented development

Once completed in 2026, the project will serve as another example of transit-oriented development in action. Such projects maximize density while creating walkable neighborhoods near transit, relieving congestion, increasing the supply of affordable housing and community resources. TriMet is not a developer, but we work with local partners or third parties to create better purposes for our underutilized properties, such as the Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center. Other recent examples include the new East County Library, under construction on the old site of TriMet’s Gresham City Hall Park & Ride, and the Fuller Station Apartments. Completed and opened for residents at the end of 2021, the Fuller Station development features 100 apartments for families and individuals who earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income.

For more information about TriMet’s Transit-Oriented Development program, visit trimet.org/tod.

Inclusive collaboration in Hollywood Transit Center transformation

TriMet and BRIDGE Housing share ambitious goals for disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), minority-owned, women-owned, service disabled veterans business enterprises and emerging small businesses (ESB) participation in project design and construction. TriMet’s prime contractor for the Hollywood Transit Center Project is Raimore Construction, a federal and Oregon certified MBE & ESB, with minorities comprising more than 80% of its staff, including all supervisory and management personnel. BRIDGE Housing has brought on O’Neill-Walsh Community Builders to construct the hollywoodHUB. The general contractor is 49% minority owned.

TriMet’s expanded agreement with the DA’s office holds criminals accountable while improving overall community safety

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels plays an important role in increasing safety for TriMet riders and employees. He’s one of two deputy DA’s now working to hold people accountable for crimes committed against TriMet riders, employees or property. As a regular TriMet rider, Deputy DA Samuels understands the value TriMet’s transit service provides in connecting people with jobs and services throughout our tri-county region—and he understands the need for it to be safe. Prosecuting criminals for acts they commit on TriMet’s transit system increases safety for everyone in the communities we serve.

Longstanding partnership expands

TriMet has a long-standing intergovernmental agreement with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office that dates back to February 1998. Since then, we have contracted with the DA’s office for the services of a single deputy district attorney to work with us to hold people responsible for crimes on our system. In August of this year, TriMet expanded that agreement with the DA’s office. In doing so, we now have a second deputy DA, Megan Irinaga, working on misdemeanor and minor felony cases for TriMet while Samuels, who has worked with TriMet since November 2022, focuses on major and minor felonies.

Dedicated prosecution unit includes deputy DAs and investigators

TriMet’s expanded agreement with the Multnomah County DA’s office also now provides for up to two investigators to assist the deputy DAs in compiling information on TriMet-related cases. This essentially creates a unit of district attorney personnel assigned to TriMet that will have a strong understanding of TriMet’s mission to provide transit service that is safe, convenient, reliable, accessible and welcoming to all. By being dedicated to TriMet cases, the deputy DAs and investigators develop a knowledge of TriMet Code, our rules for riding, as well as laws specific to transit. They work closely with our Transit Police Division, led by Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office command staff, and TriMet security staff.

 “TriMet is dedicated to the safety of our riders and employees, and our partnership with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office enhances our daily security efforts,” TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson said. “TriMet’s security staff and our Transit Police Division partners work together with the DA personnel assigned to TriMet to keep criminals off our transit system.”

“The new prosecutorial resources will help streamline and speed up investigations,” Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said, “while simultaneously freeing up Transit Police officers to focus more time in the community and helping to prevent future crimes.”

“TriMet safety is critical to our community, and my office’s partnership with TriMet supports our united goal of public safety—on our city’s transit system and in the wider community,” Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said. “These new resources, combined with our longstanding partnership, will help us prioritize the safety of our public transit system and all those who work to keep us moving.”

TriMet’s current agreement with Multnomah County is effective through June 30, 2025 at a cost of $2,080,119.

Expanding our agreement with the Multnomah County DA’s office is just one of the ways TriMet is working to increase safety and security. Learn more at trimet.org/security.  

While there will be no impact to transit riders, cyclists and others should plan for minor detours October 9–27

TriMet’s singularly iconic bridge and jewel of the Willamette River will soon undergo its first intensive examination of its cable system this month, a critical component in supporting the “cable-stayed” bridge. To accommodate the work, Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, will have intermittent closures of the north and south multi-use paths from Oct. 9 through Oct. 27.

The bike and pedestrian paths on both sides of the bridge will undergo alternating closures, always with one side open. For the safety of pedestrians and cyclists alike, bikes and e-scooters should not be ridden against the flow of traffic. Instead, they will be detoured to the nearby Hawthorne Bridge. Cyclists can also choose to walk their bikes across the bridge. Pedestrians will be able to cross using the open path. There will also be signs posted notifying people of the closed paths. There will be no impact to bus, MAX or Portland Streetcar service over the bridge.

The three-week project allows for the first in-depth inspection of Tilikum Crossing’s cable system. Inspectors will be looking for defects that go above and beyond simple wear and tear. To perform the work, they will need to use boom lifts and mobile elevated work platforms to get under, to the side of and above the bridge deck.

As the inspection may lead to minor adjustments for those on foot, bike or scooter, TriMet reminds them to continue using the marked crosswalks. They are located near the South Waterfront/SW Moody MAX Station on the west end or the OMSI/SE Water MAX Station on the east end of the bridge. We appreciate people’s patience as we perform this important work.

Maintaining the Bridge of the People

With cables radiating out of two towers and connecting at the deck, they function as supports for the bridge’s substructure, which spans 1,700 feet. The towers resist the tension in the cables and transfer the loads to the foundation. But this means that the cables and other bridge components, like the cable anchors, should be inspected over time to make sure they’re working properly.

October’s inspection will be the first to look solely at the cable system. After this, inspections of the cable system will take place every four years. They come in addition to the general inspections we conduct every two years in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration, the most recent of which happened in June.

The manufacturer, French engineering firm Freyssinet, will be performing the inspection with the assistance of TriMet’s Maintenance of Way team. This initial inspection is notable, as the Tilikum Crossing is the first bridge in the U.S. to use Freyssinet’s multi-tube saddle design for the cable system—making Tilikum Crossing unique to the U.S. not simply for being car free but also for its engineering. The special design allows each cable to run continuously from the deck, through the top of the tower and back down to the other side.

Inspections increase longevity

Inspections like this help us keep Tilikum Crossing safe. Opening in 2015 as part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit project, the bridge was constructed to last at least 100 years with regular upkeep. That’s why general safety inspections are required on Tilikum Crossing and the adjacent Harbor Way structure every two years. Since the bridge opened in 2015, these inspections have taken place in June 2023, 2021, 2019 and 2017. Learn more about Tilikum Crossing.

A community event at the SE Park Ave MAX Station will give the public a first look at a new train

TriMet’s sleek, blue and brand new MAX trains are ready for their sneak-peek introduction to the public!

We are bringing one of our newest-generation MAX trains—what we call the “Type 6”—to the SE Park Ave MAX Station in Milwaukie on Sunday, Oct. 15. Between noon and 2 p.m., the train will be open for the general public to view and explore. This will be the first look at one of these trains, which we expect to roll out for regular MAX service by the end of the year.  

Come and join the fun! The celebration will feature food and drinks, tours, commemorative T-shirts and posters (while supplies last) and plenty of opportunities for photos and videos. We’ll also have representatives of TriMet’s Type 6 vehicle engineering team on site to answer questions about all the modern equipment that makes these trains our most technologically advanced yet!  

Since this spring, TriMet has been welcoming new Type 6 train cars into our Ruby Junction Rail Operations Facility in Gresham. They undergo extensive testing in the railyard before advancing to a break-in period on the main MAX system. The trains are required to travel thousands of miles before they can start carrying passengers. It’s a thorough process that often takes place in the few early morning hours when MAX is not in service, which ensures the trains are safe and reliable when they start to welcome riders.

‘Type 6’ technological advances

Initially, we plan on bringing on 26 new trains to replace our aging first-generation “Type 1” trains, which have been serving riders since our first MAX line opened in 1986! Four additional trains are also being purchased for A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Project, for a total of 30 new MAX trains added to our rail service.

The “Type 6” trains feature several new features to improve the riding experience and the trains’ performance. Some of the features riders will notice include:

• Operator cabs at both ends of the train car and room on board for 168 riders.
• New digital signs inside that will change to show the next MAX stop on the line.
• New LED lights indicating available doors for boarding and getting off trains. The lights will show green when a door is available, red when not available and flash yellow when the doors are in motion.
• Improved temperature controls to keep trains warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

‘Ta-ta, Type 1s!’

With the introduction  of TriMet’s newest MAX trains just a couple of months away, we will soon be saying goodbye to our first-generation trains, the “Type 1s.”  Introduced with the East Side MAX Project that created the MAX Blue Line, those 26 original trains have proven to be extremely durable over the years, thanks in large part to the work of TriMet’s maintenance team. Some will have traveled 2 million miles by the time they’re retired. That’s 80 times around the earth!

We will be preserving at least one of the trains for the Electric Railway Museum in Brooks, Ore. Most of the others will likely be recycled locally. We’re reusing whatever we can from the Type 1s, including their fluids, which we’ll be removing and using in train cars elsewhere in our fleet.

The first of our still-operational Type 1s will be retired later this month. The others will be taken out of service as we continue receiving and introducing into service our latest Type 6 trains. 

Go by transit!

Interested in checking out the first new MAX train in nearly a decade? TriMet has you covered. Head to our SE Park Ave MAX Station on Sunday, Oct. 15 between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. It’s conveniently located at the end of the MAX Orange Line, just south of Milwaukie.

Taking place near Downtown Milwaukie, the event will also be an opportunity to spend a crisp autumn day among the foliage, within a short distance of the Milwaukie Farmers’ Market. Bus lines 32 and 33 also serve stops within walking distance of the SE Park Ave MAX Station and Downtown Milwaukie. To plan a trip before you head out, go to trimet.org/planner. The SE Park Ave Park & Ride also has 401 parking spaces available.

Eight in-person and online events from Oct. 10-25 give riders an opportunity to review proposals, talk one-on-one with TriMet’s service planning team   

TriMet is laser-focused on rolling out our Forward Together Service Concept. It’s our roadmap to expand bus service by more than 30% as we redesign our bus network to bring more service to more people. We’ve put together a bundle of improvements and adjustments that we’d like to start putting in place as soon as August of 2024. But we need the community’s help to make sure the plan we put together will best serve the transportation needs of our region. Does it fulfill our goals to increase our ridership and improve connections for people with low and limited incomes who rely on transit to get to work, school and important appointments every day?

The changes we’re proposing in 2024-25 include two new Frequent Service bus lines, with buses arriving every 15 minutes for most of the day, every day. We’re also looking to improve service on nine additional lines, where buses will arrive more often, for more hours of the day, every day. We’re considering combining some lines to streamline service and adjusting routes and schedules to keep buses on time. The plan calls for two new bus lines and several route extensions. It also suggests discontinuing some low-ridership bus lines. Visit trimet.org/plan for details, maps and to provide feedback online.

Attend an open house!

In Person

• Tuesday, Oct. 10, 12-2 p.m., University of Oregon, Rooms 142/144, 70 NW Couch Street, Portland
• Tuesday, Oct. 17, 5-7 p.m., Rosewood Initiative, 14127 SE Stark Street, Portland
• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 5-7 p.m., Living Word Seventh-Day, 503 9th Street, Oregon City
• Thursday, Oct. 19, 5-7 p.m., Fairview City Hall, 1300 NE Village Street, Fairview
• Tuesday, Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m., Muslim Educational Trust, 10330 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard

Information will be available in multiple languages, and some open houses will have representatives on-site who speak languages other than English.

Virtual

• Wednesday, Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 21, 12- 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct 25, 5-7 p.m.

Visit trimet.org/plan for Zoom links and additional information to participate in virtual events. Please contact TriMet Customer Service at 503-238-RIDE (7433) for interpretation.

What’s next?

TriMet will collect comments and suggestions about the proposals through Oct. 31, 2023. We will review what we hear from the community and make adjustments based on your feedback before taking the revised proposals back to the public for another round of outreach early next year. Our Board of Directors will vote on the 2024-2025 service plan next spring. Riders could see the first changes in August of 2024. Meanwhile, we are continuing to adopt plans from our first major rollout of Forward Together improvements, which began in August of this year and will continue through early 2024.