TriMet is introducing a faster path for new hires, allowing you to qualify for MAX training right after bus operator training

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

A new fast-track for operating MAX trains can help move your career full speed ahead. TriMet has made it quicker than ever to join the team and become a MAX operator. Newly hired bus operator candidates not only get a $7,500 hiring bonus and earn a starting wage of $25.24 an hour, they also will immediately qualify for MAX training once they complete bus operator training. Previously, operators had to wait six months before applying to make the switch to the light rail system.

The move, made alongside Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757, is effective for operators hired between June 11, 2022, through June 2023. The quicker pipeline for new MAX operators comes as TriMet faces a severe operator shortage, which has led to canceled buses and trains almost daily. It is also forcing us to reduce service levels temporarily for buses starting Sept. 18, 2022. No cuts to MAX service are planned in order to preserve service as best we can for communities of concern. That’s why we are accelerating the path for new hires, allowing them to move to MAX more quickly.

We apologize to our riders for any delays they’ve encountered stemming from the operator shortage. We’re pulling out all the stops to hire and train more operators in the hopes of adding service levels back in 2023.

MAX opportunities

An operator’s transition from bus to rail may not be immediate, but it will be much faster than before. MAX classes begin about every four weeks and are limited to nine students to help ensure there’s individualized, hands-on instruction. In addition to the practical instruction—learning the technical ins and outs and actually operating a train—students receive further instruction in the classroom and using our virtual reality program, which replicates troubleshooting scenarios operators may encounter. During their 11 weeks of training, operators receive their full salary as they learn the nuances of something new and exciting.

MAX training is all about helping operators succeed! Demonstrating you can operate a train safely and within the bounds of federally mandated regulations is essential before graduating from the program. This high skills job comes with great rewards.

“The training was fantastic. If you make it through training, and you’re trusted to get on the rails, that means TriMet really knows you can do your job,” Rail Operator Jeff Flanagan said. “The most enjoyable part of the job would be knowing that you’re helping people get to and from work–and just to be able to operate a train. I think that’s a pretty cool opportunity, where you’re transporting anywhere from 40 to 60 to 100 people sometimes.”

If an operator does not pass the MAX training program, or simply decides it’s not for them, their job in bus transportation will still be waiting for them. From there, many opportunities for advancement and promotion exist, such as becoming a field supervisor, station agent, customer safety supervisor, dispatcher and more!

At the controls of cutting edge

New MAX operators will be on the cutting edge with the latest light rail technology. Starting later this year, the first of TriMet’s newest MAX trains—what we call our Type 6—will start arriving at our facilities. Manufactured by Siemens Mobility, these new models will replace our oldest trains—the ones with stairs at the doors—that have been carrying riders since 1986.

Those joining the ranks of TriMet’s MAX operators will be among the first to get behind the controls of these brand new vehicles and will play an important part in the agency’s future.

Join the team!

Looking for a change? Interested in new challenges? Eager to receive paid training that will set you up for success? New hires receive a $7,500 hiring bonus and starting salary of $25.24 an hour, whether you stay in bus or move to MAX. Operator jobs also come with stability, security and comprehensive benefits. These include insurance, a retirement account with an 8% agency base pay contribution, paid vacation and up to 40 hours of sick leave in the first year (with paid time off increasing over time) in addition to much more. More than even that, there are ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Visit trimet.org/careers to learn about all of the employment opportunities at TriMet.

Tentative extension through 2024 includes wage increases

TriMet and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757 leadership are proposing to extend the current union Working and Wage Agreement that is set to expire on Nov. 30, 2022. The tentative agreement maintains all provisions of the existing union contract through November 2024, but includes important wage increases. If approved, the new contract would provide for a 7.5% increase effective on December 1, 2022, and a 4% increase effective on December 1, 2023. The raises are important, especially as the agency faces service cuts due to an historic operator shortage.

 “Our union staff are the lifeblood of TriMet, and I’m excited we can get a pay increase into their hands with this joint action,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “Our union employees have worked incredibly hard throughout this pandemic, keeping our community moving during a challenging time. I’m proud we can make this move for them.”

“The ink has barely dried on our last contract, and there are still some things to iron out there, but the parties will greatly benefit from this additional time to gear up for our next round of negotiations,” said ATU 757 President Shirley Block. “Far more importantly, this would bring our members some certainty. A moment to breathe, knowing that we won’t have to wait months or years on end for answers, for retroactive wages, while footing any extra healthcare bills while they wait.”

The tentative agreement would increase wages across all union work groups throughout TriMet. Union members must first vote to ratify the new contract and then the TriMet Board of Directors must vote to approve. 

Beginning with our fall service change in September, TriMet will shift, reduce or cancel some service until operator numbers increase further

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

TriMet is adjusting service on 10  bus lines this fall as we temporarily reduce service levels based on our available workforce. This comes amid the largest operator shortage in agency history. While most of the affected lines currently see low ridership, TriMet took a balanced and careful approach with an eye on preserving service in areas with high concentrations of people with low-incomes and communities of color.

Reduced service will take affect starting on September 18, 2022. We aim to begin adding back the service hours in 2023 as long as our operator ranks continue to increase.

“We would much rather be expanding our transit service. But by reducing our service levels, we increase our schedule reliability so riders experience fewer canceled or late buses,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue, Jr. “While rebounding from this historic operator shortage will take some time, TriMet is committed to hiring scores of new operators to meet the needs of our community.”

Temporary service level reductions

Beginning with our fall service change in September, TriMet will shift, reduce or cancel some service, with a focus on low ridership lines and times.

• Cancel two bus lines: 50-Cedar Mill and 92-South Beaverton Express
• Reduce service hours on three low-ridership bus lines to only run buses during peak travel time for high school students: 1-Vermont, 18-Hillside and 26-Thurman/NW 18th. With this change, line 26-Thurman/NW 18th Ave will also not have weekend service.
• Cancel extra weekday rush-hour trips on three bus lines as peak ridership trends have changed: 8-Jackson Park/NE 15th, 9-Powell Boulevard and 72-Killingsworth/82nd Ave
• Cancel extra trips added during the pandemic for physical distancing on one bus line: 81-Kane/257th
• Reduce frequency on one low-ridership bus line to hourly service: 82-South Gresham

TriMet will also be making some slight adjustments with our TriMet FX™ (Frequent Express) bus service launching on Sept. 18. The new service along Division Street will still give riders a faster and more convenient way to travel between Gresham and Downtown Portland, using longer buses with multiple-door boarding and transit-priority in key locations. Once up and running, it will improve service along the busy corridor, reducing travel times by 20%.

Buses on the FX2-Division line will run every 12 minutes for the majority of the day with only a couple of buses added during commuting hours. With the Line 2 being replaced by the FX2-Division, the Line 10-Harold St route will still change and weekend service will be added. But we will not be able to add buses during the weekdays as we had planned.

Forward Together

The trickle-down effects of our operator shortage can cause frustration despite our best efforts. In short: it’s been a challenge to hire and train enough operators to replace those lost to retirement and attrition. And we’re not alone. Because our operator shortage is part of a larger trend affecting transit agencies and industries nationwide, we’ve taken unprecedented actions to recruit and retain the talented workforce on which our riders rely. We’ve bumped up the starting pay to $25.24, boosted our hiring bonus to $7,500 and begun looking outside state lines to bring in new operators.

When we do grow our operator ranks and start 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. And the community is involved. We’re asking if we should focus buses on where people ride the most or spread them out to serve more neighborhoods. We’ll be sharing more about the effort in the coming months.

Join the team!

Join us in helping people reach destinations around the region while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution.

In addition to a starting salary of $25.24 an hour and a $7,500 hiring bonus, TriMet operators receive many other benefits that only increase over time:

• Operators receive regular pay increases over their first three years, with pay topping out at $68,000 annually for full-time employees.
• All new bus operators receive seven weeks of paid training, including commercial driver’s license (CDL) education and certification.
• With our retirement accounts, TriMet makes a monthly contribution of 8% for union employees based on their pay.

• Bus operators accrue one week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours sick leave in the first year of employment, with time off increasing after the first year.
• TriMet offers health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans and contributes up to 95% of monthly health insurance premiums.  
• All employees and eligible family members can receive an annual transit pass (valued up to $1200).
• Employees and eligible family members have 24-hour access to five exclusive on-site fitness centers, with plans starting at just $13/month.
• TriMet bus operators receive representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757.

You can put yourself in the driver’s seat and join the TriMet team by visiting trimet.org/driveforus.

Following 2 ½ years of construction, TriMet’s Division Transit Project is nearly complete, with better bus service benefiting communities from Gresham to Downtown Portland just 100 days away

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

With construction of the Division Transit Project nearly complete, we’re counting down 100 days to the launch of our new TriMet FX®, or Frequent Express, bus service. FX means better TriMet bus service for the Division Street corridor, stretching between Gresham and Downtown Portland. 

When FX2-Division opens on September 18, it will give transit riders in our region a faster, more reliable and convenient way to get around. FX has new, longer buses with multiple-door boarding; enhanced stations with seating and TransitTracker™ displays; and will use special signals, signs and lanes on Division Street, to help riders keep moving when the cars around their bus are stuck in traffic. 

Construction of the Division Transit Project kicked off in early 2020. As of June, we have completed the majority of construction, and the project remains on time and under budget. Now, with FX2-Division’s official opening in just 100 days, we’re adding up the many benefits, not just for transit riders but everyone who shares the road.

Division Transit Project by the numbers

Bigger buses with 60% more space on board for riders

FX2-Division will use 60-foot buses, with 60% more room on board than an average bus. Even though the buses are longer, they are the same width as a 40-foot bus, but with a “bendy” or articulated section to help with safe turns. Our 31 new FX buses are the first articulated buses to join TriMet’s fleet in more than 20 years!

We are using renewable diesel to fuel all of our FX buses as well as all of our diesel buses. Renewable diesel is a cleaner, low-carbon fuel resulting in dramatically less greenhouse gas emissions. This makes our buses an even more environmentally friendly travel option than ever before.

Up to 20% improvement in bus travel times between Gresham and Downtown Portland! 

One of the biggest benefits of our FX service is faster service and with FX2-Division, we’re keeping buses moving with: 

• Transit priority: We worked with our transportation partners at the cities of Portland and Gresham to incorporate special signals, signs and lanes in key locations to help buses skip past traffic and keep riders moving
• All-door boarding: FX buses have three doors for faster boarding to let riders pay their fare, hop on board and get going
• Bikes on board: With space on board for bikes, there’s no need to stop and load your bike on the front of the bus

Better frequency, with buses arriving every 12 minutes

We’re making our Frequent Service even better with the launch of FX2-Division. Riders will see buses arriving every 12 minutes.

More than 80 bus stop stations with features that make riding easier and more convenient

We’ve constructed 42 pairs of bus stop stations to serve riders on Division, between Gresham’s Cleveland Park and Ride and Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People. Stations are located in areas with highest ridership to help reduce travel time while providing important transit connections to MAX and many other bus lines. They include features such as seating, lighting, rain and wind protection, TransitTracker™ displays and trash cans. They are all ADA-accessible.

More than 80,000 square feet of improved sidewalks, 4.5 miles of protected bike lanes 11 new marked crosswalks and more, to make our community safer for all who share the road

We thank our partners with the cities of Gresham and Portland for their partnership throughout construction of the Division Transit Project and their support for better bus service in the Division Street corridor. When transit is fast, reliable and convenient, people are more likely to ride. And, with more people choosing our service, there’s less traffic and air pollution, contributing to more livable communities throughout our region.

TriMet also thanks our prime contractor, Raimore Construction, and regional transportation partners, who worked through challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the project moving forward through two years of unprecedented challenges.

With physical construction of the Division Transit Project substantially complete, crews are focused on finishing work, including installing electrical components, station lighting, shelter glass and railing at some locations. FX2-Division officially opens for service on Sunday, Sept. 18. 

Steer your career

TriMet is hiring bus operators. If you can see yourself behind the wheel of an FX bus, an electric bus or one of the 700 workhorse buses that serve our riders daily, join our team and put yourself in the driver’s seat! New operators earn $25.24 an hour to start and are eligible for a $7,500 bonus, in addition to benefits like health, dental and vision plans with low- to no-cost, a 401a retirement plan with an 8% employer contribution and up to $25,000 in life insurance for full-time operators, provided by TriMet. Plus, you’ll gain the satisfaction and stability of working for TriMet, a public agency, which has been serving the greater Portland area for more than 50 years! Visit trimet.org/drive to learn more and apply.

New bus station platforms on Division at 82nd, 93rd and 122nd will open to Line 2 riders on Sunday, June 12, with connections to MAX Green Line

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

Riders on TriMet’s Line 2-Division will begin using more select Division Transit Project bus stations on Sunday, June 12. These stations are located on SE Division Street at 82nd Avenue westbound and eastbound, 93rd Avenue westbound and eastbound and 122nd Avenue westbound and eastbound. The 93rd stations provide connections to MAX Green Line for trips to Clackamas, Downtown Portland and other destinations.

The Division Transit Project lays the foundation for our new type of bus service—TriMet FX™ or Frequent Express—that will begin running on Sunday, Sept. 18. We’re opening these stations early to benefit Line 2 riders and improve access to safer crossings for all users.

Using the new stations

Shared bike and pedestrian design

The stations on SE Division at 93rd Avenue, both westbound and eastbound, and the westbound station at 122nd Avenue use the shared bike and pedestrian design. Line 2 riders have been using this type of station at 130th and 135th avenues since March 2021. We also opened this station type at 112th Avenue in February 2022. Cyclists, bus riders and people passing by share the space, with the bike lane near the front of the platform where the buses stop. Cyclists are required to stop when approaching the station at the “wait here” marking when a bus is stopped so riders can board or exit the bus.

Island design

The stations at 82nd Avenue westbound and eastbound and at 122nd eastbound use the island design. For this station type, riders should wait on the station platform for the bus to arrive. A green bike lane is located behind the station platform. Cyclists must yield to pedestrians at the two marked crossings when bicycling though the station area.

Finishing Project Construction

Station amenities, including shelters with seating, digital information displays and trashcans are in place each station. TransitTracker™ will be turned on when FX service begins in September.

Crews are completing Division Transit Project construction through the summer, including installing electrical components, station lighting, shelter glass and railing at some locations. Access to some station platforms may be temporarily limited during this work.

“Division Transit Project construction is winding down, paving the way for FX2-Division to open in September,” said Division Transit Project Project Manager Michael Kiser. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we finish the work to bring better service to the Division Street corridor.”

TriMet’s standard 40-foot buses will serve the stations until FX2-Division service begins in September. It will run between Downtown Portland and Gresham as we retire the current Line 2. 

Learn more about Division Transit Project’s four station types here.

FX2-Division

Our first FX bus line will roll into service on Sunday, Sept. 18. It will feature longer buses with 60% more room on board, 20% faster ride time between Gresham and Downtown Portland and improvements like special signals, signs and lane striping that give buses an advantage in traffic. FX2-Division buses will arrive every 12 minutes during peak travel times.

Get in the driver seat

If you’ve ever dreamed of sitting behind the wheel of one of our big, new, FX articulated buses, an electric bus or one of the 700 workhorse buses that serve our riders daily, join our team and put yourself in the driver’s seat!

We’re currently hiring bus operators who will help drive our future. New operators earn $25.24 an hour to start and are eligible for a $7,500 bonus, in addition to benefits like health, dental and vision plans with low- to no-cost, a 401a retirement plan with an 8% employer contribution and up to $25,000 in life insurance for full-time operators, provided by TriMet. Plus, you’ll gain the satisfaction and stability of working for TriMet, a public agency, which has been serving the greater Portland area for more than 50 years! Visit trimet.org/drive to learn more and apply today! 

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  

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

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!

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