Ongoing, agency-wide hiring efforts include bringing on mechanics, who earn at least $37.02 per hour and receive a generous package of low-to-no cost employment benefits  

When you’re a mechanic at TriMet, you make a difference before the rubber meets the road. Our maintenance team works around the clock to service a fleet of nearly 700 buses. They help ensure their safety, reliability and long life, for our riders, employees and everyone who shares the road. By now, you probably know that TriMet is hiring bus operators. We also have opportunities for good pay, benefits and stability, with a career in our Maintenance Division.

TriMet’s Maintenance Division keep us and you rolling!

TriMet’s Maintenance Division covers it all – cleaning, fueling, washing, repairing and maintaining our vehicles. As the largest mass transportation provider in the state of Oregon, the majority of our vehicles are buses. They are a workhorse. Our buses put on hundreds of thousands, even a million miles in service to our riders and communities in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.

Our fixed-route bus fleet

Our fixed-route fleet includes buses manufactured by GILLIG and New Flyer. We’re beginning to bring in new, 60-foot buses with an articulated center for our TriMet FX® – or Frequent Express – bus service. They’re made by Novabus, a division of Volvo. TriMet has eight diesel-electric hybrid buses, and we are growing our fleet of 100% battery-electric buses, with 10 currently in service and 24 more beginning to arrive in 2023.

Excellence and innovation

With TriMet’s commitment to excellence, our mechanics stay on the cutting edge of innovation and technology. Most of our buses rely on a drivetrain manufactured by Cummins, a company that we have partnered with to develop systems that are more efficient, environmentally-focused and extend the life of our vehicles. In late 2021, TriMet transitioned our entire fixed-route bus fleet to run on renewable diesel, a cleaner burning fuel that reduces the carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions coming from an individual bus by nearly 99%.

Preventative maintenance

Our buses typically provide 16 years of safe and reliable service, much to the credit of our Bus Maintenance team. TriMet’s established, Preventative Maintenance Inspection program has been recognized as an industry leader, providing a pathway for mechanics to be proactive, identifying repairs and addressing them, before a bus breaks down. The result is extended life and reliability of every bus in our fleet. For 2022, the average age of our buses is about five years.

Pay and Benefits

Under our Working and Wage agreement, TriMet bus mechanics earn a starting wage of $37.02 per hour, depending on experience. Mechanics are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757 and have access to a generous package of employment benefits, including: 

• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost
• Two retirement plans, with an 8% agency base pay contribution to employee’s 401a
• One week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with paid time off increasing over time
• Health and dependent care spending accounts
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program with mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, financial coaching and home ownership programs
• Annual transit pass (valued up to $1200) for employee and eligible family members
• 24-hour access to five exclusive, low-cost, on-site fitness centers
• Representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757

Mechanics play a vital role in achieving our mission, to connect people with valued mobility options that are safe, convenient, reliable, accessible and welcoming for all. Visit trimet.org/mechanic to learn more and apply today!

Join our team!

When you work for TriMet, you’ll gain the satisfaction and stability of working for our region’s public transportation agency, which has been serving the greater Portland area for more than 50 years! We are currently in a phase of continuous hiring. Visit trimet.org/careers to learn about all of the employment opportunities at TriMet, including how to become a bus operator and earn a $7,500 bonus!

In addition to bus operators, TriMet needs new employees interested in developing and applying their skills to keep the light rail system rolling

Five years after joining TriMet’s Maintenance of Way Department, Casey Goldin sees his present-day position as a future for others. He’s a manager overseeing TriMet’s signals system for MAX. And like the green-means-go, red-means-stop signals motorists are familiar with, our signals help keep trains running safely every day.

It’s a fix-it-up type job, reinforced by high safety standards, for people adept at troubleshooting. And for Casey, the signals expert, the greenlight is on for applicants interested in taking a new and exciting professional step forward.

“We really invest in our people,” Casey said. “Coming here, you’re not going to be hired and forgotten. We’re looking to develop you into industry experts.”

As TriMet continues to prioritize the hiring of new operators, we’re also hiring for several positions within our Maintenance of Way Department. The team is responsible for a lot more than just signals. They inspect and repair everything in our light rail system’s right of way. In addition to signals, that includes track, overhead wires and substations. They’re responsible for many of the projects that keep MAX trains running safely and reliably, often supporting work performed by contractors on bigger projects.

Maintenance of Way jobs provide opportunities to learn and grow professionally. TriMet’s benefits include an 8% pre-tax contribution to your retirement account, low- to no-cost insurance plans, one week of paid vacation (with the ability to roll time over) and up to 40 hours of sick time, among many other perks.

Jobs from the ground up

Our Maintenance of Way Department inspects, fine tunes and fixes everything from the track on the ground to the overhead wires 30 feet up. At TriMet, “from the ground up” isn’t just the domain of our intricate rail system, it’s the approach taken with any new hire joining an established team of industry-leading experts.

 “We need people who really want to lead the industry,” Casey said. “If you see yourself someplace, we’re going to foster that and get you to where you need to be.”

Open positions include entry-level jobs where there are opportunities for advancement. A Track Trainee, for example, will receive paid training before graduating from our Track Maintenance Training Program. Pay for the union position starts at $26.17 an hour, in accordance with our Working and Wage agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757.

Other open entry-level positions in the department include Signal Trainee and Overhead Power Trainee. These positions provide ample on-the-job training and independent work opportunities as the trainees become more proficient. Candidates with some previous training in electronics and mechanical experience are encouraged to apply to these positions. Once brought on board, you’ll be paid while deepening professional skills that will put you on the path to success.

More senior positions include Overhead Power Maintainer, Traction Substation Maintainer and Signal Maintainer, with starting salaries above $37 an hour.

Join the team

The worker shortage is impacting industries across the United States, as more employees in their 50s and 60s have chosen to start enjoying their retirement savings. The proportion of the U.S. population that’s of retirement age rose from 13% in 2010 to 16.9% in 2020, according to the US Department of Labor.

With employee attrition and not enough applicants to meet our expected hiring goals, we’ve been facing the most significant operator shortfall in agency history. The Maintenance of Way Department is facing its own shortage, with staffing at about 60% of where it should be. That means plenty of open positions for people with varying levels of experience.

Once you are hired, you’ll enjoy generous benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost
• Two retirement plans, with an 8% agency base pay contribution to an employee’s 401(a)
• One week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with paid time off increasing over time
• Health and dependent care spending accounts
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program with mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, financial coaching and home ownership programs
• Annual transit pass (valued up to $1200) for employee and eligible family members
• 24-hour access to five exclusive, low-cost, on-site fitness centers
• Representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757

Bringing in more exceptional employees is critical to keeping TriMet’s transit system operating at peak performance. With more people returning to transit, many of whom rely on it, you’ll be making a significant and positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people throughout the region. Join us to make a difference! Learn more and apply at trimet.org/careers.

Weekend shutdown of I-84 west near I-205 interchange from 10 p.m. June 24 through 4 a.m. June 27 to allow for construction on a new MAX bridge

A two-mile stretch of westbound I-84 near the I-205 interchange will close from 10 p.m. Friday, June 24, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 27, to allow crews to perform construction for a new light rail bridge over the freeway. Nighttime closures will also occur leading up to and immediately following the weekend shutdown.

I-84 west closure schedule

Weekday closures:

10 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly

June 22 & 23, June 27-29

Weekend closure:

10 p.m. Friday, June 24, to 4 a.m. Monday, June 27

The NE 102^nd Ave onramp will also be closed at these times.

The closures are part of TriMet’s “A Better Red” MAX Red Line extension and improvements project. During the weekend shutdown, crews will drill a 102-foot deep shaft for the new light rail bridge’s foundation next to I-84. Once completed, the bridge will add another set of tracks to carry MAX Red Line trains through the Gateway area, helping to alleviate bottlenecks there and improve reliability across the MAX system.

TriMet’s bus and MAX service will not be affected by the work.

Getting around the project

With construction taking place near the I-84 and I-205 junction, auto drivers heading west on I-84 will be able to take southbound I-205 as an alternate route. Drivers will want to merge back onto I-84 past the Gateway area. We encourage motorists to plan out an alternate route in advance and to expect traffic to be heavier than usual. You can visit ODOT’s TripCheck.com for real time traffic information. To plan a transit trip, go to trimet.org to use our Trip Planner and, for notifications about delays or disruptions, sign up for service alerts to be delivered directly by text or email. For information about the project, check out the webpage: trimet.org/alerts/i84/.

A Better Red to improve and extend MAX service

TriMet’s A Better Red project will upgrade our celebrated train-to-plane service to help serve more MAX Red Line stations, with improved efficiency that will be felt throughout our rail system. It will extend the Red Line west 10 stations to Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport, meaning more people will benefit from direct trips to and from Portland International Airport without needing to transfer. Currently, only the MAX Blue Line serves those ten stations.

Among the other improvements will be the addition of a second set of tracks in the Gateway area and near Portland International Airport. They’ll reduce the delays that happen when trains traveling in both directions have to wait for oncoming trains to pass. With the Gateway Transit Center serving MAX Blue, Green and Red lines, helping Red Line trains move more efficiently will also keep trains on time elsewhere. For more information about the project, visit trimet.org/betterred.

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration dedicates $99.9 million in funds for project to increase reliability throughout the MAX light rail system

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration joined TriMet and our partners in breaking ground on A Better Red Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. The project will extend the MAX Red Line west into Hillsboro to serve 10 more stations. It also brings 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 MAX light rail system.

The new and improved MAX Red Line service will be up and running in 2024. The project is made possible thanks to a $99.9 million construction grant award from the FTA, which covers a substantial portion of the approximately $215 million cost of the project.

“FTA is proud to join our partners at TriMet to support the ‘Better Red’ project, which will connect riders throughout Portland to important parts of their lives, by extending the MAX Red Line light rail and improving public transportation throughout Portland,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “We commend TriMet’s commitment to improving service, reducing delays and protecting riders by focusing on ensuring a state of good repair.”

“TriMet appreciates the support of the FTA, Administrator Fernandez Nuria and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to improve our transit system,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue, Jr. “While the MAX Red Line has served our region well for the past 20 years, we’re looking forward to a ‘A Better Red’ that serves more people, provides a more convenient alternative than driving and increases reliability throughout our MAX light rail system.”

Track improvements to increase MAX reliability

A Better Red will add a second set of tracks in two sections of the MAX Red Line between Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport. That will reduce delays where currently MAX trains traveling both directions on a single set of tracks have to wait for oncoming trains. It will increase reliability system wide as those potential delays can cascade onto the MAX Blue and Green Lines at Gateway Transit Center as well as on to the other lines in the interconnected light rail system. Simply put, A Better Red will make the MAX light rail system – powered by 100% renewable energy – a more attractive and convenient transportation option.

“It is so wonderful that we now have a leader in the White House who believes in science and will serve as a strong partner in the City of Portland’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions,” Portland Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said. “Thanks to federal support and local community commitment, Portland has been a leader in the national movement to reduce carbon emissions by making it easier for people to walk, bike and take public transit. We are looking forward to federal support to help us go even further, to help us use public transit to ensure that everyone has access to housing and jobs, regardless of your race or income.

New station serves as gateway to Portland, wider region

With the second set of tracks being added near Gateway Transit Center, a new Gateway North Station will be built. This will be served by MAX Red Line trains heading south from PDX toward Downtown Portland and allow for more efficient travel. The MAX station at the airport will be renovated as part of the project.

“Transit connectivity is essential to our success at Portland International Airport,” said Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “Twenty years ago, TriMet and the Port worked together to establish the first ‘train-to-plane’ service on the west coast. Two decades later, our partnership continues with the Better Red Project – which stands to benefit visitors to the region, resident travelers, and airport employees.”

A new multi-use path being built by TriMet and the Port of Portland will connect the Portland International Airport and the renovated MAX station there with NE 82nd Avenue.

A Better Red brings a better ‘Green’ – Gateway Green

Two new bridges will carry the new section of track at Gateway Transit Center over existing trackway, the I-205 multi-use path, Interstate 84 and Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

The new bridge over I-84 will include a multi-use path that will connect the new Gateway North Station with the existing platforms and bus stops at the Gateway Transit Center. To the north, the path will provide new access into Gateway Green Park, currently accessible only from the I-205 multi-use path. This is possible only through an important partnership between Portland Parks & Recreation and TriMet.

Not only will the new path make it easier for people to access Gateway Green Park, it will provide access to the park for emergency vehicles. TriMet crews will also regrade the south end of the park to facilitate bigger and better mountain biking terrain.

More MAX service coming for Washington County

A Better Red will extend the MAX Red Line into Hillsboro. Currently, the Red Line ends at Beaverton Transit Center. By stretching the line west to serve 10 stations where only MAX Blue Line trains stop today, more people will enjoy a one-seat ride to Portland International Airport. It will also mean more service in a section of Washington County where MAX trains were often overcrowded prior to the pandemic. Four new light rail vehicles will be added to accommodate the increase in service. 

“We know that expansions in public transportation are especially important to people who struggle to find affordable, convenient housing near employment areas, shopping, medical services and recreation,” said Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai. “To Washington County, the Red Line expansion is more than an investment in transportation. It’s an investment in creating safer, healthier and more livable connected communities.”

Putting people and diversity to work

A Better Red project is expected to create up to 1,200 jobs. With TriMet’s long-standing commitment to support businesses owned by people of color and women, 20% of the project’s design has been awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms, with 20% of construction funding expected to go to DBEs. To date, 40 firms have worked on the project, 24 of which are certified DBE, Minority Business Enterprise or Women Business Enterprise firms.

Funding & partnerships

TriMet thanks A Better Red partners: Federal Transit Administration, Port of Portland, Metro and Portland Parks & Recreation.

Funding:
$104.0 m      TriMet
$99.9 m         FTA Small Starts / SYGA
$8.9 m           Regional Flexible Funds administered by Metro
$2.2 m           Port of Portland
————-
$215.0 m      Current total project cost

Line 42 will begin serving riders March 5, one of three new lines system-wide

TriMet buses will start rolling on a new line for Washington County on March 5. Line 42-Denney/Hall serves communities between Tigard, Washington Square and Beaverton Transit Centers. It provides coverage on stretches of SW Denney Road and SW Hall Boulevard where service did not previously exist, and it expands service options on SW Lombard Avenue and SW Scholls Ferry Road.

“I want to thank TriMet for creating this new line,” said Mayor John Cook of Tigard. “As our area continues to grow and owning an automobile gets more expensive, comprehensive transit service is more important than ever before.”

Instead of traveling busy Highway 217, TriMet riders now have a new option which offers connections between communities of affordable housing and economic opportunities throughout Washington County.

“Line 42 is a great alternative to driving congested roads and will serve highly populated areas and employment corridors between Tigard and Beaverton,” said Cook. “This line will be welcomed by commuters and employers in both cities!”

Service on Line 42-Denney/Hall will be available Monday through Friday, with buses running every 30 to 45 minutes between 6:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Riders can make transfers to other bus lines, MAX Blue and Red lines, and WES Commuter Rail at Beaverton Transit Center and to bus and WES at Tigard Transit Center.

Three new bus lines added

Line 42 is one of three new bus lines TriMet is launching this spring, as well as making improvements to existing service. These enhancements are just one way TriMet is Making Transit Better. We’re making improvements to service and infrastructure system-wide as we continue to plan for the future, addressing transit needs along our region’s most congested corridors. These new lines and service improvements were made possible by an incremental increase in the employer payroll tax, approved by TriMet’s Board of Directors in 2015. They are part of TriMet’s 10-year plan to provide more and better bus service throughout the region.

Darcella grew up in East Portland. She attended Alder Elementary School, in Reynolds School District. It’s a school with a Portland address, but it sits in what often seems to be a gray area between Portland and Gresham. She remembers a time when farmland quilted the area, a time before there were so many stretches of strip malls, when streets were quieter, less crowded, and TriMet service was less frequent.

Over time, Darcella, grew to depend on TriMet. First the bus, then a combination of bus and light rail, after the MAX Blue Line started making trips to Gresham back in 1986. “I don’t drive,” she said. “The bus is my lifeline. I go grocery shopping with it. There’s no other way to get around. Going to and from work – any kind of activity… It’s just imperative to have TriMet.”

She talked with TriMet at the Rosewood Initiative, a community center she describes as one of the area’s best. It occupies a converted retail space at the Village Square, an early 1960’s era strip mall at SE 162^nd Stark. With floor to ceiling windows across the front of the building, winter sunlight streamed into the main room, which is painted in bright, coordinated color blocks.  One of TriMet’s newest bus lines, Line 74-162nd Avenue, will soon have a stop steps from the front door.

Darcella doesn’t hide her excitement for the new line. She says it will bring additional time and convenience to her life. To get to and from work now, she first catches Line 20-Burnside/Stark going west toward Portland City Center. “That can take, from out here, anywhere from half an hour at least,” she said. Then she transfers to Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd and begins travelling north. “That’s probably another 20 minutes,” she added. “That includes wait time, so especially during the winter weather and the rain, which we have in Portland, it can be awhile.”

Line 74 will offer an alternative, a North-South route along 162^nd Avenue from SE Powell to NE Airport Way. “Any time they add new lines, especially north and south, it would help for economic opportunities,” said Darcella. “There’s a lot of opportunity near Portland International Airport,” she added. “There’s hospitality, hotels, motels out there, housekeeping, front desk, maintenance, all kinds of things, the airport, they’re always hiring out there…. There’s packaging out there. There’s postal.”

Her assessment falls in lockstep with what the Rosewood Initiative’s Director of Transportation Equity describes as the importance of Line 74. Kem Marks is legally blind and transit-dependent. Although he lives just outside the Rosewood neighborhood, he’s a vocal advocate for service in East Portland. Line 74 won’t deliver everything he wants, at least not yet, but he says it’s a big step in the right direction. “It means that more people have freedom, freedom to go to more places at more times than they currently have,” said Marks.

He believes a new and more efficient connection to the region’s growing employment corridors is one of the key benefits of Line 74. “This is going to allow people access to jobs in the Columbia Corridor and to be able to make connections to other lines that may not be in the corridor, but the corridor is where a lot of family-wage jobs exist, and a lot of the people who live out here just can’t get there at the moment in a timely fashion.”

When it opens on March 5, Line 74 will offer service about every half hour, from approximately 7a.m. through 7:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. For Darcella, it will free up a little more time to do things she enjoys, but she hopes to see service expanded in the future. As ridership grows, TriMet will be able to look at that possibility.

Jenny Glass is the Executive Director of the Rosewood Initiative and advocated strongly for Line 74. “Really transportation is about connection and accessibility to all things,” said Glass.  “It will improve the quality of life for everyone living in this community and their ability to access employment and childcare and other services, education, so this will really impact thousands of people in this community.”

“This bus 74,” summed up Darcella, “it’s just another gold star for TriMet – the way it wants to help people move and get to where they’ve gotta go in a timely and safe manner.”

In addition to Line 74, TriMet is adding new bus lines in Gresham and Washington County, as well as improving service in East Portland, Milwaukie and Troutdale. For more information, visit trimet.org/servicechanges.

March service improvements include new service and route adjustments to better connect riders with employment, education, community services

New bus service and better access to the region’s employment corridors are ahead as TriMet rolls out improvements for spring 2018. We’re adding three new bus lines, adjusting three routes and adding service on some other lines to help people get where they need to go while improving the efficiency and reliability of TriMet’s bus service. These changes reflect our commitment to a 10-year expansion of service that aligns with the region’s projected growth and efforts to ease traffic congestion.

TriMet’s spring service begins on March 4. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner available at trimet.org.

New service

Line 74-162nd Avenue

Line 74-162nd Avenue provides a new option for north-south trips and allows for better connections to current bus lines. The route travels the length of 162^nd Avenue between SE Powell Boulevard and NE Airport Way, and serves the employment-rich Columbia Corridor. Service runs about every 30-35 minutes, Monday through Friday, with the first trip north to Airport Way at 7:00 a.m. and the last trip south to SE 182^nd Avenue at 7:21 p.m.

Line 42-Denney/Hall

This line will provide new service between Tigard Transit Center, Washington Square and Beaverton Transit Center. It allows connections to MAX Blue and Red lines at Beaverton Transit Center. The route brings new bus service to portions of SW Denney Road and SW Hall Boulevard. Service runs about every 30-35 minutes, Monday through Friday, with the first trip north to Beaverton at 6:14 a.m. and the last trip south to Tigard at 6:24 p.m.

Line 82-South Gresham

Line 82-South Gresham is a new line that covers a portion of the former Line 87-Airport Way/181st route and connects to grocery stores, other shopping outlets and bus service in east Gresham. Service runs about every 40-45 minutes, Monday through Friday, with the first trip east to Gresham at 6:11 a.m. and the last trip west to SE 182^nd Avenue at 7:07 p.m.

Better service

Line 87-Airport Way/181st

The Line 87 will now run all trips between Gateway Transit Center and SE 182nd Avenue & Powell Boulevard, with weekend service added.

Line 81-Kane/257th

Line 81 gets a new route. The line will run along Division Street and 257^th Avenue to provide quicker connections to Mount Hood Community College, the Troutdale Airport Business Park, and major employers like FedEx and Amazon.

Line 152-Milwaukie

The new route for Line 152-Milwaukie moves service from Lake Road to SE Harmony Road to provide a quicker trip to International Way and service to Clackamas Community College Harmony Campus. Frequency will increase, with peak service running about every 30 minutes.

MAX Red Line

More service improvements

Adjustments to the following bus lines help improve connections, ease transfers, better match traffic conditions or add capacity to meet rider demand.

• Line 1-Vermont – Added service in the morning and evening to better match ridership
• Line 10-Harold St – Added service in the morning and evening to better match ridership
• Line 20-Burnside/Stark – New stop location at Gresham Transit Center
• Line 33-McLoughlin/King Rd – Schedule change to reduce wait and transfer times
• Line 45-Garden Home – Schedule change to better match traffic conditions
• Line 52-Farmington/185th – New stop location at Beaverton Transit Center
• Line 71-60th Ave – More morning and afternoon service to meet rider demand

Improving the ride

As part of our commitment to better bus service, we’re also improving the ride. Since 2012, TriMet has added 512 new buses, reducing the average age of our fleet to about seven years. Newer buses improve reliability, use cleaner-burning fuel technologies that reduce carbon emissions and make for a smoother, more enjoyable ride.