Limited service impacts during construction’s first phase, starting, Tuesday, April 15 with the building of a temporary platform
The first phase of a major renovation of the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station will begin on Tuesday, April 15, with the construction of a temporary MAX platform that will open later this summer.
Construction of the temporary platform marks the start of a broader effort to improve one of the oldest and most heavily used stations in the MAX system. While riders may notice construction taking place near the station for the next few weeks, there will be no disruption to MAX Blue, Green or Red Line service during this first phase of the project.
Construction begins with a temporary platform
Initial work will focus on constructing a temporary platform located just west of the existing station. Once built, the temporary platform will have lighting, a weather shelter and signage. It will be connected to the main station’s elevator via a walkway. It is expected to open in June and allow TriMet to maintain uninterrupted MAX Blue, Green and Red Line service during demolition and construction of the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station, which will last through the end of 2025.
Minimizing impacts on riders
The temporary platform will allow the station renovation to proceed with minimal rider disruption. Crews will need to demolish significant parts of the station to rebuild it, which can only take place if the station is closed. However, the project will require a few short disruptions this summer and fall. TriMet will inform the public of those in advance.
Station updates focus on accessibility and design
Renovations to the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station are designed to enhance safety, accessibility and the overall rider experience while preserving key cultural elements. Planned upgrades include:
New concrete surfacing
A rebuilt stairway
A refurbished shelter that maintains its original design
The addition of a second shelter to match the original shelter
Updated lighting and signage
The removal of the inoperable mobility-device lift building, which has not been used since the mid-1990s
The replacement of outdated barriers with a modern guardrail
The mural by local artist Alex Chiu, located next to the elevator, will be preserved as part of TriMet’s commitment to celebrating community identity.
Strengthening community connections
Located at the intersection of transit and opportunity, the NE 82nd Ave MAX Station is important in connecting East Portlanders to jobs, education, healthcare and services. This project will help revitalize the station while laying the groundwork for future development and investment in the surrounding community.
All construction activity will take place at the track level between the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and I-84. There will be no changes to the station’s street-level entrance or elevator access during the construction of the temporary platform.
The project is part of systemwide modernization efforts aimed at providing a more accessible, welcoming and reliable transit experience for the Portland region today and into the future. This includes the introduction of our newest trains, the Type 6, which began earlier this year.
TriMet crews work day and night — cleaning trains, removing graffiti and scrubbing stations — to keep the system inviting
At the Cleveland Ave MAX Station in Gresham, TriMet Service Aide Matt Sunshine, equipped with the typical tools of the cleaning profession, steps onto a MAX Blue Line train.
Service Aides like Matt have about 10 minutes to wipe down surfaces, sweep out trash and mop the floors before vehicles depart. At the end of each MAX line, the trains have a brief layover to give operators time for a break. The Service Aides are trained to work quickly and purposefully. After all, this is the cleaners’ time to shine.
It’s a fast-paced job to make the riding experience as comfortable as possible, but Matt has found more than just work here — he’s found a sense of purpose and community that has kept him with TriMet through changing times. Starting as a temporary cleaner, he has become a part of TriMet’s expanding efforts to spruce up buses, trains and facilities.
“I got laid off from my previous job as a cook. When I was hired by TriMet, I was in the first group of COVID cleaners,” Matt says. “When COVID started cooling down, the restaurant wanted people back, so they called me, and I said, ‘no, I like it at TriMet too much. Sorry, I’m staying here.’”
He says the great environment and his dedicated and helpful co-workers have inspired him for five years. Knowing that riders appreciate his work — often thanking the team for what they do — is also a bonus. These factors are a major reason 2024 was a record-setting year for sprucing up the system.
Riders are taking notice of the more welcoming station areas and the heightened attention to maintaining a safe and inviting experience. Joan R. said she had stopped riding for a time but decided to give it another go after learning about TriMet’s efforts around cleanliness and safety. The riding experience exceeded her expectations.
“I used MAX yesterday, and it is a 180-degree difference — it is secure and clean,” Joan wrote in an email. “I am so impressed and pleased with the changes. I now have a HOP card!”
TriMet is not letting up! Riders have told us that cleaner, brighter and more vibrant vehicles and stations make them feel better about riding. We understand. Over the first four months of 2025, crews have notched 792 reports of pressure washing and 1,096 for track cleaning, setting us on track for another record-setting year.
Multiple cleaners, one mission
With a service area spanning 533 square miles, TriMet’s Facilities Management team and other crews play a critical behind-the-scenes role in keeping the region’s transit system clean, safe and running smoothly. In 2024, the department introduced the Clean Team and delivered major systemwide improvements — often under tight timelines and challenging conditions.
Matt explains what his days look like as a Service Aide, addressing the onboard needs of trains when they reach the end of the line — the last station on each line, where operators take breaks.
“Every time a train comes in, I hop on board,” Matt says. “I sweep up the trash. I wipe down the seats. I mop the floors. I make it smell good if it needs to be freshened up a little bit, and make it a more pleasant riding experience.”
TriMet’s Service Workers deep clean vehicles during the overnight hours.
All told, TriMet’s cleaners performed 36,982 activities at the end of all the MAX lines in 2024. Additionally, cleaners pressure-washed stations 3,170 times in 2024 and cleaned litter from the tracks 2,561 times.
Trains are cleaned throughout the day, and both trains and buses are cleaned once they’re done carrying passengers. Service workers, who work overnight between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., can give vehicles more attention by wiping windows, scrubbing off mud and performing more detailed work. Meanwhile, the Clean Team, made up of TriMet employees, focuses on maintaining cleanliness and safety at stations and surrounding areas.
Keeping our system orderly is a shared responsibility. Riders can help by using trash cans at stations and on board, avoiding feeding pigeons and reporting inappropriate behavior when you see it. To report a non-urgent safety, security or cleanliness concern 24/7, text or call our hotline at 503-238-7433 (RIDE) or submit a report at trimet.org/security. Every small action helps keep our transit system safer and more welcoming for everyone.
Open houses invite feedback on transit priority concepts for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project; online event open now, in-person event Wednesday, April 23
Aerial view of a Line 72 bus on Southeast 82nd Avenue
TriMet is holding open houses on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project this month, and we want to hear from you! The purpose of the open houses is to learn how you feel about tools we are considering for speeding up buses and moving them around traffic.
The 82nd Avenue Transit Project will improve travel times while providing better connections to jobs, schools, shopping, services and other destinations for those who live, work and move through the 82nd Avenue corridor. It lays the groundwork for TriMet’s next FX — Frequent Express — bus line. This will bring better, faster service with higher-capacity buses to 10 miles of 82nd Avenue, between Clackamas Town Center and the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland.
Fewer delays keep buses on time
TriMet has already incorporated features into the design for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project that are expected to speed up bus trips by up to 20%. These features include consolidating existing stops, building up curbs for easier boarding, using bigger buses with boarding at all three doors and allowing bikes on board, to eliminate delays caused by loading. We’ll also use transit-signal priority for the project, where buses and signals communicate to give buses the go-ahead first.
Even with these improvements, it may be harder for buses to stay on schedule as traffic congestion grows. The open houses will explore other transit-priority tools to keep buses moving, including bus lanes in key locations.
Visit trimet.org/82nd to review the plans, weigh potential outcomes and leave your feedback. We’ll hold an in-person open house on Wednesday, April 23, 4-6:30 p.m. at PCC Southeast on 82nd Avenue. The open house will be in the Great Hall of the Mount Tabor Building.
More tools to keep buses moving
Currently, 82nd Avenue is served by TriMet’s Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd. Not only does Line 72 see more riders than any other TriMet bus line, but it also experiences more delay. Congestion on 82nd is only expected to increase in the coming years, so transportation partners are taking steps now to look to the future and determine ways to keep buses – and the riders on them – moving past traffic. The open houses will explore additional transit-priority tools to speed up buses. These include:
Business access and transit lanes (BAT lanes): This would convert the existing curbside lane into a BAT lane, reserved for buses, right-turning autos and emergency vehicles. Car traffic would stay in the inner lanes, and business entrances would be accessible from the outer lanes, as they are today. We are currently studying two scenarios: one with some BAT lanes and one with more BAT lanes.
Intersection widening: The project team is also studying the concept of widening 82nd Avenue near three congested intersections, to create space for BAT lanes while preserving existing lanes for people driving. This is being considered near SE Powell Boulevard, Holgate Boulevard and Foster Road.
Find additional details on the proposals, including detailed descriptions and diagrams at trimet.org/82nd. The online open house will be open for feedback through Sunday, April 27. It’s important to note the features under consideration will require additional study and analysis and may not be included in the final project, as they could bring costs that exceed project funding.
The 82nd Avenue Transit Project
TriMet FX® service on 82nd Avenue will mean less crowding on buses, fewer delays, faster trips, a safer environment for walking and rolling and a more livable, better-connected urban corridor. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the new service opening to riders in the summer 2029.
TriMet thanks our project partners for their continued support and coordination of planning efforts and funding opportunities, including Metro, the City of Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Port of Portland.
A two-week project, April 27-May 10, will improve the durability of TriMet’s original rail line
Mark your calendars. Improvements are coming to the MAX light rail system this spring.
TriMet will perform a series of upgrades on the MAX Blue Line east of the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center from April 27 through May 10. The two-week-long East Burnside MAX Improvements Project will require crews to work on and above the tracks to replace and upgrade equipment for durability, extra reliability and a smoother ride.
It’s not a stretch to say that extreme heat can vex the light rail system, causing overhead wires to sag. Instead, we turn to a system that applies tension to keep the wires taut as temperatures creep upward. Crews will install a new version of the system during the project as the summer months approach.
The overhead wires will receive further attention elsewhere, with crews planning to replace about 8,000 feet of them. The two weeks of construction will give crews time to make the necessary upgrades to the overhead wire system, replace a rail crossing, and improve other elements of the track.
Moving riders around construction
TriMet has plans in place to help riders navigate the disruption. We have worked to limit the impacts as much as possible, including reducing the disruption during the second week.
Week 1 (April 27-May 3): Shuttle buses will serve riders between Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and Cleveland Ave MAX Station – the end of the MAX Blue Line in Gresham.
Week 2 (May 4-10): The disruption area will be shortened. Shuttle buses will serve riders between E 172nd Ave and Cleveland Ave MAX stations only.
Remember to plan by going to trimet.org/planner. If you plan on riding during the disruption, make sure to include future travel dates. Riders will want to plan an extra 30 minutes for their trips. You can also sign up for service alerts to be delivered directly to you via text message or email by going to trimet.org/email.
Staying ahead of Mother Nature
The overhead wires are like the circulatory system of MAX trains, pumping cleaner, renewable electricity into every vehicle. During the East Burnside MAX Improvements Project, TriMet’s crews will retrofit some overhead wires to make them more resilient to extreme heat and boost their durability. TriMet will do this by upgrading systems that have served riders for decades.
The overhead wires need to be tight, like a stretched rubber band, for trains to move at normal speeds. However, when temperatures soar above 90 degrees, “thermal expansion” causes the copper wires to droop. That’s why TriMet uses weight stacks, which weigh a ton and are connected to the wires, to keep the wires tight in extreme heat. The system works well, with the weights dropping toward the ground when temperatures rise. However, it has become so hot in recent years, including a record-setting 116 degrees in 2021, that there have been times when the weights have hit the ground.
By introducing the new, automated overhead wire tensioning system in some areas, TriMet will replace the weight stacks that have been in use. Enter a new, automated overhead wire tensioning system. The new system applies more pressure, about 3,000 pounds of it overall.
Rebuilding the eastbound and westbound rail crossing at Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue in Gresham will give motorists and MAX riders a smoother ride through the intersection. This current crossing was installed decades ago and is in heavy use. In addition to autos and MAX Blue Line trains, every train that enters and leaves our Ruby Junction Rail Operating Facility travels over the crossing. New track parts, including 50-100 rail ties, will also be added during construction.
Cleaning will also be a priority during the project. Crews will clean closed stations, remove litter and graffiti and clear brush on the east end of the MAX Blue Line when the trains aren’t running. Riders can expect to see more TriMet employees near closed stations and shuttle bus locations to help them make their connections. Look for people wearing green vests (On-Street Customer Service), blue vests (Ride Guides) or TriMet uniforms. We will also have extra safety and security personnel available to support riders.
Minor traffic impacts
Crews will sometimes need to work in the roadway. Auto traffic will be limited to a single lane near Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue and East Burnside Street, and traffic controls will be in place to help drivers navigate the work. Additionally, two four-hour street closures will be needed for rail welding, restricting all vehicular access to Northwest Eleven Mile Avenue between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.
MAX improvements
TriMet works to keep our transit system in the best condition possible through regular upkeep and maintenance. This is why the MAX Blue Line, the second oldest light rail line on the West Coast, has provided millions of trips since opening in 1986.
As much as we try to work during overnight hours or in ways that minimize rider impacts, some work can only be done when we stop service altogether. We thank our riders for their patience and understanding as we prepare to kick off the project.
Tickets to any Thorns home game in 2025-26 can be used as TriMet fare before and after event
As the Portland Thorns prepare for their first home game of 2025, you can plan your free trip to Providence Park at trimet.org.
That’s right: free! For up to three hours before kickoff and after the final whistle, your ticket to a Portland Timbers or Thorns home game is your proof of fare on any TriMet bus, MAX or LIFT paratransit vehicle, as well as the Portland Streetcar.
The Thorns host Angel City FC at 7 p.m. Friday, March 21.
Go by TriMet
TriMet is the best way to get to and from Providence Park. MAX Blue Line and Red Line trains serve the Providence Park MAX Station, just feet from the stadium. Several bus lines also stop at or near Providence Park, including:
Riders can park for free at a TriMet Park & Ride to take the bus or MAX to Providence Park.
This is the second year we’ve partnered with the Timbers and Thorns to accept game tickets as proof of fare. We’re expanding that partnership in 2025 and 2026 to also include concerts at Providence Park!
Riding transit to cheer on the Timbers and Thorns is a breeze. Here are six simple steps to help guide you:
Step 1 — Plan your trip online at trimet.org. You can also set your desired arrival time, customize which modes of travel you’d like to use and how far you’re willing to walk or roll to the stadium, and find the best travel option.
Step 2 — Leave your car behind. Even if you don’t live close by a bus stop or MAX station, TriMet has dozens of parking facilities throughout the region. Park for free at a TriMet Park & Ride and hop on board. You can also track your bus or train with our real-time map at trimet.org.
Step 3 — Have your digital game ticket ready. If you go by bus or LIFT, show your operator the ticket as you board. If you’re taking MAX or the Portland Streetcar, display your ticket if you’re asked for proof of fare.
Step 4 — Hop off at Providence Park. The stadium is just a short stroll away. Say goodbye to having to hike to the game from a faraway parking spot!
Step 5 — Enjoy the game! Both the Timbers and Thorns feature some exciting new and returning players this season. Additionally, there are new concession options at Providence Park this year, along with a brand-new patio.
Step 6 — Head back on TriMet. This is a great opportunity to talk about the game with other fans, whip out your smartphone to buy tickets to the next home game, or maybe just put on your headphones and enjoy the ride.
Where to park
Slogging through traffic and finding a place to park is stressful. Plus, if you’ve driven to a Timbers or Thorns game before, you probably know that parking near Providence Park is more expensive before, during and after the game. Those event parking fees can drive up the cost of attending a game in a big way.
Unless otherwise indicated, TriMet doesn’t charge for parking at our Park & Rides. If you’re taking transit, you can park for free.
Park & Rides
Here are just a few places you can park, at no cost, to take TriMet to Providence Park:
Beaverton Creek, SW 153rd Avenue and Millikan Way in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, 9839 NE Multnomah Street in Portland (served by the MAX Blue Line, Red Line and Green Line, as well as multiple bus lines, including Line 15 and Line 24)
Gresham Central Transit Center, NE 8th Street & Kelly Avenue in Gresham (served by the MAX Blue Line and multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds, 601 NE 34th Ave in Hillsboro (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
Millikan Way, SW Millikan Way and 141st Avenue in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
SE Park Ave, 2735 SE Park Ave in Oak Grove (served by the MAX Orange Line)
Sunset Transit Center, 10470 SW Barnes Road in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line, as well as multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave Transit Center, SW 185th Avenue & Edgeway Drive in Hillsboro (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
Please be aware TriMet Park & Rides sometimes fill up on game day! The Sunset Transit Center is our closest Park & Ride to Providence Park. It also has a parking garage. That means it’s a popular place for fans to leave their cars. Just a 10- to 20-minute drive from Sunset, we also have our Beaverton Creek, Millikan Way and Willow Creek Park & Rides. They may be a better place to park closer to game time.
The MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines do not serve the Providence Park MAX Station directly. Riders can transfer at Pioneer Courthouse Square, which is served by all five MAX lines, or walk or roll to the stadium from there.
TriMet’s MAX Red Line offers a fast, affordable and hassle-free way to get to and from Portland International Airport
Spring break is right around the corner. It’s time to dust off your luggage, review your travel itinerary and plan your trip to Portland International Airport with TriMet.
This year, 820,000 people are expected to pass through PDX between Friday, March 21, and Sunday, April 6, according to the Port of Portland. With this being one of the busiest travel periods of the year, TriMet’s “train-to-plane,” using the MAX Red Line, will be the most convenient and affordable option for tens of thousands of travelers.
With money a major consideration for all travelers, no one wants spring break to turn into spring broke.
Taking TriMet can save you anywhere from $50 to $150 on travel. On average, a one-way-trip on the train to PDX is at least $40 less than using a rideshare,* taxi or airport shuttle. And when it comes to parking for the duration of spring break, it costs about $90 more to use PDX’s economy parking lot than it does to take the MAX Red Line. And from there, the prices go up. economy parking at PDX starts at $15 per day, while long-term parking is $24 per day.
But with TriMet, you can beat the crowds and save a considerable amount of money.
Riding MAX to PDX
This will be the first spring break since the MAX Red Line was extended 10 stations west to Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds in August 2024. The extension was the culmination of TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Project. It means more people than ever before now have the opportunity to take a one-seat ride to catch their flights, saving time and money in the process. The Red Line also serves the Rose Quarter Transit Center, a connection point for all MAX lines, and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, a connection point for MAX Blue and Green lines. Many of the Red Line’s 36 stations are also within a few feet of dozens of bus stops, making transfers convenient.
To plan your trip in advance to see if you need to make any connections, go to trimet.org/planner. You can also track the location of your train or bus in real time at trimet.org.
Ride and save
The average taxi or rideshare trip from PDX to Downtown costs between $30 and $45 (before tip). But on MAX, it’s only $2.80 for Adults – or $1.40 for Youth or Honored Citizen fare. That’s roughly the cost of the surcharge you would pay for a rideshare. Plus, travelers can’t beat the location of the Portland International Airport MAX Station, which is only 150 feet from the baggage claim area.
MAX Red Line operates for nearly 20 hours everyday, including late at night and early in the morning. But if your flight arrives or departs during the hours when MAX Red Line trains aren’t running, TriMet provides bus service in place of MAX overnight. This gives you another option to get to and from Portland International Airport, but there may be times when this service isn’t running. To find out more at trimet.org/MAXbus.
New Hop card machines
Hop cards are now available at TriMet’s MAX stations and transit centers as TriMet moves to phase out disposable paper tickets. Cards can either be bought, for a one-time $3 fee, and then loaded with fare, or an existing card can be loaded with fare at any of the machines. Everyone traveling will need their own card, so remember to purchase and load fare onto each card before tapping to ride.
Tap your credit card or phone
You can also pay by tapping your credit or debit card or your mobile wallet against the green Hop reader before boarding. Taps from a credit or debit card or mobile wallet are only good for Adult fare, and you will need to use one payment device per family member. Always remember to tap, as your Hop card, debit/credit card or mobile wallet will act as your proof of fare.
Travel by train or bus
For travelers who prefer a train-to-train option, TriMet can also get you to Union Station to catch Amtrak. MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines, as well as various TriMet bus lines, serve Amtrak’s Union Station. You can also connect with the Greyhound or FlixBus bus stops, located on Northwest Station Way, by bus and MAX Blue and Red lines.
Here to help
To plan your trip, go to trimet.org/planner. If you have questions, reach out to TriMet Customer Service by calling 503-238-7433 (RIDE) between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily. Real-time arrival information is available 24 hours a day.
On-Street Customer Service staff and security will be stationed at the airport to help answer questions or assist riders. Look for On-Street Customer Service in green vests and Transit Security Officers in bright yellow and black uniforms.
MAX Red Line
Did you know the MAX Red Line was the first train-to-plane connection on the West Coast? It was built as part of a public-private partnership that spurred major development and economic growth, leading to the development of Cascade Station, home to popular retail destinations like Ikea.
Since 2001, the MAX Red Line has seen hundreds of thousands of travelers off on memorable trips and welcomed just as many back to the comforts of home. Often, it’s the first thing visitors see when they exit the airport. It remains one of our most used MAX stations, with thousands of trips made every day.
For MAX Red Line schedules and maps, or to sign up for Service Alerts for the MAX Red Line, visit trimet.org/schedules/maxredline.
*The average cost of an 11-mile trip via rideshare between Downtown Portland and PDX is about $40
Annual day of recognition, March 18, highlights amazing work of bus, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and LIFT paratransit operators
Every day of the year, TriMet’s hardworking transit operators drive the streets of communities across the Portland metro area, getting people where they need to go.
On March 18, Transit Driver Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating these amazing public servants for everything they do for riders throughout the region.
Please join us in showing our bus, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and LIFT paratransit operators how much we appreciate everything they do! Check out trimet.org/thankyou for more information and resources.
“Transit operators deserve to be appreciated every day,” says Donnie Vercher, TriMet’s Director of Bus Operations. “Give them a wave or a smile, greet them when you get on the bus, thank them when you get off the bus. A simple act of kindness makes your driver feel seen, valued and appreciated.”
Operators who care
Being a transit operator is hard work! Our operators learn to control large vehicles, share the road with cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and other transit vehicles, and provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for their riders.
Even so, for many TriMet operators, it’s a dream job. Our operators feel comfortable at the wheel of a bus or the controls of a train. They look forward to the daily interactions they have with riders, greeting regulars by name and learning about their lives. They value small gestures of gratitude and respect, simple good-mornings and thank-yous that tell them their service is appreciated.
Here are the stories of just four of our amazing operators.
Ernest Huerta
For 13 years, Ernest Huerta has been welcoming riders aboard his TriMet bus with a friendly smile.
Ernest came to TriMet after working as a truck driver. He was looking for a steady job where he could put his skills behind the wheel to good use. At TriMet, he found what he had been looking for — including great pay and benefits.
Ernest found something else to love about TriMet, too. Instead of spending the day alone in the cab of a truck, he gets to greet riders throughout the day from the driver’s seat of his bus. He says it’s what he likes most about driving for TriMet.
“If you build the atmosphere, you’re nice to people, they’re going to reciprocate,” Ernest says.
Not only does Ernest appreciate the relationships he has built with his regular riders, he also enjoys meeting new people who get on his bus. That’s one of the reasons he likes working during special events, like the upcoming Portland Rose Festival. For him, every time he presses the button to open his bus’s doors is like opening a Cracker Jack box to find the prize inside.
“I’m always expecting the best,” Ernest says with a smile.
Cori Loggins
While Cori Loggins has only been driving for TriMet for a couple of years, our transit agency has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.
Cori drove for TriMet LIFT for a few months before deciding to apply to become a bus operator. (LIFT paratransit drivers work with TriMet as contractors, while bus and MAX operators are TriMet employees.) After a short time driving buses for TriMet, he became a MAX operator.
“I got the confidence doing TriMet LIFT, doing the smaller buses,” Cori explains. “It’s like, if I could do this, I can do a bigger bus. If I could do the bus, I could possibly do a train. So, it’s been a journey.”
Cori says that for him, being a transit operator is a way to give back to his community. He also enjoys volunteering with employee groups, supporting people in need.
As a lifelong Portlander, Cori is proud of the service that TriMet provides, and he’s proud to be a part of it.
“Right here, we have one of the best transit systems in the country, if not the world,” says Cori, whose wife also works for TriMet. “That’s a blessing.”
Shana Peck
Just two years after she was hired, Shana Peck was named as our 2024 MAX Operator of the Year. It’s a huge honor that speaks to the reputation for excellence and the respect that Shana has earned in a relatively short time as an operator.
Like Cori, Shana worked with TriMet as a LIFT contractor before she was hired as a full-time operator. Her goal was to become a MAX operator, and she achieved it within months of officially joining TriMet.
“It was always kind of a dream to come work here, because there was a lot of opportunity,” Shana says.
Shana has enjoyed the opportunity to test the new MAX Type 6 trains. She fondly recalls putting them through their paces at 3 a.m. as part of the “burn-in,” a testing period that prepares our next-generation trains to welcome riders aboard.
As much as she likes operating MAX, Shana takes pride in serving her riders. Many of them depend on TriMet to get around.
“Seeing how many people that don’t drive, it’s nice being able to make a difference in people’s lives, getting them and from work every day or to the activities that they want to go to,” Shana says.
Jim Zinn
After a career in health care administration, Jim Zinn decided it was time for a new direction. He joined TriMet in 2018, drawn to the job by the excellent benefits that our employees receive.
Jim is well known at TriMet for his sense of humor, as well as his personal warmth and generosity. He often carries a roll of sparkly stickers with him, using them to decorate the interior of his TriMet FX® bus with positive messages and giving them out to people. In the wintertime, when it’s cold outside, he’ll even give away gloves to riders who need them.
“I think that the operators that we have out there are truly amazing people who are working very hard to help everybody get around our city, and really actively thinking of ways to make things better in our system and on their bus,” Jim says.
Like Ernest, Jim says creating a positive atmosphere on his bus is important to him. He likes knowing that he’s made someone’s day a little brighter.
“What makes my job unique is the people — connecting with different people, listening to their stories, listening to people talk on the bus, hearing them laugh when they get on,” Jim says. “That makes it fun, and you don’t get that in any other job.”
Sharing the love
Our operators aren’t just the face of TriMet — they are our heart and soul.
TriMet first celebrated a day for transit operators in 2013. Our commemoration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day caught on! In the years since then, many other transit agencies across the United States and Canada have begun celebrating March 18 as a special day of appreciation for operators and other transit employees.
You might hear some friendly honking, cheering and applause if you’re out and about in Downtown Portland today! TriMet’s “Tunnel of Appreciation” has become a beloved annual tradition for our employees to celebrate our more than 1,600 hardworking operators. Hundreds of our employees take shifts on the Transit Mall throughout the day, waving signs and rooting on transit operators at work — including our partners at C-TRAN! Fans and passersby are more than welcome to join us.
While cheering on operators at the PSU Urban Center and Beaverton, Clackamas Town Center, Gresham Central and Rose Quarter transit centers, we’ve set up “Banners of Appreciation” there, too. Riders are encouraged to write positive messages on them. The banners will be displayed at our bus and rail operations facilities for our operators to see.
You can also send in your own message of appreciation for TriMet operators at trimet.org/thankyou. This website has cards you can print out for operators, a graphic you can share on social media and more.
And, of course, you can make any day your own personal Transit Driver Appreciation Day:
Say a quick “thank you” when you get off the bus.
Wave to your MAX, WES or Portland Streetcar operator when you pass by the train.
If you have an exceptional experience on TriMet, consider submitting a commendation! Visit trimet.org/thanks, or call or text 503-238-7433 (RIDE). Commendations are part of a TriMet employee’s permanent record. Receiving one is a tremendous honor that helps validate the work our operators do to serve people every day.
Workers receive excellent benefits, union representation and opportunities for advancement
Are you a mechanic or vehicle technician looking for a new job?
Come join the team that keeps our region moving! TriMet is hiring bus mechanics, light rail vehicle technicians and other important positions that are eligible for a $7,500 hiring bonus!
Buses, trains and streetcars get thousands of people in the Portland metro area where they need to go, every day. These big vehicles are a big responsibility, though. TriMet’s maintenance team keeps them rolling along — tuning up the diesel engines and electric motors that drive our bus fleet, tending to the power supply for our zero-emissions MAX trains, and much more.
What TriMet offers
New mechanics, technicians and maintainers start at $43.83 an hour. Working full time, a maintenance worker at TriMet can make over $90,000 in their first year on the job.
These positions are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757. Under a new labor agreement between TriMet and the union, workers get a pay increase each year — as well as a 9% employer contribution to their 401(a) retirement plan, which will increase to 10% in 2028. The contract includes a 13.64% increase over four years.
Union employees are also entitled to important benefits, which include:
Affordable, flexible health care coverage options, including dental and vision care plans.
A tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 annually, supporting employees as they work toward a degree or certificate.
A child care subsidy of up to $150 monthly, helping employees to support their families.
We support our employees who are looking for opportunities to progress in their careers! TriMet hires supervisors from within. Additionally, leadership and learning courses are available to all TriMet employees, at no cost to them.
Speaking from experience
Joe Ruffin has worked at TriMet’s Ruby Junction Rail Operations Facility in Gresham for nearly 30 years. He’s now seen six generations of MAX vehicles come through his maintenance shop.
“I never thought I’d be here this long,” Joe laughs.
But, he adds, “I love it. From the start, I fell in love with it.”
Joe is one of many hardworking light rail vehicle technicians at Ruby Junction and the Elmonica Rail Operations Facility in Beaverton. TriMet’s approximately 150 light rail vehicles call these two facilities home.
It takes a lot of work to keep our MAX trains in good working condition. In a typical month, our train cars log about 700,000 miles in total, crisscrossing the region on 60 miles of trackway. That’s enough to wrap around the Earth 28 times!
But while our maintenance team works with machinery, their priority is people.
“We’re doing a public service, and we’re doing a good thing for the public. And that’s what I always tell everyone: Look at all the people we’re helping,” Joe explains. “We want to make sure they have a nice, safe, comfortable ride.”
Joe is active in the union, too. He’s passionate about the pay and benefits that he and other employees earn at TriMet.
“It’s a good place to work. It’s a good place to build a career,” Joe says. “We’ve got a really good Working and Wage Agreement and working relationship with management.”
Apply today!
TriMet is hiring! Check out our current job openings at trimet.org/careers.
Details about each open position are available, including the job description and requirements, an explanation of the pay and benefits, and information on how to apply and what to expect during the hiring process.
Our website also lists which positions are eligible for a $7,500 hiring bonus.
You can apply online! Find the details on what you need to apply on our website.
Join TriMet in recognizing the hard work and dedication of our region’s transit operators on Tuesday, March 18
TriMet employees participate in “Tunnel of Appreciation” at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 2024
What’s the best way to show a transit operator you appreciate the work they do?
There’s the classic Portland way, with a wave and a “thank you” as you head out the door, and there’s the more formal way, when you call, text or connect with TriMet customer service online, to submit a commendation. For example:
“Shout-out to Operator Sean! His friendly face and cheerful greeting each morning on Line 14 get my workday off to a great start. I appreciate him, and I can see his other riders do, too.”
“He is very personable… Being on a first-name basis makes me feel more connected to the community. He is also always on time and a great driver. I want him to know how much I appreciate him.”
And there’s another way to show your appreciation: Transit Driver Appreciation Day is coming up on Tuesday, March 18. This one makes it easy for everyone, riders and non-riders alike, to say “thanks.” Simply share a wave, a smile or a kind word with any transit driver you see! Visit trimet.org/thankyou to learn more and find ideas for showing support.
Look for our big public display in Downtown Portland. The annual “Tunnel of Appreciation” is a daylong gathering of cheering employees and supporters on the Portland Transit Mall. This year, we’ll come together from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Southwest 6th Avenue, between Alder and Yamhill, and Southwest 5th Avenue, between Main and Jefferson. We’re also posting banners that the public can sign, at PSU Urban Plaza and four regional transit centers: Beaverton, Clacakamas Town Center, Gresham Central and Rose Quarter. Stop by and join us!
A little something for everyone
Every day, TriMet operators maneuver massive machines – buses that weigh up to 40,000 pounds and MAX trains that weigh up to 100,000 pounds – safely through the streets of Portland and communities throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. They serve thousands of stops and stations and tens of thousands of people daily, but it’s the personal connections that keep them going.
“Ninety-nine percent of it is just great people getting around. Sometimes, you know, somebody needs a little help. So that’s what we do,” said Line 14-Hawthorne/Foster bus operator, Sean.
With about a decade of service behind the wheel for TriMet, Sean keeps the job interesting by connecting with riders one-on-one.
“I talk a lot … probably more than I should,” he said. “But I greet everybody the same – always. And I thank you out the door.”
“I want to make a commendation about one of my drivers that is super awesome. He’s helped me so much in the last 6 months. He’s been a really good spirit in my heart and kept me going. His name is Sean. He also got together with other people and got me an electric-powered wheelchair, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am.” – Bill
One of those riders was Bill Townsend. Bill has a degenerative bone disease, and he recently started using a manual wheelchair to get around his Southeast Portland neighborhood. Bill rides the bus a lot, and it did not take Sean long to notice that using the manual wheelchair seemed to take its toll on Bill’s strength and energy. Sean wanted to do something to help. An unexpected message from his mom gave him an idea.
Bill met TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. during a lunch visit with Sean in Southeast Portland
“Bless her heart, she lost her little brother, my uncle,” Sean recalled. “She texted and said, ‘Hey, do you know anybody that could use a mobility device?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think I really do.’ And that was Bill.”
Sean picked up the motorized device and held on to it until he could coordinate a special delivery for bus rider Bill, who in a very short time had become a close friend.
“We were texting back and forth, and Bill said, ‘I’ve got something to show you.’ He comes cruising down the road and I was like, ‘Wow, sweet!’ It was really heartwarming.”
More than 1,600 reasons to say ‘thanks’
TriMet has more than 1,600 bus and rail operators, and Sean believes every single one would have done the same thing for a person in need.
For 55 years, TriMet has helped millions of people travel throughout the three counties that we serve. Our buses and trains provide a safe, convenient and reliable ride to destinations across our service area, and the people who operate them bring a friendly face with a promise of hope and support along the way.
Our operators are essential frontline workers who are up early and out late, connecting people to jobs, education, shopping and vital services. They are friendly faces with steady hands, cool heads and unwavering commitments to the community. Let’s join together, to give them their due, on Transit Driver Appreciation Day!
The public comment period begins today, March 5, 2025, for TriMet’s proposed budget for the upcoming year. Our fiscal year 2026 begins July 1, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2026. The proposed budget is posted online at trimet.org/budget.
TriMet’s fiscal year 2026 proposed budget outlines $1.94 billion in spending and holds the line—with no increases beyond necessary contractual obligations, such as rising electricity costs. We will continue working toward the adopted budget to be released later this spring for Board consideration. That budget will reflect key priorities, including:
Mission-critical staffing needs
Service level requirements
System and facility maintenance
State of Good Repair investments
Capital project planning and construction
We have also updated our financial forecasts, evaluated revenue assumptions, and analyzed multiple funding scenarios to prepare for potential funding cuts. Given the uncertainty at the federal level—where grants have been frozen and FTA staff reductions have occurred—we are increasing the budgeted amount of contingency funds to allow time to adjust, if needed.
Like other public transit agencies across the nation, TriMet is facing financial challenges and has been operating on reduced revenues since the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to a dramatic drop in ridership with stay-at-home orders followed by an increase in remote work. TriMet’s ridership has also been impacted by community-wide challenges including civil unrest, extreme weather events, crime, open-drug use and the homeless epidemic. TriMet has made considerable investments in response. That includes historic investments in safety and security.
Today, TriMet has more safety and security personnel on our transit system than ever. As we have increased that personnel to almost 500 over the past three years — double the number of personnel we had at the end of 2022. Calls for police services have decreased more than 40% during that same time.
TriMet ridership is increasing with the investments in security, along with other efforts to improve the customer experience and adjust bus service through our Forward Together service plan to bring it closer to more people who rely upon it. Those efforts, combined with more return to in-person work and events, has generally led to year-to-year increases in monthly ridership since 2020. However, TriMet’s ridership remains about 30% below pre-pandemic figures. Lower ridership equals lower passenger fare revenue. We have been using federal pandemic relief funds, which have proved a lifeline for public transit agencies across the nation, to backfill the drop in fare revenue, but those one-time stimulus funds have now been depleted.
TriMet will continue to identify efficiencies to this financial plan as we move forward in the budget process before the TriMet Board adopts a FY2026 budget, which is expected to occur at its May 28, 2025 business meeting.
People can view the proposed budget at trimet.org/budget and submit feedback through Wednesday, March 26, via email to hello@trimet.org or by calling our Customer Service team at 503-238-7433 (RIDE). The public can also provide comment during the public forum period at upcoming TriMet Board meetings on March 26, April 23 and May 28, or during the public hearing on the budget at the Multnomah County Tax and Supervision Conservation Committee (TSCC) meeting on April 23. Meeting details will be posted on trimet.org/meetings/board.
About TriMet
TriMet has provided public transit service in the greater Portland metro area since 1969. At that time, we only ran buses, and there were less than 881,000 living in the tri-county region of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington.
Over the past 55-plus years, TriMet service has grown from buses only, to also include MAX light rail, WES commuter rail and LIFT paratransit service. Our service district stretches 533-square miles across a tri-county area where 1.7 million people live today. Our safe, reliable, convenient transit service provides millions of trips each month. In fact, the Portland metro area enjoys the 13th-largest transit ridership in the country, even though it is only the 23rd-largest metro area in the country. Among the 60 largest metro areas in the United States, TriMet and the Portland area rank 10th in transit boardings per capita.
