Proposals aimed at adding and expanding bus service, improving MAX maintenance and reliability and speeding up trains head before TriMet Board March 27

TriMet’s Board of Directors will take up proposals next week at their March meeting that are geared toward improving bus and MAX service. They’ll begin considering two ordinances, one for our Fiscal Year 2025 service plans, which includes expansion of night buses to replace late-night MAX trains, adding three bus lines and adjusting 30 others, as well as bringing bus service hours within 5% of pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The second ordinance calls for closing the Skidmore Fountain MAX Station to speed up MAX Blue and Red Line service.

The Board is meeting Wednesday, March 27, at Clackamas Community College, rooms 170/172 in the Harmony West Building, 7738 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie. They will hold a public hearing as part of the first reading of each ordinance, as required by Oregon Budget Law. Public forum will begin at 9:30 a.m., with in-person sign-ups beginning at 9 a.m. Virtual testimony sign-ups will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. For more information on sign-up for virtual testimony or to provide written testimony, visit trimet.org/meetings/board.

TriMet previously engaged the community around the proposals. We conducted outreach and held a series of open houses in fall 2023 about our Forward Together bus service improvements, receiving more than 1,700 comments. Additional outreach and open houses were held in January 2024, focused on the second year of bus service changes under our Forward Together plan, as well as the MAX night bus network and Skidmore Fountain concepts. More than 1,000 comments were received. The proposal to close the Skidmore Fountain MAX Station has gone through extensive outreach previously and years of review.

Forward Together enters year two

TriMet’s bus service improvements are in full swing through our Forward Together Revised Service Plan. They’re designed to build better connections and increase ridership. After all, riders are front and center in the improvements, playing a major role in crafting the Forward Together plan in 2022. Our goal is to focus on how and where people ride, and to improve connections to destinations, particularly for people with low and limited incomes.

The second year of Forward Together looks to add three bus lines to our Frequent Service network, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or more often for most of the day, every day. Plans also call for three new bus lines and changes to 27 other bus lines.

To learn more about all of the proposed changes, visit trimet.org/betterbus.

Improving MAX reliability with a night bus network

TriMet has the second-shortest overnight maintenance period of any transit agency in the United States that operates light rail. That’s despite just 2% of MAX riders making trips after midnight. In late summer/early fall of 2023, an average of just over 1,200 trips were taken across all MAX lines between midnight and the start of service shortly before 4 a.m.

Providing late night transit service on buses along the MAX lines would extend our light rail maintenance period, reducing the need to disrupt MAX service during the day in order to accomplish critical rail improvements and reduce unplanned disruptions as well. A longer period of downtime on the MAX system would also allow maintenance teams to perform more thorough cleaning and detailing work aboard our trains after hours.  While the overnight window differs by MAX line, there is currently only a 47-minute period when no trains are running anywhere on the system.

We’re modeling the proposed MAX night bus network after the existing Line 291-Orange night bus. Line 291 was established in 2015 to provide more service from Downtown Portland to Milwaukie while at the same time giving crews a window to perform work on MAX tracks.

Similar to Line 291, the night buses would replace trips after midnight on the MAX Blue, Red and Yellow lines. For the Blue Line, its shuttle buses would be split between two separate segments due to its length — a Blue Line East, between Cleveland Ave in Gresham and Goose Hollow, and Blue Line West, between Hatfield Government Center in Hillsboro and the Rose Quarter Transit Center. This will help buses stay on schedule and give operators more opportunities for breaks. A MAX Green Line night bus is not needed because the Green Line already has a nearly five-hour overnight work window. Additionally, service between Milwaukie and Downtown Portland would be added to the Line 291-Orange Night Bus, which currently offers only southbound service to Milwaukie.

Skidmore Fountain: streamlining service

The best transit system designs strike the right balance between speed and convenience in order to maximize ridership and serve the community. With this in mind, TriMet has examined ways to speed up service, including the removal of some MAX stations in Downtown Portland.

In 2019, TriMet conducted a station optimization study to determine whether the closure of four downtown stations could improve efficiency and retain convenience. TriMet identified the Kings Hill/SW Salmon, Mall/SW 4th Ave, Mall/SW 5th Ave and Skidmore Fountain MAX stations as the best candidates for consolidation. While the other stations have already closed, Skidmore Fountain, which is only two blocks from the Old Town/Chinatown MAX Station—or 500 feet—underwent a multi-year review. TriMet is moving to close the station in fall 2025 as it has not met the two conditions identified to remain open: 1) ridership did not increase at the station and 2) development in the area did not occur. In addition to the Old Town/Chinatown Station being just two blocks away, the Oak/SW 1st Ave Station is also close by, just four blocks to the south.

Evaluations following the closures of the Mall and Kings Hill/SW Salmon stations found time savings of two minutes, which we hope to further improve with Skidmore’s closure.

Learn more at trimet.org/maxdowntown.

Facilities across the transit system are going through thorough deep cleaning and daily improvements as part of refresh

You may notice more activity at TriMet’s stations and transit centers: painting, power washing, litter pick up and more. It’s all part of a focused effort to refresh our most heavily used rail stations and transit hubs, along with our track areas and equipment. More than a simple clean up, TriMet is also replacing damaged signs, glass, older bus shelters and trash receptacles.

Repairing and renewing TriMet facilities

Enter the “Clean Team,” a TriMet group dedicated to sprucing up the system. They are working with an initial emphasis on some of our oldest stations, which are also among our most heavily used. These include several stations along Interstate 84 and in Downtown Portland, which are now more than 37 years old. 

At the Gateway Transit Center, crews have replaced bus shelters and begun deep-cleaning efforts, including repainting the MAX shelters on the platforms. Elsewhere, the Clean Team is working to revitalize public art, eliminate graffiti and improve landscaping.

Making it better on board and off

TriMet’s commitment to maintaining a safe and clean transit system shines through in our daily efforts to target vehicles, stations and transit centers. In a strategic move to enhance cleanliness, end-of-line cleaners are stationed at seven key transit Centers and MAX stations where operators take their breaks. Working seven days a week, they take care of spills and trash to make sure vehicles remain welcoming while in active service.

Those cleaners focusing on trains and buses are joined by other cleaners, whose daily efforts emphasize the platforms at rail stations. But with a service area stretched across 533 square miles, and with about 1.3 million trips made each week, there’s a lot to do! TriMet’s Clean Team helps by going deeper and reaching more areas than we can with daily cleaning.

This includes:

• Repainting structures, such as poles and shelters
• Deep cleaning shelter roofs and station platforms
• Cleaning or covering over graffiti 
• Repairing damaged equipment, such as tactile pavers, pylons and signs 
• Improving landscaping, including making sure tree roots don’t damage walkways
• Removing tripping hazards
• Picking up litter from the track area and nearby

The work comes as TriMet has increased security, and we’re rolling out better service as part of Forward Together, the service plan developed with the community. The COVID-19 pandemic posed the greatest public health crisis in over a century and pushed limited resources toward health and sanitation initiatives for nearly two years. Now, as more people return to the system, we want to make sure we’re looking our best and giving our riders the customer experience they want and deserve.

Keeping TriMet safe and clean

Rider safety and comfort are always TriMet’s top focus, no matter the circumstance. This year has seen more efforts aimed at making riding easier, faster and friendlier. TriMet has doubled the number of Customer Safety Supervisors on the system and deployed a diverse and growing security presence, with more than 300 people across various teams.

We also know cleanliness matters. Nothing is better than when everyone takes pride and ownership in the space they share with others. Here are some things you can do to help us keep buses, trains, stations, stops and other locations looking and feeling good. Your help is greatly appreciated!

• Set a good example by not leaving your trash behind. Not only is litter a nuisance and bad for the environment, it can also attract pests.
• Don’t feed the pigeons! As friendly as they seem, pigeons can spread diseases, mites and cause damage to the areas we all use. Feeding them only encourages their behavior, diminishing the hard work of TriMet’s cleaners. 
• Report unwanted behavior, which can be anything from smoking to vandalism to other forms of disruptive conduct. Because we want to know of bad behavior as soon as you see it, we recently made it easier to report security concerns 24 hours a day. For non-urgent matters, text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) or submit a report at trimet.org by clicking the security button. If it is urgent, tell the operator or other TriMet employee, or contact 911. 

Forward Together improvements starting Sunday, Dec. 3: Frequent Service upgrade for Line 48-Cornell, route change for Line 62-Murray Blvd, more weekend service on Line 70-12th/NE 33rd Ave, plus changes at Sunset Transit Center and schedule improvements to help keep buses on time

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

Better bus service is coming to Washington County! Starting Sunday, Dec. 3, we’re upgrading Line 48-Cornell to Frequent Service, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or better for most of the day, every day. The Line 48 upgrade is part of our latest Forward Together service improvements. 

As part of these updates, we’re also moving part of the Line 62-Murray Blvd route, adding weekend service on Line 70-12th/NE 33, reorganizing bus stops at Sunset Transit Center and updating schedules to keep buses on time. Visit trimet.org and plan a trip for Dec. 3 or later to see how your ride might change!

More Frequent Service for Washington County

With the upgrade, Line 48 will become the 18th bus line in our Frequent Service network, with buses that are ready when you are! In addition to providing more buses at more times, we’re also speeding up Line 48 by moving the route to Barnes Road. We’ll replace Line 48 service to Cedar Hills by moving Line 62-Murray Blvd. to Cornell Road.

Line 48 provides daily bus service between Hillsboro Transit Center and Sunset Transit Center in Beaverton. Along the way, it offers connections to MAX and additional bus lines, some of which also offer Frequent Service. Line 48 provides more than 7,000 weekly trips according to data collected in spring 2023, with access to major regional health care and event centers, as well as the Hillsboro Airport.

More weekend bus service on Line 70

Line 70-NE 12th/33rd Avenue is also getting an improvement! We’re increasing weekend bus service between Milwaukie and Northeast Portland.

Schedule adjustments to keep buses on time

We’re adjusting schedules between four and seven minutes to help keep buses on time. The following bus lines will see notable changes starting Dec. 3:

• Line 20-Burnside/Stark

• Line 39-Arnold Creek/Hillside

• Line 51-Vista

• Line 74-162nd Ave

• Line 87-Airport Way/181st

Some bus lines will see smaller adjustments, but every minute counts when you’re riding transit. That’s why we encourage all riders to plan ahead and double-check the schedules before heading out on Dec. 3 or later.

Making way for more buses at Sunset Transit Center

Our planned service improvements will bring more buses through Sunset Transit Center in Beaverton, so we are reorganizing stops to help reduce confusion and keep everyone moving. Riders on lines 20, 48 and 59-Walker/Park Way will use new stops at Sunset Transit Center. Our partners with the POINT, Forest Heights Shuttle and PCC Shuttle are also moving bus stops at Sunset Transit Center, starting on Dec. 3.

Forward Together

Forward Together is our roadmap for increasing service by more than 30% in the coming years. The comprehensive service concept, which was developed in close partnership with the community, focuses on increasing ridership and improving connections to destinations for people with low and limited incomes. 

We began adopting Forward Together service proposals in May, as we added back service hours that were reduced in 2020 when COVID-19 put the brakes on the largest bus service expansion in our history. This past August, we rolled out the largest package of Forward Together service improvements to date, and we’re building on that progress in December. 

We continue our work to overcome a historic operator staffing shortage, as plans for service expansion are closely coordinated with current and projected staffing levels. We’re hiring! Visit trimet.org/careers to see a complete list of opportunities. All new bus operators are eligible for a $7,500 hiring bonus.

While levels of drugs detected in University of Washington’s first-of-its kind study of air and surfaces on transit described as “extremely low,” TriMet urges regional crackdown on public drug use    

TriMet values the health and well-being of riders and employees, and that’s why we have been working to keep the rampant use of illicit drugs in our community off our buses and trains. In the past two years, our general manager and other leadership have testified before Oregon lawmakers, city councilors and county commissioners asking state and regional leaders to address drugs and crime before they extend onto our transit system.

We also:

• Significantly increased security personnel for more on-board presence,
• Updated the TriMet Code to address illicit drugs however we can,
• Updated standard procedures for when someone is seen smoking drugs on board,
• And now we’ve taken part in a first-of-its kind study of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the air and on surfaces of transit vehicles. 

Today, the University of Washington released the results of that study, which included testing on some TriMet MAX trains. The study did not assess the health impacts on our riders and operators from the traces found in air and surfaces samples, so TriMet sought the expertise of health experts. Among them, Dr. Robert Hendrickson, a professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicologist at OHSU and the Medical Director of the Oregon Poison Center.

“The concentration of drugs detected in the air and on surfaces in this study were extremely low and would not cause harm to TriMet riders and operators,” Hendrickson said. “There is no threat to the public related to these study results, and individuals who use public transportation for travel needs should continue to feel safe doing so.”

Read the full public health assessment

Despite the low levels of drug residue found in the University of Washington research, TriMet wants to keep drugs off our transit system completely. But Oregon law poses challenges for keeping the smoking of fentanyl and meth out of public spaces, such as transit.

TriMet and our union, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757, continue our call to state and local officials and lawmakers to deliver the policy changes and enforcement necessary to curb what has become an epidemic of rampant public consumption of drugs in our region.

“Our riders, operators and other employees deserve to use our system without being exposed to drug use,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue, Jr.  “More needs to be done to ensure that transit and other public spaces are safe and comfortable for everyone.”

Desue stressed, “TriMet stands ready to be part of the solution to this region-wide drug epidemic, but we urge state and local leaders and our law enforcement partners to continue to address drugs and addiction in our community.” 

In addition to collecting air and surface samples on transit, UW researchers tested three Downtown Portland locations*. Three of the samples tested positive for very low levels of meth and none tested positive for fentanyl, yet the challenges of the public consumption of drug use are well known in the communities we serve.
* SW 10th Ave & SW Harvey Milk St, SW Taylor St & SW Broadway, SW 9th Ave & SW Alder St St.

Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids have increased by 533% in Multnomah County alone from 2018 to 2022. In June 2023, Dr. Teresa Everson, M.P.H, interim Multnomah County Health Officer, told the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners that the region is in “an unprecedented time with fentanyl” and that the sharp upswing in overdose deaths, “reflects the rapid and radical change in local drug supplies towards fentanyl and other potent synthetic opioids, which began in 2019.”

While the UW study looked at illicit drug residue levels specifically, smoking of any substance—whether nicotine or drugs— is not allowed on TriMet. That includes inside our buses and trains, on rail platforms, at transit centers or in elevators and Park & Rides. Those caught smoking face a citation and fine of up to $175 or exclusion. If riders see someone smoking drugs on board, they should alert the operator immediately.

UW study on secondhand drug smoke on transit

With the use of illegal use of fentanyl skyrocketing across the U.S. and here in the Pacific Northwest, TriMet joined four transit agencies in Washington State in inviting researchers from University of Washington’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences to come on board to determine what level of drug residue could be detected.

“The transit agencies share rising concerns about illegal substance use and untreated behavioral health conditions that are common in their communities and throughout the nation. The agencies proactively commissioned this study to identify what levels of drug smoke and surface residue transit employees and riders might encounter on transit vehicles, with a goal of helping to identify responses. The agencies join in thanking the University of Washington’s research team for its work to execute the study.”

– Joint statement from Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit and TriMet 

Overall findings

Researchers placed air pumps on board and collected surface samples from seats, windows and doors in *30 transit buses and train cars across four of the agencies. In total, 180 samples (78 air samples and 102 surface samples) were collected.
*This represents 1% of the 2,743 transit vehicles operated by the agencies.

The measurements found may be challenging to comprehend as they are small and abstract. A microgram is a millionth of a gram and one-thousandth of a milligram. A nanogram is one-billionth of a gram, one-millionth of a milligram and one-thousandth of a microgram. Some liken a microgram to a single cell in the human body. Or, consider a grain of sand. While the size of a grain of sand can vary, generally a grain of sand weighs approximately 23 micrograms. Another comparison could be a crystal of sugar. A single fine sugar crystal in those little packets you find at restaurants generally is about 20 milligrams. That’s 20 million times larger than one nanogram and 20,000 times larger than a microgram

Extremely low levels of fentanyl were detected in 25% of the air samples. Extremely low levels of fentanyl also were detected in 46% of the surface samples, ranging from one-hundredth of a nanogram to under a nanogram.

UW researchers also tested the 180 samples taken on the transit agencies’ buses and trains for remnants of methamphetamine. All the air samples tested positive for very low levels of meth and 98% of the surface samples found very low levels of meth as well.

Read the UW study report

TriMet findings

In Portland, on TriMet, researchers collected samples on MAX trains. They gathered the air and surface samples from *eight two-car trains and one single-car train over a two-day period (June 20-21) between 7 p.m. and 12 a.m. The trains traveled through areas where we’ve had incidents of drug smoking reported.
*Correction: Previous version incorrectly state ten two-car trains and one single car train. Samples were taken on 17 of TriMet’s 142 train cars or 12% of our light rail vehicles.

The air samples were collected by pumps installed on the ceiling of the train cars, just inside the door to the operator cab and on the outside of the door, in the passenger area. Surface samples were mainly taken on the outside of the operator cab door, in the passenger area, as well as on seats/dividers in the middle of the trains and in the bench seating at the back of the vehicles. Overall, very low levels of fentanyl, meth and cocaine were detected in the air (less than two-tenths of a microgram) and on surfaces (less than two and a half nanograms). A few samples were also tested for cocaine. As with the positive fentanyl and meth results, the level of cocaine found was very low as well.

TriMet Air Samples  – 16 Total

Drug type	Operator side of cab door	Passenger side of cab door
Fentanyl	3 positive samples	3 positive samples
	0.005-0.077 μg/m3	0.005-0.14 μg/m3
Meth	8 positive samples	8 positive samples
	0.011-0.024 μg/m3	0.011-0.039 μg/m3
Cocaine		1 positive sample
	N/A	0.144 µg/m3

TriMet Surface Samples  – 26 Total

Drug type	Passenger side of cab door	Mid train car	Rear of train	Front seatback
Fentanyl	3 positive samples	2 positive sample	7 positive samples	1 positive sample
	0.015, 0.13 ng/cm2	0.014 ng/cm2	0.022-0.17 ng/cm2	0.117 ng/cm2
Meth	8 positive samples	8 positive samples	9 positive samples	1 positive sample
	0.035-0.93 ng/cm2	0.081-1.32 ng/cm2	0.020-2.23 ng/cm2	0.79 ng/cm2
Cocaine*	2 positive samples	2 positive samples	2 positive samples	N/A
	0.018-0.024 ng/cm2	0.011-0.02 ng/cm2	0.011-0.88 ng/cm2	N/A

Public health experts assess findings

TriMet asked Dr. Hendrickson, as well as Multnomah County Public Health officers, to analyze the findings and help us understand them. 

These health experts said the study results aren’t surprising: If someone smokes on transit or comes on board after smoking drugs with the residue clinging to their clothes, then that residue can be detected on board. However, the experts determined that the concentrations found in this study are so low that they would not pose a threat to the health of our riders, operators and other employees and that people should continue to feel safe riding.

“Unfortunately, whenever drugs are being used or handled in a community, very small amounts of drug will be detectable with today’s laboratory technology”, said Hendrickson. “For example, small amounts of cocaine can be found on the surface of paper money.” 

The UW study took air samples over a 4-5 hour period on MAX Green and Orange/Yellow Line trains. The testing did not determine how long fentanyl or meth may linger in the air, and it did not evaluate ventilation systems or filters. But for those who have longer rides and our operators who are on trains for hours, Hendrickson says the amount of fentanyl in the air samples is thousands of times lower than a dose that would be used to treat pain in a hospital.  He also noted that the highest concentration of meth found in air samples was extremely low—0.039 micrograms—which is just 78-thousandths of the medical dose for treating ADHD (5000 micrograms).

Fentanyl fueling national epidemic

Nationally, health and drug enforcement experts say illicit fentanyl is primarily responsible for fueling the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States. While illicit fentanyl clearly poses a risk for those who abuse it, health experts say secondhand or third hand exposure does not.

Among published information about fentanyl dangers:

• Studies have looked at fentanyl concentrations in the bloodstream after someone has had secondhand fentanyl exposure from smoke. The levels are extremely low or not detectable. So, there’s no real risk for the everyday person being exposed to secondhand opioid smoke. – Dr. Scott Phillips, Medical Toxicologist and Medical Director of the Washington Poison Center; Public Health Insider, April 2022
• Illicit fentanyl cannot be absorbed through the skin or by touching an item or surface where it is present.  – Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
• Fentanyl must enter the system through the mucus membrane or the bloodstream. It
  is not a volatile drug, so when it is left undisturbed, it can’t cause harm. It cannot
  enter through the skin, only through ingestion. – Denver Public Health and Environment

Also, TriMet received 61 workers compensation claims between February 2021 and June 2023, in which employees immediately sought medical treatment after concerns of exposure to secondhand drug smoke. While it was up to emergency room doctors to determine whether toxicology/blood tests were warranted, no tests completed ever came back positive for drugs.

Combatting drug use on board

“We saw this wave of fentanyl and meth use rolling through our community, and we took action,” said TriMet Chief Safety Officer Andrew Wilson. “We have taken a number of steps to try to keep drug use off our buses and trains, and we won’t stop. It will be a continuous effort.” 

TriMet has doubled the number of personnel on our security teams since the start of 2022, to increase presence on board. Our security teams will inform anyone seen smoking on board that it is not allowed and supervisors and/or police will be contacted if the person refuses to leave or stop smoking. Our Customer Safety Supervisors enforce TriMet Code, including issuing citations or exclusions for smoking. A year ago, we had 18 Customer Safety Supervisors; today, we have 46.

In addition to increasing security personnel, we changed the TriMet Code in early 2022, to include non-criminal violations of laws or ordinances as actions prohibited on TriMet. Since possessing a small amount of drugs and drug use are now categorized as a violation under Oregon law (ORS Chapter 153), by prohibiting violations of those activities, security personnel can further address the behavior, with a citation or exclusion.

TriMet has added a Safety Response Team, which has now expanded to 58 personnel. Team members connect people in need on and around our transit system with social services such as shelters, mental health resources and addiction services.

In recent years, TriMet has updated our standard operating procedures. Workers focused on cleaning our vehicles wipe down touch points each night, before the bus or train goes into service the next day. We also have procedures to address smoke when it is reported on board. We upgraded the filters in our buses and trains during the COVID-19 pandemic. The HVAC system on our fixed-route buses uses a MERV-12 rated filter and our FX articulated buses use a MERV-13 filter. Our MAX trains use the highest level of filter possible for their HVAC systems, a MERV-10. All the air in the MAX car passes through the HVAC unit about every 74 seconds. The frequent opening and closing of bus and train doors provides additional ventilation. While on-board air is recycled, the fresh air from opening and closing doors and from windows, as well as the air passing through the ventilation filters, helps to clean it.

See something. Say something

TriMet has long had signs and announcements that if you see something suspicious, say something to an operator, other TriMet employee or police. The same is true for riders if they see someone smoking on board. Please alert the operator, whether or not you know they are smoking drugs. Smoking of any kind is prohibited on TriMet. If you are on MAX, you can go to the other end of the train car to use the intercom to talk to the operator. Or, if time allows, you can go to the other car of the train and use the intercom.

TriMet and health experts also urge people to continue practicing good hand hygiene. While handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer became common during the pandemic, it is good practice to always wash your hands after being in public spaces and touching items that others may have touched.

TriMet’s Tilikum Crossing, Washington Park MAX station serve up wonder while speeding up transit

They are some of the region’s most spectacular architectural landmarks, and they can’t be reached by car. TriMet’s Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People and the underground Washington Park MAX Station are awesome achievements in transportation that were built to be experienced by transit. These brilliant structures are more than beautiful, they are integral parts of our regional transit system. They are where form meets function, giving buses, trains and the people who ride them an advantage–a faster, more reliable ride, with a one-of-a-kind view. 

We are moving another bus line to the car-free Tilikum Crossing as part of the Forward Together Service Improvements that go into effect Sunday, Aug. 27. In the meantime, we’re continuing progress on “A Better Red,” a project that benefits from the dedicated right-of-way of the Robertson Tunnel. The tunnel was created as part of the Westside MAX Project, which extended MAX Blue Line west of Downtown Portland to Beaverton and Hillsboro. MAX Red Line trains would later share the track. Today, both lines serve the Washington Park MAX Station–-the deepest transit station in North America. 

Tilikum Crossing improves transit service

Take TriMet to experience the towering light and splendor of the Tilikum Crossing, a first-of-its-kind crossing of the Willamette, accessible only by transit, by bike, mobility device or foot. Completed in 2015 as part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project, Tilikum Crossing was the first bridge of its kind in the United States. The four-pier, cable-stayed-type bridge rises 78 feet above the Willamette River, with twin towers that soar another 180 feet into the sky! The bridge opened as the first new span across the Willamette since the Fremont Bridge in 1973. 

TriMet will move Line 19-Woodstock/Glisan to the Tilikum Crossing as part of Forward Together, to help avoid delays caused by traffic congestion on the neighboring Ross Island Bridge. And that’s not all. We’re improving service so that Line 19 buses arrive every 30 minutes for more hours of the day, every day. And, we’re adjusting the route in Southeast Portland through the Eastmoreland neighborhood. Buses will no longer travel on Southeast Rex Street or 32nd Avenue, to speed up travel time.

The changes coming to Line 19 are part of the first large package of updates that TriMet will roll out with Forward Together, a sweeping overhaul of transit service that we took on coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward Together is focused on equity and will make it easier for more people to connect with opportunities throughout the region. It moves some service from areas with low ridership and higher incomes to those where there are more people with lower incomes, who rely on transit to connect with opportunities throughout our region.

Additional improvements include upgrading Line 54-Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway to Frequent Service and adding buses on lines 8, 15, 35, 43, 56, 44, 70, 75 and 94 to increase the hours of day, frequency and days of the week when our service is convenient, robust and reliable.

The Forward Together plan moves buses to where they’re most needed and most likely to be used. As a result, we are reallocating some of our services. We are discontinuing lines 61, 64, 65, 66 and 68 due to low ridership. The limited, commuter-hours service will be replaced by improvements on lines 43, 54 and 56 and the current service on lines 8, 9 and MAX. Line 36-South Shore will also be retired due to very low use.

About 30% of our bus lines will see some sort of change with this package of improvements, and we ask all riders to visit trimet.org and plan a trip for Aug. 27 or later, to see how to adjust their travel after the changes take effect. 

A Better Red work continues

We’re rolling out Forward Together as A Better Red—our MAX Red Line extension and reliability project continues. Less than two months remain in our ongoing, 126-day disruption required for the current phase of the project. The work includes the replacement of the Portland Airport MAX Station and the installation of a second track along the alignment between the airport and Gateway Transit Center. During the project, shuttles are serving MAX stations between PDX and Gateway, running about every 15 minutes throughout most of the day. 

When the work is completed in 2024, the MAX Red Line will extend to 10 additional stations into Hillsboro. The entire MAX system will benefit from the track improvements, resulting in more reliable light rail service across the region.

Transit tunnel moves MAX trains past traffic

MAX Blue and Red lines benefit from another architectural wonder: the Washington Park MAX Station. At 260 feet underground, it’s the deepest transit station in North America, sitting some 90 feet further below ground than any station in New York City’s famed subway system. 

Located within Portland’s West Hills, the station serves as a gateway to Washington Park and some of the region’s most beloved treasures, including the Oregon Zoo. It’s a one-of-a-kind stop along our 60-mile light rail system. Because of its underground location, the Washington Park MAX Station stays a cool 50-55 degrees year-round. Riders coming in from a warm day relish the rush of cool air as trains arrive after traveling 55 miles per hour through the underground tube. A geological timeline—created from a drilling core sample—runs along the platform, highlighting historical milestones. The walls of the tunnel are awash with colorful vinyl panels that capture the natural beauty of the Washington Park experience. 

Experienced best by transit

Like Tilikum Crossing, the Washington Park MAX Station was built to support the region’s transit system. These architectural wonders make riding faster and more convenient by giving transit vehicles opportunities to move past traffic, maintain speed and avoid delays. Each was a first of its kind–the Tilikum Crossing, as the nation’s longest car-free bridge and the Washington Park MAX station, the nation’s deepest. And neither can be experienced by car. TriMet invites you to take in the awe the next you ride. Visit trimet.org and plan a trip.

Roll out of Forward Together improvements starting Sunday, Aug. 27, to bring increased frequency, more hours and days of service on multiple bus lines; route changes to speed up service; schedule updates to keep buses on time; reduced or discontinued service on some lesser used, low-ridership bus lines

Here we go! Starting Sunday, Aug. 27, TriMet will expand and improve bus service, as we implement the first major package of changes from our Forward Together service concept. The plan, which was developed in partnership with the community as travel changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, includes a sweeping overhaul of transit service for our tri-county service area. Forward Together is focused on equity and will make it easier for more people to connect with opportunities throughout the region. It moves some service from areas with low ridership and higher incomes to those where there are more people with lower incomes, who rely on transit to make important daily connections – like getting to work, school, health care and other services.

In this first bulk delivery of improvements and adjustments, we’re expanding our Frequent Service network and making it easier and more convenient to ride, with buses arriving more often, at more times and on more days. However, with limited human and financial resources, these improvements come with trade-offs. Some lesser-used bus lines will be discontinued, while others will be streamlined to reduce duplication, move service closer to those who need it most and make our transit system work more effectively for everyone.

More buses at more times on more lines and days of the week

TriMet’s Frequent Service buses and MAX lines arrive every 15 minutes or better, for most of the day, every day. We’re expanding upon our existing network, with more service for Line 54-Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy. Previously, the popular bus line combined with Line 56-Scholls Ferry Road to provide 15-minute service. Starting Aug. 27, we’re adding buses to Line 54, to keep them arriving about every 15 minutes, every day of the week.

You can also look for more buses arriving more often or for more hours of the day, or route adjustments or schedule changes to keep buses on time on the following lines:

• Line 8-Jackson Park/NE 15th: We’re increasing weekday service to Marquam Hill during the morning and afternoon commute.
• Line 15-Belmont/NW 23rd: We’re improving the existing Frequent Service so that buses on NW 23rd arrive every 15 minutes starting at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Line 19-Woodstock/Glisan: We’re improving service with buses arriving every 30 minutes for more hours of the day, every day. We’re also changing the route, moving the line from the Ross Island Bridge to Tilikum Crossing to avoid auto traffic. And, we’re adjusting the route in Southeast Portland through the Eastmoreland neighborhood. Buses will no longer travel on Southeast Rex Street or 32nd Avenue, to speed up travel time.
• Line 35-Macadam/Greeley: We’re improving Line 35 service with buses arriving every 30 minutes for more hours of the day, every day. We’re also changing the route with buses between Johns Landing and Lake Oswego alternating between Highway 43/Riverside (35R-Macadam/Riverside) and Taylors Ferry and Terwilliger Blvd (35T-Macadam/Terwilliger) to serve Lewis & Clark College and South Burlingame. 
• Line 44-Capitol Hwy/Mocks Crest: We’re increasing weekday morning service in Southwest Portland to help riders connect with Lines 43 and 56 and Marquam Hill. 
• Line 70-12th/NE 33rd Ave: We’re increasing evening service to NE 33rd Ave on weekends.
• Line 75-Cesar Chavez/Lombard: We’re extending evening service to Milwaukie on weekends. We’re also moving lines 75 and 77-Broadway/Halsey out of Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center due to construction. Buses will serve temporary stops on Northeast 42nd, Broadway and Halsey.
• Line 94-Pacific Hwy/Sherwood: We’re improving Line 94 service between Tigard and Sherwood with buses arriving every 20 minutes for more hours of the day, every day. We’re also changing the route by removing Line 94 service between Tigard and Portland. Line 12-Barbur/Sandy Blvd will continue to serve that area.

Spreading service where it’s needed most

The Forward Together plan aims to put buses where they’re most needed and most likely to be used. As a result, we are reallocating and realigning some of our services. This brings major changes for riders who use TriMet to connect with OHSU, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Portland VA Medical Center and other healthcare facilities on Marquam Hill. 

We are discontinuing several bus lines that provided service to Marquam Hill due to low ridership. Lines 61-Marquam Hill/Beaverton, 64-Marquam Hill/Tigard, 65-Marquam Hill/Barbur Blvd, 66-Marquam Hill/Hollywood and 68-Marquam Hill/Collins Circle will be retired. These weekday-only bus lines primarily offered service during the morning and afternoon commutes and were experiencing lower-than-expected ridership, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With Forward Together, the service that was dedicated to those low-ridership lines will be redistributed to nearby lines that offer more service throughout the day and week. This will help more people get to and from Marquam Hill, no matter when they need to be there. The service will be replaced by changes to service on lines 43, 54 and 56 and current service on lines 8, 9 and MAX, connecting with the Portland Aerial Tram. As Line 54 moves to Frequent Service, we will also make improvements to lines 43 and 56:

• Line 43-Taylors Ferry: We’re adding buses to Line 43 so that riders will see arrivals every 30 minutes. Line 43 will provide service between the Hillsdale neighborhood and OHSU. Riders should also know that we are changing the route of Line 43 between Tigard and OHSU. We’re moving buses off of South Corbett, as there are additional transit options nearby. Lines 12-Barbur/Sandy Blvd, 35-Macadam/Greeley and 99-Macadam/McLoughlin offer service nearby.  
• Line 56-Scholls Ferry Rd: We’re improving service on Line 56 with buses arriving every 30 minutes for more hours of the day, every day. When combined with Line 43, this change will bring 15-minute service between Hillsdale and OHSU. We’re also adjusting the route of Line 56 to OHSU, discontinuing service on Southwest Barbur Boulevard, where there’s service nearby on lines 12 and 44-Capitol Hwy/Mocks Crest. 

Additional adjustments

• Line 36-South Shore: We are discontinuing Line 36 due to low ridership.
• Line 39-Lewis & Clark: We are reducing weekday service due to focus on peak travel times for students at Ida B. Wells High School. We’re also extending the route to serve the Arnold Creek neighborhood and Barbur Transit Center, moving it off of Palatine Hill Road.
• Line 51-Vista: We’re extending Line 51 service on Dosch Road to Wells High School and Southwest Barbur and Bertha. Line 51 will no longer travel to Southwest 2nd but rather end at Goose Hollow, with service to Lincoln High School.
• Line 55-Hamilton: We’re reducing service on Line 55 due to low ridership and available service nearby on Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway. The remaining buses will be timed to serve Wells High School students.
• Line 99-Macadam/McLoughlin: We’re simplifying the route and moving buses to South Moody through the South Waterfront to help reduce delays.

More improvements

• Line 17-Holgate/Broadway: We’re adjusting the route of Line 17 to improve transfers and help keep buses on time, by moving the end of the line for eastbound travel to Southeast 122nd Avenue and Holgate Boulevard. Riders continuing to Southeast 136th can board Line 17 buses to Portland City Center to complete their trip.
• Line 44-Capitol Hwy/Mocks Crest and Line 78-Denney/Kerr Pkwy: We are restoring weekend service to PCC Sylvania.
• Tigard Transit Center: We’re reorganizing bus stops to accommodate more service at Tigard Transit Center. Riders of lines 43, 64, 76, 78 and 94 can expect to see changes.

Check the schedule and plan your trip

In addition to increasing service, we’re also adjusting schedules on about 30% of our bus lines. By adding or removing time from the schedule in response to traffic patterns, we can help keep buses on time. We’re planning adjustments of more than three minutes, to FX2-Division and Line 32-Oatfield. 

We encourage all riders to visit trimet.org by Sunday, Aug. 27, and use the online trip planner to see how your travel will change. Some lines will see smaller adjustments to help riders make transfers and give operators breaks.

Forward Together

Our Forward Together Service Concept provides a roadmap for increasing service by more than 30% in the coming years. Forward Together focuses on transportation priorities defined by our community: increasing transit ridership and improving connections to destinations for people with low and limited incomes. 

We began adopting proposals from the Forward Together Service Concept in May, as we added back service hours that were reduced in 2020 when COVID-19 put the brakes on the largest bus service expansion in our history. We continue our work to overcome a historic operator staffing shortage and now have operators in place to continue adding back service. Watch for more improvements from the Forward Together plan in the years ahead, as provided by adequate staffing and financial resources. 

TriMet Administrative Headquarters moves to One Main Place, contributing to Downtown Portland’s post-pandemic revitalization with a 10-year lease of 95,000 square feet of office space to accommodate hundreds of employees 

TriMet has a new destination in Downtown Portland: One Main Place! We’ve moved our administrative headquarters to 101 Southwest Main Street, demonstrating a long-standing and unwavering commitment to the city’s resilience and Downtown Portland’s post-pandemic revival. The lease includes 95,000 square feet of space within the 20-story office tower.

The location of One Main Place, at Southwest 1st Avenue and Main Street, retains TriMet’s administrative presence in the heart of the city, where 39% of our buses and trains travel daily. Throughout our 50+ year history, Downtown Portland has been a vital connection point, where people from communities throughout our 533-square-mile service area come together, to work, shop and play!

“For as long as TriMet has existed, we’ve been part of Downtown Portland, and we’re not going anywhere,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “During the darkest days of the pandemic, our buses and trains were some of the only vehicles on those streets. We never stopped, and our commitment to revitalizing the heart of our city will never fade. With 11 years to go on our lease at One Main Place and increasing optimism for the future, we are here for Portland. We are here to stay.”

One Main Place includes a lobby with shared common space. TriMet occupies six floors of the building; our reception area is on the seventh floor. Workgroups that report regularly to One Main Place include Engineering, Construction and Planning; Facilities Management; Finance, Labor Relations and Human Resources; Legal Services; Public Affairs; and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. The General Manager, Chief Operating Officer and members of the executive leadership team also have offices at One Main Place.

The building is located near the Hawthorne Bridgehead. One of the city’s first Rose Lanes, installed in 2019 to help speed up buses traveling into downtown, leads to a bus stop right outside. Lines 6-ML King Jr Blvd, 10-Harold and 14-Hawthorne arrive there regularly each day. Hundreds of buses can be accessed on the Portland Transit Mall, just blocks away on Southwest 5th and 6th avenues. All five MAX lines also travel to Downtown Portland, and our Customer Support Center is located at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

One Main Place is situated in a vibrant section of Downtown Portland, close to coffee shops, restaurants and cafes that bustle with business during the work day, at times resulting in lines out the front door! The location provides easy access to services and shopping. In addition, it is located within walking distance of parks, fountains and the Willamette River. Portland’s Wednesday Farmers Market at Shemanski Park is a popular lunchtime destination.

Lease terms leverage advantageous economic conditions

When TriMet negotiated terms for the lease agreement at One Main Place in late 2021, it represented the largest new commercial lease agreement in the state of Oregon. The agency’s total investment over the 11-year term of the lease is about $33 million, a total that Board member Thomas Kim described as a “heck of a deal,” when the Board approved the terms in early 2022. We were also able to secure advantageous terms for the lease, as the region grappled with the economic realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a central city with a growing inventory of vacant office space. TriMet’s real estate broker, Cushman & Wakefield, estimates Downtown Portland’s vacancy rate was 20%, at that time.

TriMet previously leased more than 50,000 square feet of administrative office at Harrison Square, an office building about a half mile south of One Main Place. The 10-year agreement for that property expired in June. Should TriMet have stayed, the agency would have been responsible for a much larger financial obligation under a longer lease term. It was projected at $44.2 million, compared to $33 million at One Main Place. 

We reviewed 27 potential locations before selecting One Main Place. The building checked many of the boxes in our search criteria, including a location that is well-served by transit, near a vibrant neighborhood and is seismically resilient. 

A new home away from home, for our administrative employees

About 275 people, nearly half of TriMet’s 600 non-union employees, will report to One Main Place at least one day per week under the revised telework policy that brought administrative workers back to the office in January 2023. Having TriMet staff report to work in person boosts ridership, as many use transit and forms of active transportation, such as biking, to get to the office. While the building provides free bike parking to our employees, we do not have space for employees to park personal vehicles. There is limited access for agency-owned vehicles that are used for work purposes.  

Fare increase revenue dedicated to service

Earlier this year, the TriMet Board of Directors approved the agency’s first increase in Adult fare in more than a decade. It takes effect in January 2024. One hundred percent of the revenue that TriMet collects from fares is dedicated to the maintenance and operation of our transit service. None of the funds will be directed toward the lease at One Main Place. Annual payments for the lease at One Main Place are included in TriMet’s annual budget for leased facilities.

The TriMet Board of Directors welcomes Robert Kellogg as its newest member. Kellogg was nominated by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. The Oregon Senate approved Kellogg’s appointment on June 16, to take effect July 1, 2023.

Former Tualatin City Councilor, Southwest Corridor steering committee member joins TriMet Board

Kellogg will serve as the director for TriMet District 3, which covers parts of Southwest Portland, Beaverton, and southern Washington County. Kellogg has run a general law practice for 17 years. With experience on Tualatin City Council, as well as two transportation steering committees, Kellogg brings years of experience in transportation planning to the TriMet Board of Directors. 

“The number one priority is safety,” Kellogg said. “TriMet riders should feel safe when getting on board. Delivering on this will help in ridership recovery. TriMet can get people to where they want to go, but we need to work on increasing efficiency, collaborating with our regional partners to speed up buses and get people to where they’re going quicker.”

During his time on Tualatin’s City Council, Kellogg focused on local transportation issues and spearheaded a voter-approved $20 million bond measure, which looked at reducing bottlenecks and improving traffic and pedestrian safety. Kellogg began his public service career with an appointment to the Washington County Future Transportation Study, which examined opportunities for the county’s transportation systems fifty years into the future. Recently, he served on the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project Steering Committee, which looked at expanding MAX service to the Tualatin Park & Ride at Bridgeport Village.

Kellogg grew up in southeast Missouri, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Truman State University. He then moved to the East Coast, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the College of Law at Syracuse University. Kellogg then worked in New York City, beginning his career with Latham & Watkins representing creditors during the bankruptcies of Global Crossing, WorldCom and Enron. It was during his time in New York City that Kellogg says he became enthusiastic about the way public transportation can improve people’s lives and shape vibrant communities.

Kellogg and his family of four live in Tualatin. Kellogg likes to play golf, if he can snag some free time, as his two school-age children keep him busy. He serves on the Board of Directors of Neighbors Nourishing Communities, a local non-profit that gives plant starts and seeds to groups and individuals who commit to donating at least 25% of their harvest to local food banks. In 2022, the organization contributed more than 3,000 pounds of fresh produce.

Thank you to outgoing District 3 and Board President Linda Simmons

Kellogg joins Board Secretary and Treasurer Ozzie Gonzalez and directors Keith Edwards, Tyler Frisbee, Thomas Kim, Dr. LaVerne Lewis and Kathy Wai on the Board.

TriMet would like to thank outgoing Board President, Dr. Linda Simmons, for the prudent financial stewardship that she provided throughout her six and a half years of volunteer service. Director Simmons was first appointed to the Board in December 2016, by Gov. Kate Brown. She was elected President in July 2021, becoming the first woman to serve in the role. Simmons departs with a history of steadfast leadership, which oversaw the launch of the Hop Fastpass® electronic fare payment system in 2017, and the kick-off to the largest bus service expansion in TriMet’s history in 2018. She was also instrumental in TriMet’s response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Dr. Simmons played a key role in the agency’s adoption of our zero-emission bus program and our TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — bus service. She was also deeply involved in engagement around important agency initiatives, including hiring our General Manager, reimagining public safety and developing our Forward Together service concept.

About the TriMet Board of Directors

TriMet’s Board consists of seven Directors who are appointed by the governor. They set policy for the agency as well as appoint the general manager, implement legislation pertaining to transit operations and review and approve certain contracts.

Board members are volunteers and can serve up to two, four-year terms; however, they serve at the pleasure of the governor and can continue to serve until a successor is appointed. For more information about the TriMet Board, visit trimet.org/board.

From Capitol Hill to Oregon, Tyler Frisbee has helped shape equitable transportation throughout region

The TriMet Board of Directors welcomes Tyler Frisbee as its newest member as of June 1, 2023. Frisbee was nominated to serve on the Board by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and the Oregon Senate approved the appointment in April.

Frisbee brings background in active transportation, policy, coalition building

Tyler Frisbee is well-versed in active transportation and has a range of experience in coalition building, two vital skills that will help steer TriMet as we rebound from lost ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic and add back new and improved transit service.

“I’m an avid user of TriMet, and I will use that perspective and experience advocating for safe, reliable transit service,” Frisbee said. “I believe transit should make everyone’s lives better, regardless of race, disability or economic status, or whether or not you even use it. I want to make taking the bus or the MAX the best part of everyone’s day. TriMet has the power to uplift communities while helping our region reach its climate goals.”

Frisbee will represent TriMet District 4, which spans from Southeast Portland to Milwaukie and covers portions of northern Clackamas County.

Frisbee most recently worked in Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s office as a strategic advisor with a focus on transportation, environmental policy and agricultural policy. Frisbee also spent more than six years with Metro, the regional government for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. During her time there, Frisbee worked primarily with Metro’s Government Affairs and Policy Development team, collaborating with local government partners to deliver on Metro’s goals of creating affordable housing, implementing efficient land-use policies and curbing carbon emissions. Frisbee also served as the Policy Director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and has experience consulting on transportation issues for the firm WSP Parsons and Brinckerhoff.

Frisbee began her professional career working for Congressman Blumenauer on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. During this initial stint with Congressman Blumenauer, from 2008 to 2014, Frisbee worked as a senior legislative assistant on issues surrounding transportation policy and finance, land use planning and environmental policy.

Frisbee was born and raised in Oregon. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Frisbee left the New Hampshire campus with a dual degree in government and human geography. While studying there, Frisbee led a non-partisan program that worked to engage young voters in the political process and increase turnout ahead of the state’s highly-contested 2008 presidential primaries.

Frisbee is multimodal, commuting by bus, bike and on foot. Her favorite bus line is the new FX2-Division, which runs between Downtown Portland and Gresham. While not advocating for transportation projects, Frisbee loves staying active. She spends her weekends outside, running and hiking through the beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

Frisbee joins President Dr. Linda Simmons and directors Keith Edwards, Ozzie Gonzalez, Thomas Kim, Dr. LaVerne Lewis, Dr. Linda Simmons and Kathy Wai on the Board.

Thank you to outgoing District 4 Director Bauman

TriMet would like to thank outgoing Board Vice President Lori Irish Bauman for her 8 years of service on the Board. Bauman represented TriMet District 4 and served as the chair of TriMet’s Finance & Audit Committee.

Bauman has been a frequent TriMet rider and helped guide our agency through the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has been instrumental in many TriMet initiatives, including the start of our journey on our goal to a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040, our switch to renewable energy and renewable diesel, our expansion of reduced fare to those who qualify based on a low income, our Division Transit Project and the launch of our first TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — high-capacity bus line, our current Better Red project to improve and expand our MAX Red Line, and much more.

About the TriMet Board of Directors

TriMet’s Board consists of seven Directors, who are appointed by the governor. They set policy for the agency, as well as appoint the general manager, implement legislation pertaining to transit operations and review and approve certain contracts.

Board members are volunteers and can serve up to two, four-year terms; however, they serve at the pleasure of the governor and can continue to serve until a successor is appointed. For more information about the TriMet Board, visit trimet.org/board.