Next-generation transit signal priority technology is being installed to help TriMet FX buses move through intersections faster

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

If you ever wanted to zip down a road with a string of green lights clearing your way, then TriMet’s Division Transit Project will be a wish fulfilled. Faster, smarter and more reliable bus service is coming Sept. 18 with the culmination of the Division Transit Project and the launch of TriMet FX® — or Frequent Express — service along Southeast Division Street.  One reason for that will be a first for our region:  the “next generation” of what’s known as transit signal priority.

Transit signal priority is a way of phasing or timing traffic signals so buses jump to the head of the line and get more green lights. Working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Gresham, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and LYT, a company specializing in next-generation transit signal priority technology, TriMet is having it installed at 58 of Division Street’s signalized intersections. These stretch along FX’s 15-mile route between Downtown Portland and Gresham.

You’ve probably experienced the benefits of transit signal priority in the past, but a version that’s relied on infrared emitters inside buses and receivers on top of traffic lights. These emitters and receivers need to be near each other to work. But the newest version does something different using cellular technology: it collects information about the location and speed of a bus and sends it to a cloud server, which allows the system to adapt the phasing of traffic signals to give an edge to bus riders.

This means quicker trips and even easier access to buses. That’s because the technology also provides priority to pedestrian signals to help people reach transit stops ahead of the buses.

The future of transit is FX

Providing green-light priority to buses is just one of the efficiency improvements coming to the new FX2-Division line. Most visibly, it will bring a new type of high-capacity bus service to the region. With its longer, 60-foot green buses, FX will allow more people to ride—60% more per bus—at frequencies of 12 minutes or less throughout most of the day.

This new type of service, along a busy transit corridor, means other changes are coming to make the riding experience even more efficient and reliable.

• Riders will be able to board and pay through three different doors, an advantage of the FX bus’s longer, articulated design.
• Cyclists will be able to bring their bikes on board through the rear door, where they can more quickly secure them in an interior rack.
• To help minimize travel times, 42 new bus stations have been built between Gresham’s Cleveland Park & Ride and Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, where rider demand is greatest.
• The new stations include features like seating, lighting, rain and wind protection and TransitTracker™ displays.

Less waiting, faster buses

FX will cut travel times up to 20% between Downtown Portland and Gresham.

While giving special treatment to buses at signalized intersections has been done for years using the infrared line-of-sight system, it’s never been able to collect transit vehicle and intersection information that allows it to adapt as it can now. That’s made possible now through advances in machine learning—a subset of artificial intelligence.

With the help of LYT, sophisticated technology is drastically improving traffic signal priority. Rather than relying on line-of-sight emitters and receivers that communicate between buses and traffic signals, the new technology uses a device on the bus to relay a constant stream of information to the system’s network, most important being a bus’s speed and estimated time of arrival. That information is then passed onto traffic signal cabinets at intersections, which will make a request to grant the bus a green light before it arrives.

That stream of information will also improve how TriMet schedules buses, which can help prevent “bus bunching”—where two or more buses arrive back-to-back, or within just a few minutes of each other.

“As we fine tune the system, we’re expecting there will be a feedback loop with TriMet’s scheduling department,” TriMet’s Director of Intelligent Transportation Systems A.J. O’Connor said. “Schedules will become more consistent, reliable and tighter.”

Partnerships drive innovation

TriMet appreciates the work of our partners to turn the bold vision of the Division Transit Project into a reality. LYT’s expertise in next-generation transit signal priority helps to create a smarter, more adaptable transit system.

The cities of Portland and Gresham, as well as ODOT, have been instrumental in their support, recognizing the value of faster and more convenient transit service. TriMet was able to pursue a next-generation transit signal priority system thanks to a grant from the Federal Highway Administration through ODOT.

And Raimore Construction, the Division Transit Project’s prime contractor, along with our various subcontractors, have worked through the challenges presented by COVID-19 to keep the project on schedule. Raimore’s company won the largest contract ever to be awarded to a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Oregon. That certification helps bring opportunities to businesses that are owned by people who’ve experienced social and economic hardship.

Speed up your career

TriMet is hiring bus operators, including those who will have an opportunity to drive the new FX buses. There are other innovative vehicles for you to get behind the wheel of as well, including new electric buses and our fleet of 700 renewable-diesel-powered buses.

New operators earn $25.24 an hour to start and are eligible for a $7,500 bonus. Other benefits include health, dental and vision plans at low to no cost, a 401(a) retirement plan with an 8% employer contribution and up to $25,000 in life insurance for full-time operators, provided by TriMet.

If operating a MAX sounds exciting, we just made it faster to get behind the controls. You can be part of the future—and build a great future for yourself—at TriMet, which has been innovating public transportation in the region for more than 50 years. Visit trimet.org/drive to learn more and apply.

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

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

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

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

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

Temporary service level reductions

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

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

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

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

Forward Together

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

When we do grow our operator ranks and start adding back service, we want to make sure we are serving the needs of our community. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way people travel, TriMet has launched Forward Together, a comprehensive service analysis and community engagement effort to determine a better bus system. 

We’re taking a look at where buses are running now and where they should run. And the community is involved. We’re asking if we should focus buses on where people ride the most or spread them out to serve more neighborhoods. We’ll be sharing more about the effort in the coming months.

Join the team!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Division Transit Project by the numbers

Bigger buses with 60% more space on board for riders

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

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

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

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

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

Better frequency, with buses arriving every 12 minutes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steer your career

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