Despite a few rainy days early on, construction near the Gateway Transit Center is ahead of schedule, with regular MAX service returning Sunday, May 7

Construction of TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project near the Gateway Transit Center has passed the halfway mark ahead of schedule. We are on track to reopen the temporarily closed section of the MAX system between the Gateway Transit Center and NE 7^th Ave on Sunday, May 7, which will return MAX Blue, Green and Red lines back to regular service. The section between Gateway and NE 7^th Ave has been closed since April 16 for construction.

The unseasonably rainy conditions that kicked off construction had only one minor impact: they made the ground muddy. But with that inconvenience aside, and with sunny days since then, the 69-person crew, coming from nearly a dozen contractors, has worked to replace rail, weld new track components together and connect electrical systems.

Look for Ride Guides

Have questions getting around the disruption? Stay on the lookout for TriMet personnel. They’ve been stationed at the Gateway Transit Center and NE 7^th Ave to direct riders to shuttle buses and answer questions.

During planned construction projects such as this, we deploy volunteers from across the agency to help customers. These are our Ride Guides, and they play a special customer experience role in every planned disruption, working to ensure our riders receive immediate, personal attention. That person assisting you may be a director or executive director of one of our departments, an analyst, a transportation supervisor, a community engagement specialist or even the general manager!

Ride Guides wear blue vests with “Ride Guide” printed on the back. Coming from different departments from within TriMet, they volunteer their time during the work day or days off to make sure our customers feel comfortable navigating the system when changes occur. They complement TriMet’s dedicated customer service and safety teams, who operate in and around our system every day. While they all serve different functions, they’re there to help. If you have questions, please reach out.

TriMet also encourages riders to use our Trip Planner at trimet.org. You can also reach TriMet’s Customer Service team by calling or texting 503-238-RIDE (7433) daily between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Or you can drop us a direct message on Twitter by tweeting @trimethelp.

A Better Red

We greatly appreciate our riders’ patience and understanding as we put the finishing touches on this three-week disruption. We prefer not to close sections of the system, but at times it’s necessary, allowing crews to do work that they otherwise couldn’t if trains were running. Such is the case with aspects of A Better Red, our major MAX improvements project that will, among other upgrades, extend the MAX Red Line west 10 stations and add a second track near the Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport.

We’re more than halfway done with the project, our most ambitious undertaking to occur in and around an operational rail line—an undertaking that will span three years by the time it’s completed in fall 2024. Over the past 18 months, we’ve been able to do most of the work without the need to disrupt service.

Construction milestones include:

• Building two new rail bridges spanning I-84, the I-205 multi-use path and existing MAX and Union Pacific Railroad tracks North of the Gateway Transit Center
• Removing and replacing sections of track
• Preparing areas for future construction, including the creation of Gateway North, a new MAX platform about 500 feet from the Gateway Transit Center that will serve trains coming from PDX
• Repositioning roadway along Air Cargo Road
• Building new facilities at Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport

With work taking place near Portland International Airport, the Gateway Transit Center and in Washington County, A Better Red spans the MAX Red Line end-to-end. Its impacts, however, will be felt across the entire MAX system. For more information, go to trimet.org/betterred.

The buses running along Division Street will use the same signals timing as other vehicles during May’s weeklong data-gathering exercise

For a week in May, TriMet’s FX2-Division buses will lose their ability to jump ahead of traffic and get more green lights at intersections along Division Street. From Sunday, May 14, through Saturday, May 20, TriMet’s next-generation transit signal priority (TSP) system will be switched off, part of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) testing requirement.

Next-generation transit signal priority is one reason why TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — buses can sail down Division Street with faster, more efficient trips than ever before. This technology, using signals that buses transmit to either shorten red lights or lengthen green lights based on real-time information, is the first of its kind on the West Coast. Initial data collected over the first six months following FX’s launch have shown time savings of about six minutes along the portion of the route between SE 12^th & Division Street and Gresham Central Transit Center. We will be able to collect more data during the week the transit signal priority system is off.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will perform its own testing after transit signal priority returns on May 21. Together, these tests will help improve the system, providing TriMet, our partners and vendors with information that can be used to strengthen TSP—both along Division as well as for future expansions of FX service.

While the majority of the TSP system will be turned off, there will be three intersections along Southeast Division Street where it will stay on due to the location of nearside stops. These include Southeast 117th Avenue, Southeast 148th Avenue and Southeast 162nd Avenue. Bus operators will be instructed where and where not to use the signals and business access/transit lanes.

Priority FX2-Division

During the temporary shutdown of TSP, we expect that FX2-Division buses will see fewer green lights as they arrive at signals, but this should not lead to major delays—especially for riders taking short trips. However, the longer the trip, the more likely a delay of up to ten minutes may be felt. We encourage FX2-Division riders to plan some extra time for their trips the week of May 14-20. They can track the real-time location of their bus at trimet.org.

While people may have experienced the benefits of transit signal priority in the past, the newest version is different. It uses cellular technology to collect information about the location and speed of buses. This allows the traffic signals to adapt their timing to give buses an edge when approaching intersections.

In the first six months, this has led to:

• A 70% reduction in signal delay, resulting in up to six-minute time improvements each way.
• A 30% increase in green light success rate.
• The ability to jump ahead of traffic at specific intersections thanks to what’s known as ‘queue jumping’—giving buses at stations or in bus lanes the green light first ahead of all other vehicles.

The system has proven itself to be more flexible than previous versions of TSP, as it requires less hardware. Traditional forms of TSP require the installation of infrared emitters that only work when there’s line-of-sight with a traffic signal. The next-generation version does not require an emitter and can work with any bus—whether a 60-foot “bendy bus” or a traditional 40-foot bus—as long as it’s been designated to run on the FX2-Division route.

Keeping you moving

In two words, faster and smarter. That sums up the benefits of next-generation transit signal priority. Through machine learning, it can adapt over time to make your trips faster, something that previous systems couldn’t do.

This is just one of the features that make riding FX2-Division a better option for trips along Division Street. In addition to using bigger buses, with room for 60% more riders, FX  buses also arrive every 12 minutes, so you’re never waiting around. We worked with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), the City of Gresham, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and LYT, a company specializing in next-generation signal priority technology, to install this new technology at 58 of Division Street’s signalized intersections.

For more information about FX2-Division, visit trimet.org/fx.

A look at five ways TriMet is taking climate action

TriMet’s middle name might as well be “climate-friendly.” Being green is part of our culture, but with the effects of climate change being felt every year, we know we can do more in reducing our pollution while providing a low-carbon travel option for people all across our corner of Oregon.

In the long term, we’ve set the goal of cutting our emissions to net zero by 2050. In the Portland metro area, the entire transportation sector is the largest contributor to the region’s carbon emissions. Every time someone gets on a bus or taps their Hop card before boarding a MAX or WES train, a potential single-occupancy car trip is avoided, congestion on our roads lessens, and our air quality improves. For more than fifty years, TriMet’s service has allowed Portlanders to seek alternatives to driving, or even owning a vehicle in the first place.

We want to encourage more people to use TriMet in navigating our region. The key to this is providing better service to more of the places people need to go. Here are five ways we’re reducing the carbon footprint for the Portland region.

Forward Together towards lower emissions

TriMet is working to expand our bus service by more than 30% in the next few years, which would bring service to 50,000 more people on weekdays and expand weekend service to 100,000 more people as well. We’re moving some of our bus routes, adding lines, and changing our schedules to increase ridership and better meet the needs of people with lower incomes who rely on transit. This year, we start to roll out the first of our Forward Together service improvements.

We’ll be adding buses on some routes to bring them into our Frequent Service network, providing customers with a ride every 15 minutes throughout the day. That will make it more convenient for people to ride. Our Forward Together plan also includes some minor route changes to help people better access large employment centers and our MAX system.

Powered by clean energy

TriMet’s “Type 1” MAX trains have been through it all, and just last year MAX Train 120 hit the 2 million mile mark. What’s powered it these past two years, and all our MAX trains, is renewable electricity. All TriMet-owned facilities run on renewable electricity as well.

By switching to renewable electricity in 2021, we reduced our carbon emissions by more than 25%. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 5,200 cars off the road and means 53 million fewer pounds of greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere every year.

As we look forward, buses that are part of our first bulk purchase of electric buses will begin arriving late this year – and they too will run on renewable electricity! Those 24 electric buses will help our transition from a diesel bus fleet to a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.

These buses run on what? How food waste keeps TriMet rolling

If you boarded a bus after eating French fries, you and your bus are kind of being powered by the same fuel source. TriMet buses run on renewable diesel, which is made up of sustainable organic matter such as natural fats, vegetable oil and greases, which are things you might find at the bottom of a kitchen fryer. We made this switch to the cleaner-burning fuel in December 2021, and it lowers our bus fleet’s greenhouse emissions by 61% compared to the diesel blend we had been using.

Renewable diesel, known as “R99”, is a cleaner-burning, low-carbon fuel that powers our diesel buses and LIFT vehicles, as well as our WES trains. “R99” gets its name because it’s derived from 99% renewable sources but is chemically identical to regular diesel.

Not just how we move, but where we live: TriMet investments create sustainable communities

Our Transit-Oriented Development team works with community partners to make the most efficient land use around our MAX stations and transit centers, with affordable housing, community facilities, and commercial facilities that encourage sustainable growth.

The Fuller Station Apartments recently opened up in Happy Valley along the MAX Green Line and Line 72-Killingsworth. The six-story building features 100 apartments that quickly filled up, providing housing for families and individuals who earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income. The apartments were built on an underused portion of a TriMet Park & Ride and was made possible, in part, by funding from the Housing Authority of Clackamas County.

It’s collaborative work with our regional partners that makes these types of projects possible. TriMet is working with Multnomah County on its new East County Library, a large-scale, state-of-the-art 95,000 square-foot space, accessible to people throughout Gresham and East County. This project also converts part of a TriMet Park & Ride, near the Gresham City Hall MAX Station, to create a community space that will be a destination for people living east of I-205. This is an example of TriMet making investments, not just in moving people, but in helping to create great destinations that people can access via our transit system.

No vehicle too small for improvements. How we’re going green with the cars we use

TriMet operates nearly 700 buses and has a fleet of more than 140 light rail vehicles. We also have approximately 300 non-revenue vehicles, which TriMet staff use to coordinate operations, respond to incidents, and for various maintenance purposes across our transit system. Those vehicles put more than few ticks on the odometer, driving approximately 2.4 million miles per year. To save money in the long-term and to cut down on our carbon emissions, we’re investing in more hybrids and electric vehicles for our fleet of non-revenue vehicles. Last year, we put into service 10 hybrid SUVs for a group of Field Supervisors, who help keep our MAX and bus systems moving. The new wheels lead to a 250% improvement in their vehicles’ miles-per-gallon. Additionally, a work group that maintains TriMet’s ticket vending machines and MAX station Hop readers has been using an electric van with positive results. TriMet hopes to purchase more electric vans as we replace our older models.

We have a 10-year plan for the replacement of all of TriMet’s non-revenue vehicles and will be working towards having 70% of them electric by 2033. We’re also working with our regional partners and utility companies to put electric-vehicle charging stations at more TriMet-owned facilities.

Take climate action by taking TriMet

Reducing car trips is one way people can incorporate climate-friendly habits into their routine. We want to encourage more people to use TriMet in navigating our region, whether that’s commuting to work, running errands, or exploring parts of our region for a fun day-off activity. If you’re not familiar with TriMet’s system, explore our website, TriMet.org. We’ve made it easy to learn about out transit service, plan a trip and track your ride and see what destinations TriMet can take you to. For people already riding TriMet, consider inviting a friend or family member to take the bus, MAX, or WES with you. TriMet allows you to hang out with a friend without worrying about the stress of navigating car traffic or the hassle of having to find parking.

TriMet serves the 1.65 million people who live in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Our blend of rail and bus service covers 533 square miles. Small changes, made by all of us, add up, producing big benefits for our region. Choosing TriMet is a simple step you can take to help curb pollution, reduce congestion, and improve the quality of life in our region. Learn more about how TriMet is working to curb our region’s carbon emissions and lead the way towards a sustainable future.

April meeting will include first reading and public hearing on proposed fare increase ordinance, ahead of May 24 vote

The TriMet Board of Directors will begin considering an ordinance on a proposed fare increase at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 26. The Board will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 374, as part of the process. They will not make a decision during the April meeting. Rather, following the first reading and public hearing in April, a second reading and vote will occur at the Board’s May 24, 2023 meeting. If approved, the fare increase would take effect January 1, 2024. 

Fare increase proposal

The proposal that the Board is considering calls for increasing:

• Adult 2 ½-hour tickets and LIFT single ride tickets by 30 cents to $2.80.
• Honored Citizen and Youth 2 ½-hour tickets by 15 cents to $1.40.
• Adult day passes by 60 cents to $5.60.
• Honored Citizen and Youth day passes by 30 cents to $2.80. 

The current proposal calls for no change to monthly and annual fares, including the monthly fare cap for riders using Hop Fastpass®. The monthly cap would remain at $100 for riders using the Adult fare and $28 those using Youth or Honored Citizen fares.

TriMet last increased the Adult fare in 2012. That’s despite inflation and increases for other basic services over the past decade, as well as a 37% increase in the cost of running and maintaining the transit system.

Providing feedback

The April Board of Directors meeting will be held in Suite 206 of the Portland Building, which is located at 1128 Southwest 5th Avenue. During the meeting, the public will have multiple opportunities to provide feedback on the proposal:

• Public forum: TriMet holds a public forum at the start of every Board meeting, which allows for comments on any topic relating to TriMet and our service. Those who wish to speak must sign up in person, before the meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. 
• Public hearing: The Board will hold a public hearing, specific to Ordinance 374, in conjunction with the first reading. The Board President will call for participants to come forward, during the “Ordinances” section after the reading of the ordinance by title. 
• Virtual testimony: Arrangements have been made for those who wish to provide testimony virtually. Visit trimet.org/meetings/board by noon, Tuesday, April 25, to sign up to receive a link to participate via Zoom. 
• Written testimony: Email comments for consideration to boardtestimony@trimet.org by noon, Tuesday, April 25.

Background, outreach & Title VI reports

TriMet is governed by a seven-person Board of Directors, which began discussions around a possible fare increase last fall. During a Nov. 9, 2022 Board Retreat, several members cited the need for TriMet to increase fare revenue, as well as overall revenue, to help provide financial stability for transit operations and address inflationary costs. With a majority of the Board indicating support for a 2024 fare increase, members directed TriMet staff to formalize a proposal for consideration.

TriMet launched a comprehensive public outreach and engagement campaign in December 2022. Nearly 5,700 people responded to an online survey about the proposal, while in-person and online open house events drew more than 400 participants. In addition, TriMet partnered with community based organizations to collect feedback from populations with limited English proficiency, with about 240 people attending culturally-specific events. TriMet presented an outreach report to the Board at their regular meeting on March 22, 2023.

TriMet also conducted a Title VI equity analysis to determine the potential impacts that a fare increase would have on people of color and those who live on a low income. The results were presented to the Board at their March 29, 2023 Strategy Session. TriMet is committed to working with the community to determine opportunities to mitigate such impacts, as required under federal law.

What’s next?

The Board will hold a second reading of Ordinance 374 at their May meeting on Wednesday, May 24, followed immediately by a roll call vote. 

In addition to ‘Better Red’ construction, TriMet will be upgrading rail, wires, stations and more during the three-week MAX disruption

A great deal can be achieved in just three weeks. Take for example TriMet’s upcoming 21-day disruption of MAX Blue, Green and Red lines, which will see rail construction and rehabilitation work, along with other improvements, stretch from the Gateway Transit Center to NE 7th Ave. The project will close that five-mile section of the MAX system from April 16 through May 6, with shuttle buses running to serve closed stations.

Shuttle buses will depart about every five minutes from the closed stations during peak hours. During the disruption, MAX Green and Red Line trains will not travel west of the Gateway Transit Center. Riders should use MAX Blue Line for trips between NE 7th Ave and Beaverton and the MAX Orange and Yellow lines in Downtown Portland. During the disruption, there will be no service impacts to MAX Orange and Yellow lines or bus service.

All told, 15 projects will be underway concurrently, the biggest of which will be the installation of special track work at the Gateway/NE 99^th Ave Transit Center. Part of the Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project, the special track work component will play a critical role in moving MAX Red Line trains through the new light rail configuration being built in and around the Gateway Transit Center once work is completed in 2024

Project upgrades: cleaner, newer and better

In addition to the installation of a special track component at Gateway/NE 99^th Ave Transit Center, TriMet will take advantage of the three-week shutdown to complete maintenance work at the Hollywood/NE 42^nd Ave Transit Center and a curved section of track at NE 43^rd Ave. Running along I-84, these sections are part of the original MAX system, built in 1986. Crews will replace rail and ties and maintain the track ballast for a smoother, more reliable ride once trains return to regular service on Monday, May 7.

Elsewhere, between Gateway Transit Center and NE 7^th Ave, work will include:

• Cleaning the track from Gateway to NE 7^th Ave.
• Clearing brush and removing graffiti between the Lloyd Neighborhood and Gateway
• Cleaning and pressure washing platforms from Gateway to NE 7^th Ave.
• Replacing the overhead contact wire that powers trains, along with the weight stacks that maintain wire tension during extremely hot days.

TriMet will also install new LED lighting, part of a system-wide move to both improve the lighting around our stations and to reduce energy consumption. LEDs are significantly more efficient than incandescent lighting, which will reduce our carbon footprint. Plus, these lights will come with controls, allowing TriMet to adjust the lighting levels as needed.

Getting around the disruption

Riders will want to plan extra time during the disruption. A typical MAX trip between Gateway/NE 99^th Ave Transit Center and NE 7^th Ave takes about 13 minutes, while a trip on a shuttle bus will take about 30 minutes. We suggest riders plan at least an extra 30 minutes for their trips to factor in this extra time and to ensure they catch their connections, or consider using other bus service or transportation during the disruption.

Riders can plan their trips now by going to TriMet.org/planner and setting their travel date to a time during the April 16-May 6 disruption.

While our website is one way to plan your trip in advance, if you want to connect directly to a person, we have you covered. You can reach TriMet’s Customer Service team by calling or texting 503-238-RIDE (7433) daily between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can also drop us a direct message on Twitter by tweeting @trimethelp.

We also will also have extra staff located at Gateway Transit Center, NE 7^th Ave and other closed stations to help you make your connections during the disruption. They’ll help guide you to shuttle bus stops and answer any service-related questions you may have. Thank you for your patience and understanding during the disruption. For more information about the project, go to trimet.org/improvements.

A Better Red

A Better Red is right around the corner. We have finished more than 60% of the project, which is on track to be fully completed in fall 2024. Once it’s done, A Better Red will extend MAX Red Line west 10 stations to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, add a second track and new infrastructure to sections near the Gateway/NE 99^th Ave Transit Center and Portland International Airport and add a new station, Gateway North, to serve westbound Red Line riders.  

For more information about A Better Red, including a timeline of key milestones, go to trimet.org/bettered.

TriMet’s reduced fare program saved riders on low incomes about $13.4 million in less than five years; sign up today and reduce costs immediately, plus receive a month of free rides

Late last month, TriMet signed up the 50,000th person to ride TriMet, C-TRAN and Portland Streetcar at a reduced rate, based on their income. The milestone came just three months shy of the five-year anniversary of when we expanded our Honored Citizen fare program to those struggling financially. This allowed thousands of Oregonians living with limited means to access vital transportation services for less. In fewer than five years, riders living on a low income saved almost $13.4 million through our reduced fare program! 

Earn less? Sign up to save big 

Our Honored Citizen fare program allows qualified participants to pay half price for 2 ½-hour tickets and day passes, and enjoy additional savings the more they ride. It is available to seniors, age 65 and older, people on Medicare and people with disabilities, as well as Oregonians, ages 18-64, who qualify based on their income.

When you use an Honored Citizen Hop Fastpass® fare card, you will never pay more than $28 per month. That means you can take unlimited rides on TriMet buses and trains, as well as C-TRAN and Portland Streetcar, for 72% off the cost of Adult fare, which can add up to annual savings of $864 or more! 

TriMet began offering enrollment in the Honored Citizen reduced fare program to people with qualifying incomes in July of 2018, with new funds from Keep Oregon Moving (HB 2017). Participants qualify if they earn up to double the federal poverty level, which equals $29,160 per year for an individual or $49,720 for the head of a three-person household. Riders already enrolled in programs such as Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or Free & Reduced Price Lunch can immediately qualify with proof of participation. Photo I.D. is also required.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we made some changes to make enrollment easier. You can now apply online, in person at the TriMet Customer Support Center at Pioneer Courthouse Square, or with one of our trusted community partners. All participants receive a personalized Honored Citizen Hop card. Once the card is loaded with funds, you can start saving right away! Remember to tap your card with every ride, and Hop adds up the savings for you.

One month of rides free!

Once you complete enrollment for Honored Citizen fare based on income, we’ll set you up to ride TriMet for free for one month. Here’s how. Using funds from Keep Oregon Moving, we’ll load your new Honored Citizen Hop card with a “TriMet Transit Assistance” pass. Tap the card to activate the pass, and remember to tap with every ride to show proof of valid fare. You will not be charged during the month-long period in which the pass can be used.

Partnerships provide a safety net

TriMet understands that for some, $28 per month is a hardship. That’s why we partner with more than 160 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 $30 million to our Access Transit Fare Programs, including $12.1 million in assistance to community and government agency partners. These programs were designed to increase independence, improve access to employment and employment resources, and provide community connections for thousands of people in our community with low and limited incomes.

Proposed fare increase

TriMet’s Board of Directors is considering a fare increase proposal that, if approved, would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Currently the proposal calls for increasing Adult 2 ½-hour tickets and LIFT single ride tickets by 30 cents to $2.80. Honored Citizen and Youth 2 ½-hour tickets would increase by 15 cents to $1.40. Adult day passes would go up by 60 cents to $5.60, and Honored Citizen and Youth day passes would go up by 30 cents to $2.80. 

The proposal calls for no change to monthly and annual fares and caps. TriMet’s Honored Citizen fare would remain at $28 per month. As a result, riders using the Honored Citizen Hop card will reach their monthly fare cap faster. After tapping for 10 day passes, they’ll ride free for the rest of the month. The Board is scheduled to vote at its May meeting on May 24, 2023.

Track work at the Gateway Transit Center will last from April 16 through May 6, disrupting service to MAX Blue, Green and Red lines

Plan a three-week disruption to the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines starting next month. The MAX system will be disrupted between Gateway Transit Center and NE 7th Avenue MAX Station from Sunday, Apr. 16, through Saturday, May 6, with no Green or Red line trains running west of Gateway during that time. This is to allow work on a critical part of TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension, Reliability and Improvements Project. The project recently passed its 50% construction milestone and is on track to be fully completed by September 2024.

Crews will be performing a series of construction and maintenance projects during the three-week shutdown. The main work will be putting in new track at the Gateway Transit Center for A Better Red. During the disruption, shuttle buses will run about every five minutes, serving stations between the Gateway Transit Center and NE 7th Avenue Station. The MAX Green and Red lines will be further disrupted, with Green Line trains only running between Gateway and Clackamas Town Center and Red Line trains only serving stations between Gateway and Portland International Airport.

We encourage riders to plan their trips in advance and consider taking other bus lines or biking and walking, as trips will take an extra 30 minutes during the disruption. You can plan your trip now at trimet.org. To learn more about getting around the disruption, go to trimet.org/improvements.

Construction will involve installing what is known as “special trackwork”— track that’s been made to move trains from one set of tracks to another, such as “crossovers” or “turnouts.” TriMet’s special trackwork will be a key component of A Better Red, helping to tie the Gateway Transit Center to the new Gateway North MAX Station, set to open in the spring of 2024.

‘Special trackwork’ sets up connections

There’s nothing ho-hum about railroad tracks. Just think about the MAX system: 92,000-pound vehicles gliding along a rail that’s less than two inches wide at speeds approaching 55 mph. That feat of engineering ingenuity has gone more or less unchanged for more than 200 years. So it’s not as if your common railroad track isn’t special, it’s just that some are extra special.

What makes it extra special is that it deviates, in some small-but-important ways, from our traditional track, and it serves a particular function. In the case of TriMet’s special trackwork, curvature has to be added into a part of the track and turnouts so they will all fit precisely together. Due to its special nature, this curved track had to be built to specifications at facilities in Birmingham, Ala., and Cheyenne, Wyo. It was built of entirely American-made materials, as A Better Red is partially funded by the Federal Transit Administration.

With Gateway Transit Center being the confluence of MAX Blue, Green and Red line trains, the construction will affect those lines west across the system. TriMet crews will make the most of this three-week shut down by performing maintenance work and upgrades at and around the Hollywood Transit Center. There, crews will be replacing rail and ties that are part of the original MAX Blue Line, built in 1986.

A Better Red

A Better Red is among our largest undertakings in years. A multi-year project, set to complete in fall 2024, it will extend the MAX Red Line west to serve 10 more stations in Beaverton and Hillsboro. The project also improves schedule reliability for the entire MAX system by adding a second track near both Portland International Airport and Gateway Transit Center, keeping trains moving. At Gateway, new bridges are being constructed for this second track, spanning I-84, the I-205 multi-use path and existing tracks.

For more information about A Better Red, including a timeline of key milestones, go to trimet.org/bettered.

TriMet invites you to join in our day-long celebration of the people who help keep our region moving; take a moment to recognize the hard work of our bus and train operators on Friday, March 17, for Transit Driver Appreciation Day

Let’s face it. You’ll have a better chance of seeing a TriMet bus or train operator on Friday, March 17, than you will a leprechaun. After all, TriMet employs close to 1,400 operators and zero leprechauns. So, this Friday, March 17, we’re asking you to add Transit Driver Appreciation Day to your list of reasons to celebrate. We’re sharing the excitement with St. Patrick’s Day this year, as we move our observation up one day, to conclude the traditional work week. Please join us for our 10th annual observation of Transit Driver Appreciation Day, which we set aside to honor our operators and what they do to improve the lives of so many people, day after day.

Riders: Show how appreciation in multiple ways!

Our bus and train operators always go the extra mile. They’re up early and out late, maneuvering giant vehicles, often through challenging conditions. They can be the first and sometimes the last person riders see in their day. They help move millions, yet welcome one at a time, for a safe, reliable ride. 

TriMet riders are known for sharing a friendly “thank you” as they step off the bus. For Transit Driver Appreciation Day, we’re asking everyone to do their part, to help our operators have a good day, from start to finish:

• Shine a light! If your operator is coming to your stop early in the morning when it’s still dark, use your cell phone as a light to help them see you and stop to pick you up! Take care not to flash bright lights directly at the operator.
• Say hello! Consider sharing a kind word when you step on the bus, to let the operator know that you’re a nice person and appreciate their work.
• Help make their day! Show common courtesy for our operators and others, by following the rules for riding and helping create a pleasant atmosphere for everyone on board.
• Consider a not-so-random act of kindness! It’s Transit Driver Appreciation Day! Say thanks in your own way – with a wave, a smile or a nice note. Visit trimet.org/hello to leave a digital note for an individual operator or the entire team! We’ll also have banners at transit centers throughout our 533-square mile service district, available to anyone who’d like to leave a message of thanks. 

Heading Downtown? Join the ‘tunnel of appreciation’

This year, TriMet is taking our Transit Driver Appreciation Day celebration to the Transit Mall in Downtown Portland on March 17! We’re building a human “appreciation tunnel,” from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. along a nine-block stretch of Southwest 5th and 6th avenues, between Jefferson and Washington streets. We’ll be waving signs for our coworkers and creating excitement as they travel through a stretch of the central city where many of our transit lines run or cross. Stop by and join the fun!

Mark your calendar for Friday, March 17!

Inspired by a movement in Seattle to establish “Bus Driver Appreciation Day,” TriMet observed our first Transit Driver Appreciation Day back in 2013. Normally, the celebration is March 18, the day selected to commemorate the first bus line in Paris back in 1662. This year, we’re recognizing the service of public transit operators a day early and inviting everyone to join us. We even found an old Irish Blessing that could apply to our operators, as we share our special day with the St. Patrick’s Day tradition, in 2023: “May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light; may good luck pursue you both morning and night!” ~Irish Blessing

The University of Washington research will investigate the effects of second-hand drug smoke on and around transit across the Pacific Northwest

As the rampant rise in illicit fentanyl use fuels a public health crisis across Oregon, TriMet has begun working with researchers and other transit agencies to better understand its impacts. Researchers from the University of Washington are beginning a study to detect, monitor and assess the effects of second-hand fentanyl smoke on and around transit systems. TriMet, alongside University of Washington researchers, Sound Transit in the Seattle metro area and other transit agencies, will use the findings to determine new best practices around addressing drug use.

With illicit fentanyl surging—evidenced by Oregon’s 41% increase in overdose deaths in 2021—use of it has occasionally spilled over to shared spaces, including public transit. By better understanding the second-hand exposure levels of smoked substances, such as illicit fentanyl and other opioids like heroin, TriMet hopes to determine ways to better understand and curb the risks associated with them.

As of right now, there is little in the way of concrete data about the health effects of second-hand fentanyl smoke or its impacts on a self-contained area, like a bus or train. While there have been studies about the risk of exposure to first responders, this is the first study of its kind to delve into public transit.

No smoking allowed

Smoking is not allowed on TriMet, whether in our buses or trains, or on rail platforms, at transit centers or in elevators. Those caught smoking face a citation or exclusion. Smoking covers everything from tobacco, to electronic cigarettes and vape pens, to any other smoking substance.  

To further discourage smoking, particularly smoking drugs on our transit system, in early 2022, we changed the TriMet Code to include non-criminal violations of laws or ordinance as actions prohibited on TriMet. Since possessing a small amount of drugs and drug use, are now categorized as a violation under Oregon law (ORS Chapter 153), by prohibiting violations to those activities, TriMet supervisors can further address the behavior, with a citation or exclusion, rather than needing to call in police. This supports our efforts to reimagine public safety on transit by ensuring a safe system for all without always relying on a police response.

Airing out vehicles when fumes noted

To help address the issue of second-hand drug smoke before a study could be conducted, TriMet enacted our own process in April 2022, to safeguard our riders and operators. Since then, operators have been stopping trains and buses whenever there is a report of smoking or smoke fumes on board, whether the source is known or unknown and whether it smells like drug smoke or not. Operators then open the doors for a period to ventilate the vehicle before it continues in service.

If you smell something strange or noxious, or if you believe a substance was smoked on your train, notify your operator. You can do this by locating the operator intercom box and pressing the red button. Your report will be passed along to our Operations Command Center, and a Supervisor will be dispatched to the train when it stops at the next station.

Science-driven approach

Science will drive our approach as we work in the coming months in partnership with the University of Washington, Sound Transit, other participating transit agencies and the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents TriMet’s frontline employees. With reports of illicit fentanyl use spiking in communities across the country, the research could set an example for all public transit agencies industry wide.

The new research will partially rely on air samples collected by devices strategically placed on buses and trains. Researchers will also use sampling kits to determine whether the substance smoked was an opioid or something else. TriMet operators, supervisors and other frontline staff do not have the ability or the expertise to determine with accuracy whether fumes are coming from illicit fentanyl or another source.

Expanded police missions, more Safety Response Team members

At TriMet, we believe in taking a comprehensive approach to issues that affect our system. We plan to continue this approach in the future by adding to the personnel you see on or around the transit system. In September, TriMet’s Transit Police Division began expanding its public safety missions to more stations and neighborhoods, following positive feedback from the community, transit riders and TriMet employees.

We’ve also more than doubled the number of staff on our security teams over the past 15 months, with more growth planned in the coming year. Our Customer Safety Supervisors, TriMet staff who conduct code enforcement including no smoking and having valid fare, will increase to at least 46 this year. Our contract Transit Security Officers and Customer Security Officers now number more than 175. And, our Safety Response Team that connects people on and around our transit system with social services, provides first aid and reports serious concerns to emergency responders, will expand to 60 members this year. By using a comprehensive approach, working closely with regional partners and better understanding the scope of drug-related issues, we hope to keep the system safe and welcoming for all.

Complete an application, ask about open positions and get answers about the great benefits TriMet offers at Embassy Suites Hillsboro on Tuesday, March 14

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

TriMet is hosting a job fair on Tuesday, March 14, to share information about more than 40 positions that are currently available with our organization. TriMet started as a bus company, but over the last 50+ years, we’ve grown into much, much more! We’re a dynamic public service organization, some 3,000-people strong. Every day, we work together to fulfill our mission in the community: connecting “people with valued mobility options that are safe, convenient, reliable, accessible and welcoming for all.” 

Want to join our team?

Whether your goal is to operate a bus or train, keep buses and trains in working order, clean vehicles and our transit centers, purchase new vehicles, plan routes, produce maps and graphics, communicate with the public or something entirely different, you can achieve it at TriMet! We are looking to fill open positions across our organization, in divisions which include Engineering and Construction; Finance and Administrative Services; Information Technology; Legal Services; Maintenance; Public Affairs; Safety and Security; and of course, Transportation!

Mark your calendar!

Tuesday, March 14, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Embassy Suites Hillsboro

9355 NE Tanasbourne Drive – Hillsboro, Ore.

Take TriMet!

Put in an application, ask questions about hiring and benefits and get a feel for what it means to be part of TriMet! Visit trimet.org/jobfair to learn more. 

More than a job, TriMet has the total package

When you are a TriMet employee, you’re part of the team that keeps the Portland metro region moving! You are helping to reduce traffic congestion and pollution and improve our community for everyone who lives here. In addition to a competitive wage, you’ll also receive a generous package of benefits, which includes:

• Health, dental, vision  and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost
• Retirement plans which include a monthly agency contribution of 8-10%, depending on the position 
• Paid time off including vacation, sick time, personal days and holidays
• Health care and dependent care spending accounts, if desired
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, financial coaching and home ownership programs
• Annual transit pass (valued up to $1200) for employee and eligible family members
• 24-hour access to five exclusive on-site fitness centers, with plans starting at $13/month
• Bus operators receive a $7,500 hiring bonus

No need for delay, apply today!

Visit trimet.org/careers to get details on the positions that are currently available, and if you see one you like, go ahead and apply! You can still join our team on March 14 to learn why we’re a great destination, when you’re ready to take your career in a new direction!