The Blue Line will be disrupted from Nov. 12-19 for construction near Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport MAX Station
On the heels of a weekend disruption and construction along the MAX Red Line in Northeast Portland, TriMet is planning for another MAX shutdown less than three weeks from now, as part of our continuing A Better Red project. The upcoming disruption will come at the other end of the improvement project—in Hillsboro.
The MAX Blue Line, from Orenco/NW 231st Ave Station to the end of the line in Hillsboro, will be disrupted from Saturday, Nov. 12, through Saturday, Nov. 19. This will allow crews to work in the track at the Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport Station. The eight days of work are part of TriMet’s ongoing construction of A Better Red, our MAX Red Line extension and reliability project.
Under construction since September 2021, A Better Red will improve reliability and help trains move better throughout the system. With work scheduled to complete in 2024, the project will extend the Red Line 10 stations west, from Beaverton Transit Center to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, adding capacity on board in a growing job center of Washington County. It’s also adding a second track to sections near Portland International Airport and the Gateway Transit Center to alleviate train traffic choke points.
Navigating the disruption: Nov. 12-19
Riders in Hillsboro will want to plan for at least an extra 30 minutes for their MAX Blue Line trips during the disruption. TriMet will run shuttle buses to serve stations between Orenco/NW 231st Ave Station and Hatfield Government Center. Blue Line trains elsewhere in the system will be running normally on their regular schedules, and no other MAX lines will be affected.
Shuttle buses will depart about every 15 minutes and will serve some extra stops—a total of 11—along the way to ensure riders get to where they’re going. Signs will be posted and additional TriMet staff will be on hand at select stations to help riders make connections. To plan ahead, go to trimet.org and use our trip-planning tools and sign up for alerts.
Riders 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., or send us a direct message or follow us on Twitter and send a direct message to @trimethelp.
Improving the MAX system
During the disruption, crews will replace parts of the track turn-outs—the areas where trains can cross from one track to another—and also replace timber ties near the Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport Station, the future terminus for the MAX Red Line. They will also install new powered switch machines and signals equipment as well as build an operator walkway and crossing.
Operator break room under construction at Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport.
The purpose of the work is to prepare the track and nearby station for future MAX Red Line service. While MAX Blue and Red line trains both currently serve a large swath of the same trackway between Gateway Transit Center and Beaverton Transit Center, upgrades need to be made to some sections that will serve Red Line trains in the future to accommodate the increased MAX traffic. Additionally, a new 680-square-foot break facility is under construction at Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport Station. It will give Red Line operators a space to relax at the new end of the line after A Better Red completes construction in 2024.
A Better Red
When the MAX Red Line opened in 2001, it was the first train-to-plane connection on the West Coast and quickly became an eminent travel option for riders across the region. Not only did it become a cost-effective and convenient solution for reaching PDX, it added more capacity for trips between Beaverton and Gateway Transit Center.
When it’s completed, A Better Red will add to the benefits that riders have appreciated for the past 21 years. The MAX Red Line will serve additional stations west into Hillsboro, giving more people a one-seat ride to PDX. It will also bring important track improvements between the Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport that will improve reliability on the Red Line while keeping trains running on time throughout the entire light rail system.
Crews work on a light rail bridge north of the Gateway Transit Center.
While most of the construction has been able to take place without the need to disrupt service, there have been, and will continue to be, times when disruptions are necessary to safely do the work. Since breaking ground on A Better Red a year ago, TriMet has made significant progress and reached milestones along the way, including:
Constructing retaining walls that will support connecting tracks to the bridges.
Working along the trackway at Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport to build a new walkway for MAX operators.
Relocating utilities near Portland International Airport to make room for a second track.
We are very appreciative of our riders and thank them for their patience and understanding as we work to make A Better Red. For more on the project, visit trimet/org/bettered.
From Oct. 22-23, shuttle buses will serve stations between Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and Portland International Airport as crews install bridge girders at Gateway Green Park
Work on TriMet’s multi-year A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Project continues and will require another MAX Red Line disruption this month. Construction planned north of the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center will shut down the Red Line Saturday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 23. Shuttle buses will serve stations between Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport.
MAX Red Line trains will not be running anywhere on the system during the disruption. Riders west of the Gateway Transit Center will want to use MAX Blue Line trains, which will be running more frequently during the busiest hours to replace Red Line service. You can also use MAX Green Line trains to reach Gateway. But if you are heading to PDX, remember to exit the train at Gateway and look for the shuttle bus stop, marked by a large red sign, where buses will be arriving about every 15 minutes.
TriMet staff and our Ride Guides will be at select stations during the Oct. 22-23 disruption, helping riders catch their connections and answering questions. During the project, riders should plan an extra 30 minutes for their trips and go to trimet.org ahead of time. Our trip-planning tools will set you on the best path. They calculate the fastest possible trip, whether that means using shuttle buses that replace MAX Red Line service or taking an alternate bus route. We encourage riders to sign up for service alerts on our website to receive messages about disruptions delivered directly via text and email.
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 send us a direct message by texting the number or follow us on Twitter and send a direct message to @trimethelp.
Bridges Take Shape
Crews will use the weekend disruption to erect massive concrete girders for a new light rail bridge at Gateway Green Park, about a quarter mile north of the transit center. The bridge will span the existing MAX Red Line tracks that lead to and from PDX.
Girders are like the bones of a bridge, supporting the deck that lays on top and transferring the load down to the foundation. Unlike the steel girders that were recently installed on the other light rail bridge that’s under construction north of the Gateway Transit Center, these are made of precast concrete. While they’re heavier than the girders we’ve typically used, weighing about 70,000 pounds each, they’re better suited for the project due to their reduced height.
In addition to the disruption of MAX Red Line service, there will be intermittent closures of the I-205 Multi-Use Path that runs adjacent to our tracks and Gateway Green Park.
Once all the girders are in place, the structures will begin looking a lot more like the bridges they’ll eventually become. Once completed, one will extend over I-84, the Exit 7 Northeast Halsey Street/99th Avenue off-ramp and Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The other will be parallel to I-205 in Gateway Green and span the existing MAX Red Line tracks. Together, they will help move Red Line trains more efficiently through the Gateway area.
A Better Red
TriMet’s A Better Red project will extend the MAX Red Line west 10 stations to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, further cementing the Red Line’s status as the premiere “train-to-plane” connection on the West Coast. The improvements will also include a second set of tracks in the Gateway area—along with the two new MAX bridges—and near Portland International Airport.
The additional tracks will alleviate bottlenecks near the Gateway Transit Center where three MAX lines meet. These bottlenecks can create delays, which have a cascading impact throughout the rest of the system. The new bridges and tracks will help trains move more efficiently, not just on the MAX Red Line but throughout the light rail system, improving on-time reliability for MAX trains.
Since A Better Red kicked off a year ago, crews have been working near Gateway, along the MAX system in Washington County and near PDX. Some of the work has included:
Constructing retaining walls that will support connecting tracks to the bridges.
Working along the trackway at Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport to build a new walkway for MAX operators.
Boring for new pipes along Air Cargo Road near Portland International Airport.
We thank our riders and other travelers for their patience and understanding as we continue to reach milestones and make progress on A Better Red. When it opens in 2024, riders will have more reliable trips throughout the entire system. To learn more, go to trimet.org/bettered.
Inessa M. Vitko, M.P.A., to join TriMet as Executive Director of the Transportation Operations Division
Inessa M. Vitko will become TriMet’s Executive Director of Transportation Operations on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. She’ll direct all operational activities for our bus, MAX light rail, WES commuter rail and LIFT paratransit services.
Vitko has extensive knowledge across many transit functions and currently serves as Chief Operations Officer at C-TRAN. She began her transit career at TriMet more than 16 years ago before moving to the bus agency in Vancouver. With the help of Vitko’s leadership, C-TRAN has been named the American Public Transportation Association’s North America Transit System of the Year twice—in 2019 and 2022.
“Ms. Vitko returns to TriMet at a critical time as we work to address our operator shortage and work with the community on a major restructuring of our bus service,” said TriMet Chief Operating Officer Bonnie Todd. “I’m confident her expertise and caring leadership will help us move through the many challenges before us.”
“I am so excited to come back to TriMet with new perspective and inspiration,” said Vitko. “Transportation Operations is at the heart of everything we do, and I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to work once again with the team at TriMet serving our community while supporting our operators and employees on the frontline of our operations.”
Vitko has been leading C-TRAN’s largest department since May 2018. As COO, she oversees the work of over 300 union and non-union C-TRAN employees in the agency’s fixed-route and demand-response operations, dispatch, field supervision and customer service areas. She also heads the agency’s operations scheduling, marketing & communications, ADA compliance, and information technology efforts, as well as C-TRAN’s contracted security team..
Vitko served as C-TRAN’s lead on labor negotiations and has a strong relationship with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 leadership, the same union that represents TriMet’s operators and other union employees.
Vitko led her department through the coronavirus pandemic, making adjustments to staffing, service delivery, budget, and policy, while working in cooperation with the ATU and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) union to avoid any involuntary job loss. Earlier this year, her team helped C-TRAN launch The Current, an on-demand rideshare service that provides point-to-point service.
Before moving to C-TRAN, Vitko served as the head of TriMet’s customer experience team and helped elevate customer-forward thinking inside the agency. She also previously managed TriMet’s customer information department, served as a service planner in operations and worked as an administrator on the Ride Wise program that is now managed by Ride Connection.
Vitko played a key role in many major projects at TriMet, including the opening of the MAX Orange Line, the launch of Hop Fastpass® electronic fare system, coordination for major MAX improvement projects and service planning for the Transit Mall renovation, which was part of the construction of the MAX Green Line.
Vitko holds a Master’s of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics, both from Portland State University. She is a graduate of APTA’s Emerging Leaders Program and serves as an ELP committee member and national mentor. She is also a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership’s Leadership Development Program. Vitko is also a member of Beaverton’s Urban Redevelopment Agency Board and serves on its budget committee. She is an avid Portland Trail Blazers fan, hopes to see the WNBA come back to Portland and enjoys traveling and sailing with her husband.
About TriMet’s leadership team
TriMet’s executive team consists of the general manager, the chief operating officer and other chiefs/executive directors of the agency’s divisions.
The team works together to deliver safe and reliable transit service for residents of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The executive leaders are responsible for the performance of their employees, their budgets and ultimately their division’s role in the overall performance of the agency.
TriMet begins online, in-person and virtual public outreach on a “Forward Together” concept that could move more people to more places they want to go
COVID-19 changed where people go and how they get there. At TriMet, we recognize that we may need to make big changes as a result. As we come out of the pandemic, we want to make sure that our transit service reflects the current needs of the community. We’re launching a new phase of community engagement around changes to TriMet bus service that we’re thinking about as part of a much bigger transit concept we call “Forward Together.”
As part of “Forward Together,” TriMet took the most in-depth and comprehensive look at our bus network ever. We’ve now developed a service concept that would be a sweeping re-envisioning of our bus network and would give more people access to our services, to reach more jobs and places.
TriMet conducted an initial survey in spring 2022. Based on feedback from 5,500 riders, stakeholders and community members, we’ve developed a draft concept that would change more than 80% of our bus service. It would also:
Bring bus service closer to 50,000 more residents.
Make weekend service available to 100,000 more people.
Provide Frequent Service to 50% more people and jobs.
Make it easier to reach more jobs in 45 minutes or less.
What do you think? Are we headed in the right direction? Let us know by weighing in at trimet.org/forward. Responses will be accepted through October 31. Along with the online survey, we’re hosting open houses in person and virtually.
Forward Together Open House Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 11:30am – 1:30 p.m.
PCC Cascade – Lobby of Cascade Hall, 5625 North Albina Avenue, Portland
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Rosewood Initiative – 14127 Southeast Stark Street, Portland
TriMet would like to expand service by as much as 30% in the coming years, but what that could look like is much different today than before the COVID-19 pandemic. The “Forward Together” concept helps connect the dots. Early community engagement found broad support for two key goals: focusing on ridership and improving connections to destinations for people with low and limited incomes. The map (below) presents one idea of how these priorities could look, in terms of our service.
Do you agree?
This is big, and we want to know if you think we are on the right track. Feedback that we receive about the “Forward Together” concept now, could have a significant impact on how it looks in the future. That’s why public involvement is so important. Do you agree with the guiding principles and service priorities?
Improving access to opportunities.
An expanded grid, with new routes serving new areas in all three counties, especially East Multnomah County.
More Frequent Service bus lines.
More bus lines with service running every 30 minutes or better.
More and better weekend service.
New lines serving areas that are far from transit today.
Reduced service to some low-demand, mostly higher-income areas.
Let us know. Based on what we hear from riders, the community and employees through October, we’ll update our Forward Together concept into a plan for the future.
Riders could see the first system and service changes as early as 2023. However, full implementation of “Forward Together” is dependent upon ending our operator shortage. While TriMet is making progress, we are unable to predict when that might happen. We hope to roll out new service changes around the Forward Together concept within the next five years.
Learn more and follow the process as we move “Forward Together” at trimet.org/forward.
TriMet begins FX2-Division Frequent Express bus service, updates routes and improves schedules for fall, while implementing a temporary, 2% service-level reduction due to ongoing operator shortage
TriMet FX® is at your service, with a new type of transit for the 15-mile Division Street corridor, from Gresham to Downtown Portland. This morning, FX picked up its first riders, as our big, new, green buses rolled into service on Division Street. FX is a better, faster, higher-tier bus service, and it’s a first-of-its kind for TriMet and our region. What makes FX different? From its longer, articulated buses, to enhanced bus stop stations at key locations and transit signal priority technology that helps buses avoid traffic and reach their destination faster and on time, FX is optimized for speed and reliability in every way.
The FX difference: What to expect
15-miles of FX—Frequent Express—bus service on the Division Street corridor, between Gresham and Downtown Portland
Buses arriving every 12 minutes most of the day, with daily service from about 4:30 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
New, 60-foot buses with space on board for 60% more people and time-saving features including all-door boarding, Hop Fastpass® electronic fare readers at every entry and on-board bike racks
42 pairs of bus stop stations (more similar to MAX stations), with features like weather protection, seating, TransitTracker™ real-time displays and more
New transit-only signals and Business Access & Transit (BAT) lanes in key locations to give buses more green lights and keep riders moving past traffic congestion
An expanded route, with service to Cleveland Ave Park & Ride and use of the car-free Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, to cross the Willamette River
FX2 launch brings additional adjustments
As part of our launch of the FX2-Division service, we’re making adjustments to Line 10-Harold and updating stops at Gresham Central Transit Center and the Portland Transit Mall. We’ve also retired Line 2-Division. Line 10 will move from Southeast Ladd Avenue to Southeast 7th, to cover some stops that Line 2 previously served. It also now has weekend and holiday service.
All riders are encouraged to visit trimet.org to plan your trip! We’ve also updated schedules across much of the TriMet system, for streamlined connections between FX2-Division, many other bus lines and MAX.
More moves for fall 2022
Our fall service brings minor service expansions and schedule improvements to 16 additional bus lines. At the same time, we are reducing service on 10 bus lines, including canceling service on two low-ridership lines due to our operator shortage. Here’s what you need to know:
Schedule and route improvements: We’re adding buses to Line 17-Holgate to bring arrivals to every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. We’re also adjusting the routes of Line 20-Burnside/Stark and Line 24-Fremont to improve transfers. In addition, we’re adjusting schedules on the following lines to help keep buses on time and make connections easier: 12, 16, 21, 44, 45, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78 and 94.
Temporary service-level reduction: As we announced in June, TriMet will implement a temporary 2% bus service level reduction to address our ongoing operator shortage. Starting today, service has been adjusted on the following eight bus lines: 1, 8, 9, 18, 26, 72, 81 and 82. We are canceling service due to very low ridership on lines 50 and 92. We also reduced service due to our historic operator shortage in January 2022.
Forward Together
With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way people travel, TriMet has launched Forward Together, a comprehensive service analysis and community engagement effort to determine a better bus system. We’re taking a look at where buses are running now and where they should run. We’ll be sharing more about the effort in the weeks ahead and asking our community for help in shaping the future of our bus service.
Division Transit Project makes history as certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms paved the way for better FX bus service
TriMet, joined by the Federal Transit Administration and regional partners, held a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Portland Community College Southeast, to launch a new type of high-capacity bus service for the region.
General Manager Sam Desue Jr. adjusts the microphone for FTA Region 10 Administrator, Linda Gherke during TriMet’s FX2-Divison Grand Opening Celebration
TriMet FX® will provide faster, more reliable bus trips using longer buses with all-door boarding, streamlined stop locations, next-generation transit signal priority and dedicated bus lanes in key locations. The agency’s first FX line — FX2-Division — begins running on Sunday, Sept. 18, with service between Downtown Portland, Southeast and East Portland and Gresham.
Following the ceremony, TriMet, with the generous support of sponsors, kicks off a community celebration Saturday afternoon from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, presented by Raimore Construction, features family-friendly festivals along the route with free rides on the new green FX buses during the event.
A Division of Possibilities
TriMet welcomed FTA Region 10 Administrator Linda Gehrke to Portland to help commemorate the historic new FX service and the achievements made with the Division Transit Project. The project laid the infrastructure for the high-capacity FX service while making critical safety improvements in the Division Street Corridor and making history with the work accomplished by minority and women-owned certified businesses.
General Manager Sam Desue, Jr. kicks off FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration
TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr., Regional Administrator Gehrke, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and other project partners spoke at the FX2-Division Opening Ceremony about the transformation of the Division Street corridor and the new tier of bus service coming with the launch of FX.
“In January 2020, TriMet, the FTA and our partners kicked off the Division Transit Project surrounded by colorful images reflecting the diversity, culture and vibrant spirit of the Division Street Corridor; we launched a campaign we called ‘A Division of Possibilities’ and never has a slogan become more fitting,” said Desue. “Not only has the Division Transit Project made a better, faster type of bus service possible, the project transformed a high-crash corridor, making it possible to safely walk, bike and drive along and across Division Street. Now, more possibilities lie ahead with the launch of TriMet FX® — Frequent Express.”
“Today, we are celebrating another innovative project from TriMet — combining the capacity and reliability of the city bus with modern amenities that will mean a faster, cleaner, and smoother ride for people in Portland and Gresham,” said Gehrke. “FTA was happy to support TriMet’s Division Transit Project with $87 million, providing federal support to a project that will improve safety, lessen Portland’s environmental footprint and help get people where they need to go faster and more efficiently.”
“This project showcases how we can — and should — invest federal monies to help our local communities recover and become more livable,” said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon). “Investing in our communities — through transit, dedicated bike lanes and pathways, sidewalks, protected crossings — keeps people safe, healthy and economically secure.
“Metro and our regional partners have dedicated countless hours to plan high-capacity bus service in the Division Corridor that works with, and for, the communities it serves,” said Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. “It’s great to see our efforts and all the feedback from the community, especially those that served on the Community Advisory Committee, hit the road with the opening of the first FX line.”
FX: Faster, more reliable bus service
TriMet’s first FX line, the FX2-Division, will move more people faster and more efficiently along a 15-mile route, that connects Downtown Portland, Southeast and East Portland and Gresham. The new high-capacity bus service features new, longer bright green buses arriving every 12 minutes, all-door boarding and transit priority in key locations.
FX buses and all TriMet buses run on cleaner-burning renewable diesel. Known as R99, it’s a blend of 99% renewable and sustainable resources (like natural fats, vegetable oils and greases) and just 1% petroleum. TriMet will transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet, including FX buses, by 2040.
FX2-Division features:
Stations located where rider demand is greatest to minimize travel times while providing important transit connections
Longer, 60-foot articulated buses with room for 60% more riders
All-door boarding with electronic Hop Fastpass® electronic fare readers inside all three doors to reduce stop times (Those paying with cash must use front door.)
Bikes racks on board, rather than on front of the bus
A new type of technology that people using mobility devices can self-operate to secure their device
Business Access & Transit (BAT) lanes at key locations to move buses around traffic (The longest stretch of BAT lanes goes 12 blocks eastbound between SE 110th and 122nd avenues.)
Next-generation transit signal priority to move buses around traffic and more efficiently along Division Street (The new technology tracks FX buses in real-time and allows them first access at intersections. It can extend green lights and shorten reds and allows for ‘queue jumping’—giving buses at stations or in bus lanes the green light first to cross intersections.)
Built by the community, for the community
The Division Transit Project will go down in TriMet and Oregon history. First, TriMet awarded Raimore Construction, a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), the construction award — the largest contract for a DBE in Oregon. With the project, Raimore was determined to lift up other minority-owned businesses, awarding them subcontracts on the project for electrical, flagging, trucking, landscaping and other work. To-date, more than 75% of the construction on the Division Transit Project has been completed by DBEs — Raimore and 41 other DBE firms. That is the highest percentage of DBE participation on any major TriMet project and any major public transit project in Oregon.
“The Division Transit Project created an opportunity to build something better together and this project has proven that construction can be an engine of change,” said Jeff Moreland Sr., president and CEO of Raimore construction. “Together, we have built more than a bus rapid transit project — we built up people through jobs, careers, and economic opportunity. Communities flourish and experience a sense of belonging when given the opportunity to participate, share in profitability, and truly benefit from these community building projects.”
“FX is more than just a transit line,” said Metro Councilor and APANO Community Development Director Duncan Hwang. “The project has brought significant community benefits to this area, including supporting minority-owned contracting businesses and the development of affordable housing. Now, our community can enjoy a faster and safer transit line, as well as other much-needed economic benefits.”
Jeff Moreland Sr. accepts TriMet’s Legacy Award for Raimore Construction’s historic contracting work on the Division Transit Project
During Saturday’s ceremony, TriMet General Manager Desue Jr. and Regional FTA Administrator Gehrke presented Moreland and Raimore with an award acknowledging the company’s work over the past two decades with TriMet and its historic accomplishments with the Division Transit Project. The award reads in part, “You have created a lasting legacy, representing what can be accomplished through intentional partnerships and a commitment to empowering other small, minority-, and women-owned businesses.”
TriMet DBE Program TriMet adopted our first goals for engaging minority- and women-owned businesses in 1982. During the Interstate MAX project, TriMet created a DBE program that has become a national model. The program reflects the belief that people building the transit system should mirror the diversity of the region, by creating opportunities for DBEs as both prime and subcontractors on capital projects.
Connecting communities and opportunities
Before the worldwide COVID-pandemic, most TriMet bus riders along Division Street traveled on average about three miles. The new, improved FX service opens up new travel opportunities for reaching work, shopping, recreation and education.
“I am looking forward to the launch of the FX2 service along the Division Street Corridor,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. “These modern green buses will connect Portlanders to better jobs and services, helping businesses recovering from pandemic grow and thrive. Congratulations to TriMet on this historic moment.”
In addition to businesses, community services and venues, FX2-Division will serve multiple higher education institution. They include Portland State University in downtown Portland, OHSU at South Waterfront, Warner Pacific College and Portland Community College Southeast on Division Street, and Mount Hood Community College via a connection with TriMet’s Line 20 in Gresham.
“Gresham is a proud regional partner celebrating today’s historic launch after years of planning, collaboration, and community resilience,” said Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall. “The City of Gresham is committed to developing a transportation system that is more equitable, safer, innovative, and environmentally sustainable. This project represents the best outcomes government can achieve when we all work together for the betterment of everyone!”
Transforming Division Street into a safer place to travel
TriMet’s new FX2-Division buses will roll along a much different Division Street than three years ago before the Division Transit Project began.
“The connected efforts between PBOT’s Outer Division Safety Project and TriMet’s Division Transit Project have transformed one of the most dangerous high crash corridors in the region into a welcoming, safe access point for all—no matter how you choose to travel,” said Portland Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. “Making it safer, faster, and greener for people to move about their daily lives through a project that created living wage jobs enriches our entire region and public transit system.”
The combined improvements made by the Division Transit Project and the Outer Division Safety Project include:
Protected intersections— the first of their kind in the Portland region— installed at three high-use intersections (122nd, 148th and 162nd avenues) create a safety barrier between people and vehicles
Nearly 81,000 square feet of new sidewalks added to Division Street (59,000 square feet in Portland and 22,000 square feet in Gresham)
11 new marked crosswalks with stoplights, median islands or flashing lights
10 more signalized pedestrian crossings
Upgrades and lighting improvements to existing pedestrian crossing signals
New street lighting installed along the corridor at all new crossing locations
Some 4.5 miles of protected bike lanes, with physical separation where possible, to better guard bicyclists against motor vehicles
Protected intersections— the first of their kind in the Portland region— installed at three high-use intersections (122nd, 148th and 162nd avenues) create a safety barrier between people and vehicles
Raised center medians between SE 80th and 174th avenues, a proven tool for reducing crashes
Other improvements have been made for a better customer experience for FX2-Division riders. Buses will serve 42 pairs of enhanced bus stations along the Division Street corridor. Many stops are more typical to MAX light rail stations, with amenities such as lighting, seating, real-time bus arrival information displays and weather protection.
FX2-Dvision Opening Ceremony
TriMet’s FX2-Division Opening Ceremony at PCC Southeast brought together elected officials, community partners, staff and others involved in the Division Transit Project, to celebrate the culmination of the project and launch of the new FX — Frequent Express — bus service.
Speakers included:
Sam Desue Jr., TriMet General Manager
Linda Gehrke, FTA Region 10 Administrator
Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Congressman
Lynn Peterson, Metro Council President
Duncan Hwang, Metro Councilor and APANO Community Development Director
Ted Wheeler, Portland Mayor
Travis Stovall, Gresham Mayor
Jo Ann Hardesty, Portland City Commissioner
Jeff Moreland Sr., Raimore Construction President and CEO
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) congratulates Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick
Congressman Blumenauer and General Manager Desue honored Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick for her integral role in the Division Transit Project since the project’s inception. Along with Councilor Craddick, the late Metro Councilor Bob Stacey also was pivotal in the project from the beginning. A moment of silence was held for Councilor Stacey, who passed away on Sept. 8. Before joining Metro, Stacey had served as TriMet’s first Executive Director of Policy & Planning.
General Manager Sam Desue Jr. feeds lions lettuce as part of White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance ceremony
Also during the ceremony, the White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance Group delighted attendees with a Chinese Lion Dance. In Chinese culture, lions represent joy and happiness, and the dance is often performed during new year celebrations. General Manager Desue and Regional FTA Administrator Gehrke took part in a traditional feeding of lions with lettuce, which is a blessing of sorts for good luck and prosperity.
FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration
A community celebration is being held Saturday afternoon to mark the launch of the new FX line. TriMet thanks our generous sponsors for making the FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, presented by Raimore Construction, possible. Throughout the afternoon, people can visit three festival locations along the route: My People’s Market next to the OMSI/SE Water Avenue Station, PCC Festival Marketplace at PCC Southeast and Gresham Farmers’ Market.
Each unique site features local food and culture, live entertainment, exclusive giveaways and more. Visitors can participate in a paint-by-numbers mural activity at each festival site. The mural pieces, created by Portland artist Angelina Marino-Heidel, will be joined together and installed this fall on the Cascadia Health building at Southeast 42nd and Division.
In conjunction with the FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, the Division Midway Alliance is holding its annual Festival of Nations and many businesses are joining in the FX fun with offerings. People also have the chance to check out our big, new green FX buses and ride free during the celebration.
Funding the Division Transit Project
The Division Transit Project is projected to come in on or under budget. The initial cost was estimated at $175 million. TriMet thanks all our funding partners: FTA, City of Portland, City of Gresham, Metro, Multnomah County and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Funding Source
Amount
Federal - 5309 Small Starts Funds
$87,413,950
Federal - Other Funds (STBG, CMAQ, SP&R)
$31,617,758
Federal - ARP Act, Capital Investments
$12,963,076
TriMet
$24,083,116
City of Portland
$17,730,001
City of Gresham
$500,000
Metro
$285,612
Multnomah County
$130,000
ODOT
$104,388
Total
$174,827,901
The $87.4 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration comes from its Small Starts capital investment grants program. This was a one-time lump sum payment known as a single year grant agreement. Oregon’s U.S. Congressman Blumenauer helped create the Small Starts Program, which this project is funded under, and Oregon’s U.S. Senator Merkley strongly advocated for this project in his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
With numerous adjustments occurring across the system on Sunday, Sept. 18, TriMet encourages all riders to plan ahead and visit trimet.org to prepare
***UPDATE (June 2025): Hiring bonuses for new operators have now closed.***
Starting Sunday, Sept. 18, TriMet will launch of our first TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — bus line. Our fall service also brings minor service expansions and schedule improvements to 17 bus lines, plus updates to bus stops at Gresham Central Transit Center and the Portland Transit Mall. However, we’re also reducing service on 10 existing bus lines, including canceling service on two low-ridership lines, due to the current operator shortage. The 2% reduction in service levels is temporary to bring schedules in line with our current staffing while we bring on more operators. With more than 30 lines being adjusted for fall, we encourage all riders to visit trimet.org and plan a trip for Sept. 18 or later, to see how they could be affected by these updates.
Positive moves for fall 2022
FX2-Division: We’re launching our new TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — bus service, with FX2-Division starting on Sept. 18. FX2-Division will bring better, faster, higher-tier bus service to the 15-mile Division Street corridor, with buses arriving every 12 minutes and improved travel times between Gresham and Downtown Portland. New 60-foot, articulated bus can carry 60% more riders than a standard bus, and transit priority signals and lanes will move them around other traffic.
Line 2-Division: TriMet will retire Line 2-Division and replace it with FX2-Division. FX2 follows much of the same route as Line 2; however, it extends farther to the east in Gresham, to the Cleveland Ave Park & Ride. On the west end of the route, FX2-Division will use the car-free Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, instead of the Hawthorne Bridge, to provide new connections to OHSU and Portland State University.
Gresham Central Transit Center: We are reorganizing stops to support the launch of FX2-Division service and make transfers easier for riders.
Downtown Transit Mall: We are updating some bus stop locations for FX2-Division service, which will also improve connections for riders on other lines.
Line 10-Harold: We’re moving the route on Line 10-Harold from Southeast Ladd Avenue to Southeast 7th, to cover some stops that the retiring Line 2 had served. We are also adding weekend service.
Line 17-Holgate/Broadway: We’re increasing weekday service, so that buses run every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Line 20-Burnside/Stark: Buses are moving from Northeast Hood to Northeast Kelly, to improve transfers at Gresham Central Transit Center.
Line 24-Fremont: We’re extending the route to Collins Circle to improve transfers in Southwest Portland.
Bus schedule improvements
We are adjusting schedules on 13 bus lines to help keep buses on time and improve transfers. Affected lines include the 12, 16, 21, 44, 45, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78 and 94. The schedule for Line 70 will also be temporarily adjusted due to the closure of the Northeast 33rd Avenue bridge over Lombard Street.
Temporary service-level reduction
As we announced in June, TriMet will implement a temporary 2% bus service level reduction on Sept. 18, to address our ongoing, historic operator shortage. Service will be adjusted on the following eight bus lines: 1, 8, 9, 18, 26, 72, 81 and 82. We are canceling service due to very low ridership on lines 50 and 92. TriMet also reduced service due to the operator shortage in January 2022.
Temporarily reducing service to match our staffing levels means that riders will experience far fewer canceled buses, as we continue to restore our workforce. We hope to begin adding back service hours in 2023. TriMet’s incentives of a $7,500 hiring bonus and increased starting pay of $25.24 continue to drive applications. Starting pay for operators will increase by 7.5% in December 2022 and 4% in December 2023, under an approved two-year contract extension between TriMet and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757.
Forward Together
When TriMet starts adding back service, we want to make sure we are serving the needs of our community. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way people travel, TriMet has launched Forward Together, a comprehensive service analysis and community engagement effort to determine a better bus system. We’re taking a look at where buses are running now and where they should run. We’ll be sharing more about the effort in the weeks ahead and asking our community for help in shaping the future of our bus service.
Grand opening celebration on Saturday, Sept. 17 features multiple festival sites, food, live entertainment and free rides on FX buses
TriMet invites the community to join us Saturday, Sept. 17, to celebrate the launch of FX2-Division, the first TriMet FX—Frequent Express—bus line. FX will be better, faster, high-capacity bus service along the 15-mile Division Street corridor between Gresham and Downtown Portland. Before our big, green, bendy buses roll into service on Sunday, Sept. 18, we want to give you a ride and show you what all of the excitement is about!
FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration
Come See. Ride Free.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
My People’s Market at OMSI/SE Water Station | PCC Festival Marketplace | Gresham Farmers’ Market
To reflect and embrace the rich diversity of the Division Street corridor, TriMet will host festivals at three sites along the route: My People’s Market at OMSI/SE Water Station, PCC Festival Marketplace at PCC Southeast and Gresham Farmers’ Market from 12 p.m. through 5 p.m. Each family-friendly festival will feature food, arts, live music, multicultural presentations, special promotions and more. Admission is free.
Visitors will have a chance to participate in a paint-by-numbers mural activity at each festival site. Created by Portland artist Angelina Marino-Heidel, the mural is designed to unify the FX2-Division line with the community. Each of the panels will be joined together and installed this fall on the Cascadia Health building at Southeast 42nd and Division.
People will also have the opportunity to see and ride TriMet’s big, new FX buses that will serve the FX2-Division line. The buses, which are manufactured by Nova Bus, a division of Volvo, are 60-feet long, with an articulated or “bendy” center. The buses not only have room for more riders on board, they will help speed up service, with boarding at all three doors, Hop Fastpass™ fare readers at each entry, contactless, self-securement for a mobility device and bike racks on board. The 31 buses that TriMet purchased for the project are the first articulated buses we’ve had in our fleet in more than 20 years! Learn more at trimet.org/fx/celebrate.
Win prizes, collect FX memorabilia
Each festival site will have giveaways and incentives to encourage visitors to stop by multiple locations. Prizes include a one-of-a-kind FX bus LEGO® set sourced by Bricks & Minifigs Portland, a set of two limited-edition event posters, created by local artist Paul Lanquist and a 2-for-1 ice cream coupons from Salt & Straw. We’re also giving away lots of FX swag, including T-shirts, sunglasses, special-edition Hop cards loaded with fare, and more!
FX Grand Opening Celebration festival sites
PCC Festival Marketplace (2305 Southeast 82nd Avenue, Portland): Open 12-5 p.m. The PCC Festival Marketplace at PCC Southeast will showcase 34 vendors of Asian-inspired food and entertainment along with other neighborhood businesses and non-profit organizations. Summit Wushu Martial Arts Academy and the White Lotus Dragon and Lion Dance group are among the performers featured throughout the day.
My People’s Market at OMSI/SE Water Station (2201 Southeast Water Avenue, Portland): Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This festival will feature My People’s Market — a reimagined marketplace that brings a diverse collection of the Portland area’s entrepreneurs, makers, and artists together. The market will have more than 120 BIPOC vendors, two stages and a beer garden. Entertainment includes live music by local soul band Bridge City Revival, DJ Ashe and numerous other performers.
Gresham Farmers’ Market (401 Northeast Second Street, Gresham): Open 12-5 p.m. FX buses will drop people at the Gresham Central Transit Center, where entertainers will greet them. A special trolley and vintage bus will transport them to the Gresham Farmers’ Market. One of the largest markets in the region, it features local produce, fruit, flowers, nursery stock, handcrafted food items, and more. Live music performances include sing-a-long group The Low Bare Chorale, accordion quartet Paper Bellows and the Americana sounds of JT and the Mudbugs. The market location is also a short 6-minute, 1/3-mile walk from the transit center.
Photo by Jessica Vanterpool, Fli SocialPhoto by Portland Chinese Times Photo by Jessica Vanterpool, Fli Social
The festivals and FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration are made possible due to the generous support of our sponsors, including Raimore Construction, the presenting sponsor and lead construction company for the Division Transit Project. The $175 million project laid the foundation for TriMet’s first FX bus line.
Parking at festival locations and along the Division Street corridor is limited. TriMet will be running regular Line 2-Division bus service throughout the celebration. Other buses and MAX run by festival sites. Check trimet.org to plan your trip.
Division Midway Alliance Festival of Nations
In coordination with the FX2-Division Grand Opening Celebration, the Division Midway Alliance Festival of Nations will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Planned Parenthood parking lot at 14601 Southeast Division Street. This event is one of the longest running and largest multicultural festivals east of I-205. It celebrates the diversity of the Division Midway district, featuring cultural foods, performances, entertainment, vendors and community services.
Babblebuy Event Navigation and Business Promotion
We’ve partnered with local small-business app BabbleBuy to help navigate TriMet FX2-Division Grand Opening celebrations, including performers, activities, events and businesses involved.
Additionally, many businesses and restaurants along Division Street also will feature special promotions as part of the grand opening celebration.
Mark Dorn to join TriMet as Executive Director of the Engineering, Construction & Planning Division
Mark Dorn joins TriMet as our new Executive Director of Engineering, Construction and Planning. Dorn is a seasoned transit practitioner who brings more than two decades of multi-modal transit planning, engineering and design experience to the agency. He has overseen the engineering and construction of light rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar systems throughout the U.S. since 1992.
Dorn comes to TriMet from David Evans and Associates, Inc., where he worked as Director of Transit Design and Engineering, and prior to that, AECOM, where he served as Vice President of National Transit Practice. During his time with those companies, he was the design manager for the consultant team working on the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Extension Project.
Previously, Dorn served as Vice President of the Portland Transit Design Group Manager at URS Corporation where he provided project planning and design management support for a number of local transit projects, including the Portland Streetcar Eastside Extension (Central Loop), WES Commuter Rail and the Transit Mall renovation as part of the MAX Green Line project.
In addition to local transit projects, Dorn has been involved in the design and construction of multiple national projects:
Valley Link Commuter Rail Project, San Joaquin Regional Rail Authority: 40-mile rail system connecting the Dublin BART rail station to the city of Tracy, California
Oklahoma City Streetcar Project
SEPTA Trolley Modernization Master Plan, Philadelphia, PA
Seattle Streetcar – First Hill Streetcar Line: 2.5-mile Sound Transit funded streetcar system serving the International District, Seattle University and First Hill/Capitol Hill neighborhoods
Detroit Streetcar Project (QLine): 3.3-mile starter line, providing rail service from downtown Detroit to the Amtrak Station in New Center
Atlanta Streetcar Project: 2.7-mile loop service through the middle of Atlanta’s downtown
“Through his work as a consultant on large transit projects, Mark has cultivated a rich history in transit around the region and the nation,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “His extensive knowledge surrounding project delivery will be a significant asset to our Engineering, Construction & Planning teams and TriMet as a whole.”
“This seems a bit of a homecoming as I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with TriMet staff and regional partners on past transit projects,” said Dorn. “I look forward to leading the Engineering, Construction and Planning teams as we grow TriMet services and revitalize existing infrastructure to continue delivering the high-quality transit services our community deserves.”
As Executive Director of EC & P, Dorn will provide critical leadership for upcoming projects, overseeing the execution and administration of state and federal safety reviews, project requirements and the financial reporting structure for large projects.
Dorn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont and is a licensed professional engineer. His first day at TriMet will be Oct. 3, 2022.
About TriMet’s leadership team
TriMet’s executive team consists of the general manager, the chief operating officer and other chiefs/executive directors of the agency’s divisions.
The team works together to deliver safe and reliable transit service for residents of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The executive leaders are responsible for the performance of their employees, their budgets and ultimately their division’s role in the overall performance of the agency.
FX2-Division launches Sunday, Sept. 18, bringing better, faster bus service to the Division Street corridor, between Gresham and Downtown Portland
You planned your trip. You have your fare. Are you ready to ride TriMet FX®? TriMet’s faster, new, higher-tier bus service launches Sunday, Sept. 18, and we can’t wait to see you on board! While there are many similarities between FX and the fixed-route bus service that TriMet has been providing for more than 50 years, there are also some key differences, when it comes to finding your stop, boarding the bus, paying your fare and how our big new green buses will move you faster. FX works best when everyone does their part to keep things moving. Here’s what you need to know before you go!
Plan your trip: We’ve updated our website, trimet.org, with new schedules for FX2-Division. Plan a trip for Sept. 18 or later to see where you’ll catch FX and how your trip will improve. FX2-Division buses will arrive every 12 minutes for most of the day, every day, with service from about 4:30 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. and easy transfers to MAX and many other bus lines.
Find your bus stop station: We placed 42 pairs of bus stop stations for FX2-Division in areas where ridership and demand are highest. That means many riders will be using a new bus stop station as of Sept. 18. The stations feature weather protection, lighting, TransitTracker™ real-time arrival displays and other amenities, such as garbage cans.
Choose the best door for boarding: The longer, bendy buses that will serve riders on FX2-Division have three doors for faster boarding. Riders using a mobility device or needing the ramp deployed, as well as those paying fare with cash should always use the front door. Riders traveling with a bicycle must use the rear door. FX buses have bike storage on board rather than on the front of the bus, as another time-saving feature. Other riders can use any of the three doors.
Pay your fare: With most of our riders now using Hop Fastpass® to pay their fare, we’ve placed Hop readers at all three doors for ease and convenience. Tap your phone, Hop card, or contactless credit or debit card to the reader as you enter the bus. Pay with cash at the first door only. Unlike MAX light rail, Hop readers are located on board the vehicle and not at the station. As all fare payment is processed on board, there are no ticket vending machines at FX bus stop stations.
Select your seat: FX buses have plenty of room, with space on board for more than 100 people. Priority seating for seniors and people with disabilities is located near the front of the bus, behind the operator. Riders using a mobility device have the option to choose a traditional or contactless self-securement system. FX has forward-facing and side-by-side parlor seats throughout the bus. Riders in the very back may appreciate the rear window, which is a unique feature for our FX buses!
Enjoy the ride! Trips on FX will be faster, likely reducing the amount of time that you spend on board. While you’re with us, enjoy 60% more space that’s available on FX. Read a book, scroll your phone or just relax! Remember to press the yellow cord or red stop button near the doors to request a stop. Thank you for riding!
FX2-Division Grand Opening
TriMet is inviting the community to celebrate the launch of the new FX2-Division line on Saturday, Sept. 17. We’re hosting a huge party, with three festival event sites at the OMSI Bridge Lot, Portland Community College (PCC) Southeast and the Gresham Farmers’ Market. In addition to local food and live entertainment at each site, we will also have free rides on our new big, green bendy buses! Come See. Ride Free. Learn more!
FX – Fast, frequent, efficient
The $175 million Division Transit Project laid the foundation for TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — a faster, higher-tier, high-capacity bus service for the 15-mile Division Street corridor between Gresham, East Portland, Southeast Portland and Downtown Portland.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded TriMet $87.4 million in federal funding for the Division Transit Project, with local funding also being instrumental. The money didn’t just lay the foundation for better bus service, it helped increase safety across all modes of travel along Division Street, which is a high-crash corridor.
The project, along with coordinated infrastructure improvements planned by the cities of Portland and Gresham, including the City of Portland’s Outer Division Safety Project, will make Division Street safer, whether traveling by bus, car, foot and bike.
