New and improved lines serve workers, residents in outer East Portland
Riders will be able to catch a new TriMet bus line between Lents and the Columbia Corridor starting Sunday, June 1.
Line 86-148th Ave will run between Lents Town Center, where it connects to the MAX Green Line, and Relay Resources near Northeast Airport Way. Riders can also transfer between Line 86 and the MAX Blue Line at the E 148th Ave MAX Station.
Line 86 will connect workers with jobs in the Columbia Corridor area of Northeast Portland, including at Relay Resources — a vital jobs center for more than 800 people, many of whom live with disabilities. This new line will also provide an important north-south connection in outer East Portland, serving neighborhoods and businesses along 148th Avenue and Southeast Foster Road.
The new service on Line 86 addresses community feedback we’ve been hearing for many years. TriMet has been planning for it since 2016.
Line 87
Line 87 will now stop at the Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center, while continuing to serve the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center as well. This route will improve connections between bus and MAX service in Northeast Portland.
More buses will arrive throughout the day, every day, as Line 87 becomes the first new addition to TriMet’s Frequent Service network since 2023. Buses on Frequent Service lines arrive every 15 minutes or better for most of the day, every day.
Line 47 and more
Additionally, on the west side, Line 47-Main/Baseline will better serve employees at Intel’s Ronler Acres campus. We updated the route of Line 47 in March to provide direct bus service to Ronler Acres. This new service has been popular, so we’re adding another bus trip in the morning and again in the evening on weekdays to meet demand.
These improvements are part of TriMet’s Forward Together service concept, developed in consultation with community leaders and shaped by public feedback. Our goal is to increase ridership by improving service and connections where people, especially on low and limited incomes, need it most.
Check your bus schedule
As we improve bus service, we may adjust schedules and stops to keep buses on time and improve connections.
Riders of the following lines may see bus arrival times shift by 4 minutes or more:
Local transit service replaces tens of millions of car trips each year, reducing air pollution, congestion
More than 8 billion people share our planet. Every one of us has a responsibility to help keep it beautiful and livable.
April 22 is Earth Day! Here at TriMet, we work hard every day of the year to get people where they need to go, reducing their dependence on driving. Our riders can leave their cars at home, or at one of our TriMet Park & Ride locations, and let our professional transit operators do the driving.
Whenever you take transit instead of driving, you’re doing your part to reduce car emissions and save on gas. Plus, you’re cutting down on traffic congestion. That means better air quality, shorter travel times and safer streets.
If transit is important to you, let your legislators know you support more funding for public transit in the 2025 state transportation package. Find your legislators here. Your voice is critical to avoid service cuts to transit throughout Oregon that could leave tens of thousands of Oregonians stranded.
Cleaner air, livable region
TriMet plays a huge role in keeping our air clean. From July 2023 to June 2024, our bus and rail service diverted 49,532 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) in car emissions.
Transit also helps reduce congestion. TriMet buses and trains replaced the equivalent of 11.5 million car trips during the same period.
When traffic is heavy, the odds of a crash go way up. Gridlock on roads and freeways also means more pollution. Internal combustion engines, which power most cars and trucks, continue emitting CO2 and other byproducts while they’re idling. When trips take longer because of congestion, more fuel and energy are consumed. That costs drivers money.
TriMet provides alternatives to driving! Plan your trip at trimet.org and find out how you can save money, lower emissions and get where you need to go.
Convenient, reliable public transportation
TriMet offers a range of transportation options, including:
Bus service on 78 lines, serving communities across our region from Forest Grove to Estacada
MAX service on five lines, crisscrossing Portland City Center and connecting neighborhoods, employment centers and shopping districts in Portland, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Clackamas and Milwaukie
WES commuter rail service, providing a traffic-free trip between Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville
LIFT paratransit service, which allows riders with disabilities to schedule door-to-door service that meets their needs
Additionally, we partner with the Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN. That means you can use Hop Fastpass® on all of our public transportation systems, making it easy to transfer from one to another.
For questions about using TriMet, visit trimet.org/support or call or text 503-238-7433 (RIDE).
A cleaner, greener system
TriMet is actively working to promote sustainability and livability for our region.
Electric buses
In the past year, TriMet has more than tripled the number of zero-emissions buses in our fleet.
Our latest generation of battery-electric buses have extended range and more reserve power. We’ve rolled them out on some of our most popular lines. Riders on both the west side and the east side will now see “e-buses” in service, providing clean, quiet rides throughout our service area.
We’ve also laid the groundwork to introduce fuel-cell electric buses to our fleet. These zero-emissions buses would be the first of their kind to serve transit riders in Oregon.
Clean energy
Our e-buses aren’t the only way we’re lowering emissions. We’ve reduced our overall greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% since 2022, when we switched over to R99 renewable diesel for our buses and WES trains and renewable energy to power MAX and all TriMet facilities.
MAX is all-electric, and it doesn’t generate air pollution as it travels. Since 1986, MAX has been one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly ways to get around our region!
Transit-oriented development
Transit access is game-changing for residents and businesses near MAX stations. That makes MAX attractive to developers! We celebrated the groundbreaking for hollywoodHUB, an affordable housing development just feet from our Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave MAX Station, earlier this year.
Transit-oriented development, like hollywoodHUB, is huge for the local economy. Plus, when people live close to transit, they use transit more, which is great for the environment and helps reduce congestion.
TriMet supports sustainable development. In recent years, we’ve seen redevelopment around our MAX stations in Southeast Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro and Milwaukie, too. This transit-oriented development can be a vision of the future, if we, as Oregonians, support transit.
Invaluable, but in peril
For more than 55 years, TriMet has been connecting people to opportunities, providing alternatives to driving, and promoting our vision to make our region one of the world’s most livable places.
But as important a role as TriMet and other transit providers in Oregon play, we face an uncertain future.
Inflation has driven up the cost of providing transit service by over 50% in the last five years.
Historically, transit has enjoyed bipartisan support in Oregon — but the current level of funding proposed for transit is not enough to avoid cuts to service in the future. Unless state lawmakers support more funding for transit, many Oregonians will be stranded without the transportation they depend on.
Together with transit agencies across Oregon, TriMet is calling for state lawmakers to approve a phased 0.4% increase in the employee payroll tax that funds transit over the next eight years.
Without a revenue increase to make up for the increased cost of providing service, TriMet may be forced to cut as many as 34 bus lines starting in 2027, with additional cuts to follow, until our operating budget deficit is resolved. These buses serve thousands of riders every week, connecting people to jobs, school, health care appointments and more. They take cars off the road, making our streets safer and our air cleaner.
You can help us keep our buses on the road and protect our environment. Please show your support for transit service this Earth Day.
Oregon Transit Association calls for 0.4% increase in Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund employee payroll tax
TriMet joins the Oregon Transit Association in appealing to Oregon legislators to increase funding for public transit in the upcoming 2025 transportation package. We appreciate the efforts of the Oregon Legislature to assemble a package that balances funding for all modes of transportation. However, the amount of funding for public transit currently being proposed is not enough to avoid service cuts that will leave tens of thousands of Oregonians stranded without the transportation they depend on, including in TriMet’s tri-county service district.
TriMet provides bus, MAX light rail, WES commuter rail and LIFT paratransit services across 533 square miles of the state’s three most populous counties — Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. Our transit service connects people with their community, while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution — making our region a better place to live.
The phased increase of 0.4% in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) employee payroll tax over eight years sought by the Oregon Transit Association is necessary to avoid cuts to the transit service that is essential for TriMet riders — more than 67% of whom tell us they rely on our service to get them where they need to go. Under the current proposed 0.08% increase, TriMet would need to begin cutting service by July 1, 2027. We would need to cut 15% of service in 2027, with an additional 5% cut every two years after that, until our operating budget deficit is resolved.
Transit funding only a sliver of Oregon’s transportation investment
In 2017, the Oregon Legislature passed the first transportation package in state history that dedicated funding to improve transit service around the state, including providing free or discounted fare programs for students and Oregonians living on a low income. While welcome by transit agencies, public transportation receives just 8% as much state funding as the state highway fund receives each year in the face of rising costs and financial challenges.
Like other public transit agencies in Oregon and across the nation, TriMet has seen operating costs skyrocket, mainly due to inflation. Our operating costs per vehicle have increased 53% from 2019 to 2024. TriMet has tripled our budget for safety and security in the last several years, to address community-wide public safety challenges that affect our transit system.
TriMet has been operating on reduced revenues since the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently facing a *$50.2 million deficit for the fiscal year ahead, which begins July 1, 2025. As our deficit continues to grow year-to-year, we’re using our reserves to avoid reducing services, and we’re making meaningful cuts to our discretionary spending and implementing changes to right-size our budget. *Note: The original news release stated a $74.4 million deficit projected for fiscal year 2026. As of May 28, 2025, the projected deficit is now at $50.2 million due to spending cuts and other budget efficiencies identified during the fiscal year 2026 budgeting process.
Federal COVID-19 relief funds provided a lifeline for public transit agencies thrust into turmoil brought by the global pandemic and grappling with systemic changes due to commute patterns and remote work. However, those one-time stimulus funds have now been depleted, and TriMet faces a fiscal cliff in 2031. We’re working with lawmakers now to identify additional state funding, before our deficit becomes unmanageable.
With a 0.4% phased increase in the STIF employee payroll tax, transit funding would still be less than the funding for other transportation modes. A person making Oregon’s median income would pay $16.75 a month by 2032. In comparison, by that time the average driver would spend roughly $60 a month in gas taxes and vehicle fees under the Legislature’s proposed transportation package framework.
Without that phased increase, TriMet will be forced to make drastic service cuts, including reducing frequency, hours of operation, and eliminating some bus lines altogether. Just considering our bus service alone, of our 78 current bus lines, TriMet would need to eliminate up to:
34 bus lines by July 2027,
7 more bus lines by July 2029,
And 10 more bus lines by July 2031.
That means up to 51 of our current 78 bus lines would need to be eliminated by July 2031.
Maintaining — and increasing — public transit service is necessary to ensure that everyone has access to transportation regardless of ability or income. TriMet represents independence for the 35% of riders who are transit-dependent, meaning they do not own a personal vehicle or cannot/do not drive. We are a vital part of their lives, providing essential access to jobs, health care and daily needs.
Public transit benefits everyone
Everyone benefits from TriMet, even if you don’t ride. More people taking public transit means fewer cars on the road. Not only does our service reduce congestion, it reduces pollution and decreases the number of traffic collisions and fatalities. Our public transit also helps the economy. Every $1 invested in transit generates $5 for a local economy, according to research by the American Public Transportation Association. Directly, public transit helps support jobs by giving people access to work, education, stores, services and recreation, and by putting people to work. TriMet currently employs 3,600 people, and most of those positions — nearly 3,000 — are union jobs.
TriMet is grateful for the support of the lawmakers who penned a letter to legislative leadership on March 28, 2025, urging them to, “prioritize a phased increase to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) payroll tax, to reach ½ of 1% by 2033 to ensure there are no cuts to local transit service.” According to that letter signed by the 10 legislators, 64% of the public comments received during the Joint Committee on Transportation’s 2024 community roadshow identified investments in transit as a top priority for the 2025 transportation package.
TriMet believes that every Oregonian deserves access to safe, reliable and affordable transportation options, and we urge legislators to increase funding for public transit in the upcoming 2025 transportation package.
Limited service impacts during construction’s first phase, starting, Tuesday, April 15 with the building of a temporary platform
The first phase of a major renovation of the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station will begin on Tuesday, April 15, with the construction of a temporary MAX platform that will open later this summer.
Construction of the temporary platform marks the start of a broader effort to improve one of the oldest and most heavily used stations in the MAX system. While riders may notice construction taking place near the station for the next few weeks, there will be no disruption to MAX Blue, Green or Red Line service during this first phase of the project.
Construction begins with a temporary platform
Initial work will focus on constructing a temporary platform located just west of the existing station. Once built, the temporary platform will have lighting, a weather shelter and signage. It will be connected to the main station’s elevator via a walkway. It is expected to open in June and allow TriMet to maintain uninterrupted MAX Blue, Green and Red Line service during demolition and construction of the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station, which will last through the end of 2025.
Minimizing impacts on riders
The temporary platform will allow the station renovation to proceed with minimal rider disruption. Crews will need to demolish significant parts of the station to rebuild it, which can only take place if the station is closed. However, the project will require a few short disruptions this summer and fall. TriMet will inform the public of those in advance.
Station updates focus on accessibility and design
Renovations to the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station are designed to enhance safety, accessibility and the overall rider experience while preserving key cultural elements. Planned upgrades include:
New concrete surfacing
A rebuilt stairway
A refurbished shelter that maintains its original design
The addition of a second shelter to match the original shelter
Updated lighting and signage
The removal of the inoperable mobility-device lift building, which has not been used since the mid-1990s
The replacement of outdated barriers with a modern guardrail
The mural by local artist Alex Chiu, located next to the elevator, will be preserved as part of TriMet’s commitment to celebrating community identity.
Strengthening community connections
Located at the intersection of transit and opportunity, the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station is important in connecting East Portlanders to jobs, education, healthcare and services. This project will help revitalize the station while laying the groundwork for future development and investment in the surrounding community.
All construction activity will take place at the track level between the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and I-84. There will be no changes to the station’s street-level entrance or elevator access during the construction of the temporary platform.
The project is part of systemwide modernization efforts aimed at providing a more accessible, welcoming and reliable transit experience for the Portland region today and into the future. This includes the introduction of our newest trains, the Type 6, which began earlier this year.
TriMet crews work day and night — cleaning trains, removing graffiti and scrubbing stations — to keep the system inviting
At the Cleveland Ave MAX Station in Gresham, TriMet Service Aide Matt Sunshine, equipped with the typical tools of the cleaning profession, steps onto a MAX Blue Line train.
Service Aides like Matt have about 10 minutes to wipe down surfaces, sweep out trash and mop the floors before vehicles depart. At the end of each MAX line, the trains have a brief layover to give operators time for a break. The Service Aides are trained to work quickly and purposefully. After all, this is the cleaners’ time to shine.
It’s a fast-paced job to make the riding experience as comfortable as possible, but Matt has found more than just work here — he’s found a sense of purpose and community that has kept him with TriMet through changing times. Starting as a temporary cleaner, he has become a part of TriMet’s expanding efforts to spruce up buses, trains and facilities.
“I got laid off from my previous job as a cook. When I was hired by TriMet, I was in the first group of COVID cleaners,” Matt says. “When COVID started cooling down, the restaurant wanted people back, so they called me, and I said, ‘no, I like it at TriMet too much. Sorry, I’m staying here.’”
He says the great environment and his dedicated and helpful co-workers have inspired him for five years. Knowing that riders appreciate his work — often thanking the team for what they do — is also a bonus. These factors are a major reason 2024 was a record-setting year for sprucing up the system.
Riders are taking notice of the more welcoming station areas and the heightened attention to maintaining a safe and inviting experience. Joan R. said she had stopped riding for a time but decided to give it another go after learning about TriMet’s efforts around cleanliness and safety. The riding experience exceeded her expectations.
“I used MAX yesterday, and it is a 180-degree difference — it is secure and clean,” Joan wrote in an email. “I am so impressed and pleased with the changes. I now have a HOP card!”
TriMet is not letting up! Riders have told us that cleaner, brighter and more vibrant vehicles and stations make them feel better about riding. We understand. Over the first four months of 2025, crews have notched 792 reports of pressure washing and 1,096 for track cleaning, setting us on track for another record-setting year.
Multiple cleaners, one mission
With a service area spanning 533 square miles, TriMet’s Facilities Management team and other crews play a critical behind-the-scenes role in keeping the region’s transit system clean, safe and running smoothly. In 2024, the department introduced the Clean Team and delivered major systemwide improvements — often under tight timelines and challenging conditions.
Matt explains what his days look like as a Service Aide, addressing the onboard needs of trains when they reach the end of the line — the last station on each line, where operators take breaks.
“Every time a train comes in, I hop on board,” Matt says. “I sweep up the trash. I wipe down the seats. I mop the floors. I make it smell good if it needs to be freshened up a little bit, and make it a more pleasant riding experience.”
TriMet’s Service Workers deep clean vehicles during the overnight hours.
All told, TriMet’s cleaners performed 36,982 activities at the end of all the MAX lines in 2024. Additionally, cleaners pressure-washed stations 3,170 times in 2024 and cleaned litter from the tracks 2,561 times.
Trains are cleaned throughout the day, and both trains and buses are cleaned once they’re done carrying passengers. Service workers, who work overnight between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., can give vehicles more attention by wiping windows, scrubbing off mud and performing more detailed work. Meanwhile, the Clean Team, made up of TriMet employees, focuses on maintaining cleanliness and safety at stations and surrounding areas.
Keeping our system orderly is a shared responsibility. Riders can help by using trash cans at stations and on board, avoiding feeding pigeons and reporting inappropriate behavior when you see it. To report a non-urgent safety, security or cleanliness concern 24/7, text or call our hotline at 503-238-7433 (RIDE) or submit a report at trimet.org/security. Every small action helps keep our transit system safer and more welcoming for everyone.
Open houses invite feedback on transit priority concepts for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project; online event open now, in-person event Wednesday, April 23
Aerial view of a Line 72 bus on Southeast 82nd Avenue
TriMet is holding open houses on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project this month, and we want to hear from you! The purpose of the open houses is to learn how you feel about tools we are considering for speeding up buses and moving them around traffic.
The 82nd Avenue Transit Project will improve travel times while providing better connections to jobs, schools, shopping, services and other destinations for those who live, work and move through the 82nd Avenue corridor. It lays the groundwork for TriMet’s next FX — Frequent Express — bus line. This will bring better, faster service with higher-capacity buses to 10 miles of 82nd Avenue, between Clackamas Town Center and the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland.
Fewer delays keep buses on time
TriMet has already incorporated features into the design for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project that are expected to speed up bus trips by up to 20%. These features include consolidating existing stops, building up curbs for easier boarding, using bigger buses with boarding at all three doors and allowing bikes on board, to eliminate delays caused by loading. We’ll also use transit-signal priority for the project, where buses and signals communicate to give buses the go-ahead first.
Even with these improvements, it may be harder for buses to stay on schedule as traffic congestion grows. The open houses will explore other transit-priority tools to keep buses moving, including bus lanes in key locations.
Visit trimet.org/82nd to review the plans, weigh potential outcomes and leave your feedback. We’ll hold an in-person open house on Wednesday, April 23, 4-6:30 p.m. at PCC Southeast on 82nd Avenue. The open house will be in the Great Hall of the Mount Tabor Building.
More tools to keep buses moving
Currently, 82nd Avenue is served by TriMet’s Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd. Not only does Line 72 see more riders than any other TriMet bus line, but it also experiences more delay. Congestion on 82nd is only expected to increase in the coming years, so transportation partners are taking steps now to look to the future and determine ways to keep buses – and the riders on them – moving past traffic. The open houses will explore additional transit-priority tools to speed up buses. These include:
Business access and transit lanes (BAT lanes): This would convert the existing curbside lane into a BAT lane, reserved for buses, right-turning autos and emergency vehicles. Car traffic would stay in the inner lanes, and business entrances would be accessible from the outer lanes, as they are today. We are currently studying two scenarios: one with some BAT lanes and one with more BAT lanes.
Intersection widening: The project team is also studying the concept of widening 82nd Avenue near three congested intersections, to create space for BAT lanes while preserving existing lanes for people driving. This is being considered near SE Powell Boulevard, Holgate Boulevard and Foster Road.
Find additional details on the proposals, including detailed descriptions and diagrams at trimet.org/82nd. The online open house will be open for feedback through Sunday, April 27. It’s important to note the features under consideration will require additional study and analysis and may not be included in the final project, as they could bring costs that exceed project funding.
The 82nd Avenue Transit Project
TriMet FX® service on 82nd Avenue will mean less crowding on buses, fewer delays, faster trips, a safer environment for walking and rolling and a more livable, better-connected urban corridor. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the new service opening to riders in the summer 2029.
TriMet thanks our project partners for their continued support and coordination of planning efforts and funding opportunities, including Metro, the City of Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Port of Portland.
A two-week project, April 27-May 10, will improve the durability of TriMet’s original rail line
Mark your calendars. Improvements are coming to the MAX light rail system this spring.
TriMet will perform a series of upgrades on the MAX Blue Line east of the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center from April 27 through May 10. The two-week-long East Burnside MAX Improvements Project will require crews to work on and above the tracks to replace and upgrade equipment for durability, extra reliability and a smoother ride.
It’s not a stretch to say that extreme heat can vex the light rail system, causing overhead wires to sag. Instead, we turn to a system that applies tension to keep the wires taut as temperatures creep upward. Crews will install a new version of the system during the project as the summer months approach.
The overhead wires will receive further attention elsewhere, with crews planning to replace about 8,000 feet of them. The two weeks of construction will give crews time to make the necessary upgrades to the overhead wire system, replace a rail crossing, and improve other elements of the track.
Moving riders around construction
TriMet has plans in place to help riders navigate the disruption. We have worked to limit the impacts as much as possible, including reducing the disruption during the second week.
Week 1 (April 27-May 3): Shuttle buses will serve riders between Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and Cleveland Ave MAX Station – the end of the MAX Blue Line in Gresham.
Week 2 (May 4-10): The disruption area will be shortened. Shuttle buses will serve riders between E 172nd Ave and Cleveland Ave MAX stations only.
Remember to plan by going to trimet.org/planner. If you plan on riding during the disruption, make sure to include future travel dates. Riders will want to plan an extra 30 minutes for their trips. You can also sign up for service alerts to be delivered directly to you via text message or email by going to trimet.org/email.
Staying ahead of Mother Nature
The overhead wires are like the circulatory system of MAX trains, pumping cleaner, renewable electricity into every vehicle. During the East Burnside MAX Improvements Project, TriMet’s crews will retrofit some overhead wires to make them more resilient to extreme heat and boost their durability. TriMet will do this by upgrading systems that have served riders for decades.
The overhead wires need to be tight, like a stretched rubber band, for trains to move at normal speeds. However, when temperatures soar above 90 degrees, “thermal expansion” causes the copper wires to droop. That’s why TriMet uses weight stacks, which weigh a ton and are connected to the wires, to keep the wires tight in extreme heat. The system works well, with the weights dropping toward the ground when temperatures rise. However, it has become so hot in recent years, including a record-setting 116 degrees in 2021, that there have been times when the weights have hit the ground.
By introducing the new, automated overhead wire tensioning system in some areas, TriMet will replace the weight stacks that have been in use. Enter a new, automated overhead wire tensioning system. The new system applies more pressure, about 3,000 pounds of it overall.
Rebuilding the eastbound and westbound rail crossing at Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue in Gresham will give motorists and MAX riders a smoother ride through the intersection. This current crossing was installed decades ago and is in heavy use. In addition to autos and MAX Blue Line trains, every train that enters and leaves our Ruby Junction Rail Operating Facility travels over the crossing. New track parts, including 50-100 rail ties, will also be added during construction.
Cleaning will also be a priority during the project. Crews will clean closed stations, remove litter and graffiti and clear brush on the east end of the MAX Blue Line when the trains aren’t running. Riders can expect to see more TriMet employees near closed stations and shuttle bus locations to help them make their connections. Look for people wearing green vests (On-Street Customer Service), blue vests (Ride Guides) or TriMet uniforms. We will also have extra safety and security personnel available to support riders.
Minor traffic impacts
Crews will sometimes need to work in the roadway. Auto traffic will be limited to a single lane near Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue and East Burnside Street, and traffic controls will be in place to help drivers navigate the work. Additionally, two four-hour street closures will be needed for rail welding, restricting all vehicular access to Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.
MAX improvements
TriMet works to keep our transit system in the best condition possible through regular upkeep and maintenance. This is why the MAX Blue Line, the second oldest light rail line on the West Coast, has provided millions of trips since opening in 1986.
As much as we try to work during overnight hours or in ways that minimize rider impacts, some work can only be done when we stop service altogether. We thank our riders for their patience and understanding as we prepare to kick off the project.
Tickets to any Thorns home game in 2025-26 can be used as TriMet fare before and after event
As the Portland Thorns prepare for their first home game of 2025, you can plan your free trip to Providence Park at trimet.org.
That’s right: free! For up to three hours before kickoff and after the final whistle, your ticket to a Portland Timbers or Thorns home game is your proof of fare on any TriMet bus, MAX or LIFT paratransit vehicle, as well as the Portland Streetcar.
The Thorns host Angel City FC at 7 p.m. Friday, March 21.
Go by TriMet
TriMet is the best way to get to and from Providence Park. MAX Blue Line and Red Line trains serve the Providence Park MAX Station, just feet from the stadium. Several bus lines also stop at or near Providence Park, including:
Riders can park for free at a TriMet Park & Ride to take the bus or MAX to Providence Park.
This is the second year we’ve partnered with the Timbers and Thorns to accept game tickets as proof of fare. We’re expanding that partnership in 2025 and 2026 to also include concerts at Providence Park!
Riding transit to cheer on the Timbers and Thorns is a breeze. Here are six simple steps to help guide you:
Step 1 — Plan your trip online at trimet.org. You can also set your desired arrival time, customize which modes of travel you’d like to use and how far you’re willing to walk or roll to the stadium, and find the best travel option.
Step 2 — Leave your car behind. Even if you don’t live close by a bus stop or MAX station, TriMet has dozens of parking facilities throughout the region. Park for free at a TriMet Park & Ride and hop on board. You can also track your bus or train with our real-time map at trimet.org.
Step 3 — Have your digital game ticket ready. If you go by bus or LIFT, show your operator the ticket as you board. If you’re taking MAX or the Portland Streetcar, display your ticket if you’re asked for proof of fare.
Step 4 — Hop off at Providence Park. The stadium is just a short stroll away. Say goodbye to having to hike to the game from a faraway parking spot!
Step 5 — Enjoy the game! Both the Timbers and Thorns feature some exciting new and returning players this season. Additionally, there are new concession options at Providence Park this year, along with a brand-new patio.
Step 6 — Head back on TriMet. This is a great opportunity to talk about the game with other fans, whip out your smartphone to buy tickets to the next home game, or maybe just put on your headphones and enjoy the ride.
Where to park
Slogging through traffic and finding a place to park is stressful. Plus, if you’ve driven to a Timbers or Thorns game before, you probably know that parking near Providence Park is more expensive before, during and after the game. Those event parking fees can drive up the cost of attending a game in a big way.
Unless otherwise indicated, TriMet doesn’t charge for parking at our Park & Rides. If you’re taking transit, you can park for free.
Park & Rides
Here are just a few places you can park, at no cost, to take TriMet to Providence Park:
Beaverton Creek, SW 153rd Avenue and Millikan Way in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, 9839 NE Multnomah Street in Portland (served by the MAX Blue Line, Red Line and Green Line, as well as multiple bus lines, including Line 15 and Line 24)
Gresham Central Transit Center, NE 8th Street & Kelly Avenue in Gresham (served by the MAX Blue Line and multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds, 601 NE 34th Ave in Hillsboro (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
Millikan Way, SW Millikan Way and 141st Avenue in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
SE Park Ave, 2735 SE Park Ave in Oak Grove (served by the MAX Orange Line)
Sunset Transit Center, 10470 SW Barnes Road in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line, as well as multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave Transit Center, SW 185th Avenue & Edgeway Drive in Hillsboro (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
Please be aware TriMet Park & Rides sometimes fill up on game day! The Sunset Transit Center is our closest Park & Ride to Providence Park. It also has a parking garage. That means it’s a popular place for fans to leave their cars. Just a 10- to 20-minute drive from Sunset, we also have our Beaverton Creek, Millikan Way and Willow Creek Park & Rides. They may be a better place to park closer to game time.
The MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines do not serve the Providence Park MAX Station directly. Riders can transfer at Pioneer Courthouse Square, which is served by all five MAX lines, or walk or roll to the stadium from there.
TriMet’s MAX Red Line offers a fast, affordable and hassle-free way to get to and from Portland International Airport
Spring break is right around the corner. It’s time to dust off your luggage, review your travel itinerary and plan your trip to Portland International Airport with TriMet.
This year, 820,000 people are expected to pass through PDX between Friday, March 21, and Sunday, April 6, according to the Port of Portland. With this being one of the busiest travel periods of the year, TriMet’s “train-to-plane,” using the MAX Red Line, will be the most convenient and affordable option for tens of thousands of travelers.
With money a major consideration for all travelers, no one wants spring break to turn into spring broke.
Taking TriMet can save you anywhere from $50 to $150 on travel. On average, a one-way-trip on the train to PDX is at least $40 less than using a rideshare,* taxi or airport shuttle. And when it comes to parking for the duration of spring break, it costs about $90 more to use PDX’s economy parking lot than it does to take the MAX Red Line. And from there, the prices go up. economy parking at PDX starts at $15 per day, while long-term parking is $24 per day.
But with TriMet, you can beat the crowds and save a considerable amount of money.
Riding MAX to PDX
This will be the first spring break since the MAX Red Line was extended 10 stations west to Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds in August 2024. The extension was the culmination of TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Project. It means more people than ever before now have the opportunity to take a one-seat ride to catch their flights, saving time and money in the process. The Red Line also serves the Rose Quarter Transit Center, a connection point for all MAX lines, and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, a connection point for MAX Blue and Green lines. Many of the Red Line’s 36 stations are also within a few feet of dozens of bus stops, making transfers convenient.
To plan your trip in advance to see if you need to make any connections, go to trimet.org/planner. You can also track the location of your train or bus in real time at trimet.org.
Ride and save
The average taxi or rideshare trip from PDX to Downtown costs between $30 and $45 (before tip). But on MAX, it’s only $2.80 for Adults – or $1.40 for Youth or Honored Citizen fare. That’s roughly the cost of the surcharge you would pay for a rideshare. Plus, travelers can’t beat the location of the Portland International Airport MAX Station, which is only 150 feet from the baggage claim area.
MAX Red Line operates for nearly 20 hours everyday, including late at night and early in the morning. But if your flight arrives or departs during the hours when MAX Red Line trains aren’t running, TriMet provides bus service in place of MAX overnight. This gives you another option to get to and from Portland International Airport, but there may be times when this service isn’t running. To find out more at trimet.org/MAXbus.
New Hop card machines
Hop cards are now available at TriMet’s MAX stations and transit centers as TriMet moves to phase out disposable paper tickets. Cards can either be bought, for a one-time $3 fee, and then loaded with fare, or an existing card can be loaded with fare at any of the machines. Everyone traveling will need their own card, so remember to purchase and load fare onto each card before tapping to ride.
Tap your credit card or phone
You can also pay by tapping your credit or debit card or your mobile wallet against the green Hop reader before boarding. Taps from a credit or debit card or mobile wallet are only good for Adult fare, and you will need to use one payment device per family member. Always remember to tap, as your Hop card, debit/credit card or mobile wallet will act as your proof of fare.
Travel by train or bus
For travelers who prefer a train-to-train option, TriMet can also get you to Union Station to catch Amtrak. MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines, as well as various TriMet bus lines, serve Amtrak’s Union Station. You can also connect with the Greyhound or FlixBus bus stops, located on Northwest Station Way, by bus and MAX Blue and Red lines.
Here to help
To plan your trip, go to trimet.org/planner. If you have questions, reach out to TriMet Customer Service by calling 503-238-7433 (RIDE) between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily. Real-time arrival information is available 24 hours a day.
On-Street Customer Service staff and security will be stationed at the airport to help answer questions or assist riders. Look for On-Street Customer Service in green vests and Transit Security Officers in bright yellow and black uniforms.
MAX Red Line
Did you know the MAX Red Line was the first train-to-plane connection on the West Coast? It was built as part of a public-private partnership that spurred major development and economic growth, leading to the development of Cascade Station, home to popular retail destinations like Ikea.
Since 2001, the MAX Red Line has seen hundreds of thousands of travelers off on memorable trips and welcomed just as many back to the comforts of home. Often, it’s the first thing visitors see when they exit the airport. It remains one of our most used MAX stations, with thousands of trips made every day.
For MAX Red Line schedules and maps, or to sign up for Service Alerts for the MAX Red Line, visit trimet.org/schedules/maxredline.
*The average cost of an 11-mile trip via rideshare between Downtown Portland and PDX is about $40
Annual day of recognition, March 18, highlights amazing work of bus, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and LIFT paratransit operators
Every day of the year, TriMet’s hardworking transit operators drive the streets of communities across the Portland metro area, getting people where they need to go.
On March 18, Transit Driver Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating these amazing public servants for everything they do for riders throughout the region.
Please join us in showing our bus, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and LIFT paratransit operators how much we appreciate everything they do! Check out trimet.org/thankyou for more information and resources.
“Transit operators deserve to be appreciated every day,” says Donnie Vercher, TriMet’s Director of Bus Operations. “Give them a wave or a smile, greet them when you get on the bus, thank them when you get off the bus. A simple act of kindness makes your driver feel seen, valued and appreciated.”
Operators who care
Being a transit operator is hard work! Our operators learn to control large vehicles, share the road with cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and other transit vehicles, and provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for their riders.
Even so, for many TriMet operators, it’s a dream job. Our operators feel comfortable at the wheel of a bus or the controls of a train. They look forward to the daily interactions they have with riders, greeting regulars by name and learning about their lives. They value small gestures of gratitude and respect, simple good-mornings and thank-yous that tell them their service is appreciated.
Here are the stories of just four of our amazing operators.
Ernest Huerta
For 13 years, Ernest Huerta has been welcoming riders aboard his TriMet bus with a friendly smile.
Ernest came to TriMet after working as a truck driver. He was looking for a steady job where he could put his skills behind the wheel to good use. At TriMet, he found what he had been looking for — including great pay and benefits.
Ernest found something else to love about TriMet, too. Instead of spending the day alone in the cab of a truck, he gets to greet riders throughout the day from the driver’s seat of his bus. He says it’s what he likes most about driving for TriMet.
“If you build the atmosphere, you’re nice to people, they’re going to reciprocate,” Ernest says.
Not only does Ernest appreciate the relationships he has built with his regular riders, he also enjoys meeting new people who get on his bus. That’s one of the reasons he likes working during special events, like the upcoming Portland Rose Festival. For him, every time he presses the button to open his bus’s doors is like opening a Cracker Jack box to find the prize inside.
“I’m always expecting the best,” Ernest says with a smile.
Cori Loggins
While Cori Loggins has only been driving for TriMet for a couple of years, our transit agency has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.
Cori drove for TriMet LIFT for a few months before deciding to apply to become a bus operator. (LIFT paratransit drivers work with TriMet as contractors, while bus and MAX operators are TriMet employees.) After a short time driving buses for TriMet, he became a MAX operator.
“I got the confidence doing TriMet LIFT, doing the smaller buses,” Cori explains. “It’s like, if I could do this, I can do a bigger bus. If I could do the bus, I could possibly do a train. So, it’s been a journey.”
Cori says that for him, being a transit operator is a way to give back to his community. He also enjoys volunteering with employee groups, supporting people in need.
As a lifelong Portlander, Cori is proud of the service that TriMet provides, and he’s proud to be a part of it.
“Right here, we have one of the best transit systems in the country, if not the world,” says Cori, whose wife also works for TriMet. “That’s a blessing.”
Shana Peck
Just two years after she was hired, Shana Peck was named as our 2024 MAX Operator of the Year. It’s a huge honor that speaks to the reputation for excellence and the respect that Shana has earned in a relatively short time as an operator.
Like Cori, Shana worked with TriMet as a LIFT contractor before she was hired as a full-time operator. Her goal was to become a MAX operator, and she achieved it within months of officially joining TriMet.
“It was always kind of a dream to come work here, because there was a lot of opportunity,” Shana says.
Shana has enjoyed the opportunity to test the new MAX Type 6 trains. She fondly recalls putting them through their paces at 3 a.m. as part of the “burn-in,” a testing period that prepares our next-generation trains to welcome riders aboard.
As much as she likes operating MAX, Shana takes pride in serving her riders. Many of them depend on TriMet to get around.
“Seeing how many people that don’t drive, it’s nice being able to make a difference in people’s lives, getting them and from work every day or to the activities that they want to go to,” Shana says.
Jim Zinn
After a career in health care administration, Jim Zinn decided it was time for a new direction. He joined TriMet in 2018, drawn to the job by the excellent benefits that our employees receive.
Jim is well known at TriMet for his sense of humor, as well as his personal warmth and generosity. He often carries a roll of sparkly stickers with him, using them to decorate the interior of his TriMet FX® bus with positive messages and giving them out to people. In the wintertime, when it’s cold outside, he’ll even give away gloves to riders who need them.
“I think that the operators that we have out there are truly amazing people who are working very hard to help everybody get around our city, and really actively thinking of ways to make things better in our system and on their bus,” Jim says.
Like Ernest, Jim says creating a positive atmosphere on his bus is important to him. He likes knowing that he’s made someone’s day a little brighter.
“What makes my job unique is the people — connecting with different people, listening to their stories, listening to people talk on the bus, hearing them laugh when they get on,” Jim says. “That makes it fun, and you don’t get that in any other job.”
Sharing the love
Our operators aren’t just the face of TriMet — they are our heart and soul.
TriMet first celebrated a day for transit operators in 2013. Our commemoration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day caught on! In the years since then, many other transit agencies across the United States and Canada have begun celebrating March 18 as a special day of appreciation for operators and other transit employees.
You might hear some friendly honking, cheering and applause if you’re out and about in Downtown Portland today! TriMet’s “Tunnel of Appreciation” has become a beloved annual tradition for our employees to celebrate our more than 1,600 hardworking operators. Hundreds of our employees take shifts on the Transit Mall throughout the day, waving signs and rooting on transit operators at work — including our partners at C-TRAN! Fans and passersby are more than welcome to join us.
While cheering on operators at the PSU Urban Center and Beaverton, Clackamas Town Center, Gresham Central and Rose Quarter transit centers, we’ve set up “Banners of Appreciation” there, too. Riders are encouraged to write positive messages on them. The banners will be displayed at our bus and rail operations facilities for our operators to see.
You can also send in your own message of appreciation for TriMet operators at trimet.org/thankyou. This website has cards you can print out for operators, a graphic you can share on social media and more.
And, of course, you can make any day your own personal Transit Driver Appreciation Day:
Say a quick “thank you” when you get off the bus.
Wave to your MAX, WES or Portland Streetcar operator when you pass by the train.
If you have an exceptional experience on TriMet, consider submitting a commendation! Visit trimet.org/thanks, or call or text 503-238-7433 (RIDE). Commendations are part of a TriMet employee’s permanent record. Receiving one is a tremendous honor that helps validate the work our operators do to serve people every day.
