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  • (VIDEO) Opportunities abound at TriMet hiring event

    Portland’s regional transit agency to add bus operators, mechanics and more in 2025

    Image of three TriMet employees posing next to a sign reading "TriMet Hiring Event Interviews."

    TriMet will welcome job applicants for our first hiring event of the year on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

    We hired more than 400 new transit operators in 2024. Forbes Magazine even listed TriMet as one of the top five places to work in Oregon — and the top Oregon-based employer — in their ranking of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2024. We want to build on that momentum in 2025.

    Join our team! Check out the jobs we have available at trimet.org/careers. Some positions come with a $7,500 hiring bonus. All TriMet employees receive competitive pay and excellent benefits, including an employer contribution for their 401(a) retirement account, paid time off, a child care subsidy, and flexible and affordable health coverage plans.

    TriMet’s hiring event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Hyatt Regency at the Oregon Convention Center, 375 NE Holladay Street in Portland. TriMet staff will answer questions, take applications and share what it’s like to work at TriMet. Some applicants may be invited to interview on the spot!

    Driving for TriMet is ‘a dream come true’

    Operator Jim Zinn loves serving his riders! He greets everyone as they board, sometimes handing out stickers with words of encouragement like “You Make a Difference!” and “Thank You for Being Amazing!” to people who look like they might need them.

    “You can create the atmosphere that you want on your bus,” Jim says.

    Jim also appreciates the excellent benefits he receives as a TriMet employee, as well as the new four-year union contract that took effect in December 2024.

    “As someone who has a family, there’s some guarantees in here,” says Jim, a father of four. “And that’s what I really appreciate, because it’s security for my family.”

    Quick with a smile, Jim brightens up TriMet’s Powell Operations Facility in Southeast Portland — where he and many other TriMet bus operators report to begin their shifts. His humor and empathy resonate with coworkers. He also volunteers as a mentor for new bus operators.

    “I want to help other people get through the doors,” Jim explains, adding, “There’s so many operators that are willing to help invest into our new employees and people looking into the future.”

    TriMet offers mentorship and training opportunities to help employees advance in their careers. Employees who take higher or continuing education courses may also qualify for tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year. We support our employees and invest in their success!

    Last year, we established a new four-year labor agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757. This agreement guarantees an annual raise for all union employees and expands benefits. Under the new contract, the hourly wage for TriMet operators starts at $29.35 and increases to $42.75 within three years.

    Learn more, apply and join our team!

    The Feb. 19 hiring event offers resources for anyone interested in becoming a bus operator or joining TriMet’s maintenance team. These are important positions for us to fill as we work to expand transit service.

    The hiring event will be held at the Hyatt Regency at the Oregon Convention Center, located just feet from the Convention Center MAX Station. The station is served by the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines. Additionally, bus lines 4, 6, 8, 44 and 77 stop within three blocks of the venue, as do the Portland Streetcar’s A and B loops. Plan your trip now at trimet.org!

    If you plan on driving to the event, parking is available in the garage on Northeast 2nd Avenue, between Holladay and Multnomah streets. We will validate parking for attendees. If the garage is full, street parking is generally available in the surrounding area. TriMet also maintains a number of Park & Ride locations where you can leave your car and take transit.

    TriMet is an equal opportunity employer. We believe people have a place at TriMet regardless of their race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

    Even if you can’t make it to the hiring event, you can always learn more about opportunities at TriMet, and find out how to apply, at trimet.org/careers.

  • Your ticket to Providence Park soccer games and concerts is your fare on TriMet

    TriMet to continue successful partnership with Portland Timbers, Thorns FC in 2025 and 2026

    Image of Portland Timbers fans leaving a TriMet bus stop.

    Your ticket to the game is also your ticket to ride!

    TriMet is extending our partnership with the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

    If you have a ticket to a Timbers or Thorns game at Providence Park, you can use it as your proof of fare on TriMet buses and MAX trains on match days — all thanks to a partnership between TriMet and our professional soccer teams. We began accepting match-day tickets as fare on TriMet during the 2024 season. Starting in 2025, and through 2026, we’ll also accept Providence Park concert tickets as fare!

    For up to three hours before or after the event for which the ticket is valid, you can present your Timbers, Thorns or concert ticket to your TriMet bus operator or TriMet Customer Safety Supervisor as proof of payment. Digital tickets can be displayed on a smartphone or other device. Learn more at trimet.org/providencepark.

    Keep an eye out for the upcoming season schedules, and plan your trip at trimet.org.

    Go by bus or train

    The Timbers, Thorns and TriMet share a common goal: encouraging fans to take transit to and from Providence Park.

    By taking TriMet, you can save on gas and parking, as well as avoid the hassle of traffic and finding a space for your car. Wave goodbye to those match-day parking fees!

    TriMet is also the environmentally friendly way to go! MAX light rail provides 100% zero-emissions transportation, stopping just steps from Providence Park. TriMet bus service is provided by a mix of renewable diesel, hybrid and battery-electric buses.

    Both the MAX Blue Line and MAX Red Line serve Providence Park. The stadium is also served by several bus lines:

    Additionally, late-night MAX bus lines 287, 288 and 292 serve the Goose Hollow and Providence Park MAX stations after train service ends for the night.

    Park and ride

    TriMet has dozens of Park & Ride locations open nights and weekends throughout our service area. Just leave your car and catch the bus or train to Providence Park! Parking at all TriMet Park & Rides is free.

    TriMet is a popular way to get to Downtown Portland! Please keep in mind that close-in Park & Rides may fill up on match days and at peak travel times. Additional Park & Rides are conveniently located close to Highway 26, Interstate 84 and other major travel corridors.

    These Park & Rides along the MAX Blue and Red lines typically have parking available:

    Millikan Way

    SW Millikan Way and 141st Avenue (5-10 minutes from Highway 26)

    400 parking spaces

    Beaverton Creek

    SW 153rd Avenue and Millikan Way (5-10 minutes from Highway 26)

    417 parking spaces

    Elmonica/SW 170th Ave

    1200 SW 170th Ave (7-15 minutes from Highway 26)

    435 parking spaces

    Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave Transit Center

    375 SW 185th Ave (5-10 minutes from Highway 26)

    595 parking spaces

    Quatama

    NE Quatama Street and John Olsen Avenue (5-10 minutes from Highway 26)

    310 parking spaces

    Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds

    701 NE 34th Ave (5-10 minutes from Highway 26)

    396 parking spaces

    Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center

    9839 NE Multnomah St (1-5 minutes from Interstate 84 and Interstate 205)

    690 parking spaces

    A typical MAX ride from these Park & Ride locations to Providence Park takes around 45 minutes or less. You can also catch the MAX Green Line, MAX Orange Line or MAX Yellow Line and make a connection at Pioneer Courthouse Square or Rose Quarter Transit Center stations. Visit trimet.org to plan your trip and take advantage of your match or concert ticket doubling as your TriMet fare.

    Find more information and a list of Park & Ride locations at trimet.org/parkandride.

  • TriMet is prepared for winter weather. Are you?

    Deicer is stocked, tire chains are ready and contingency plans are made in case of snow and ice

    Image of TriMet MAX train at the Rose Quarter Transit Center, alongside workers shoveling snow on the platform.

    As temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, TriMet is officially on watch for snow and ice.

    If a winter storm strikes this season, we’ll be ready, thanks to the hard work of our team here at TriMet — including our maintenance crews, operators, customer service agents, safety personnel, Operations Command Center staff and others — as well as our partners at the local and state levels.

    Although TriMet prepares for winter weather for months in advance, extreme conditions can challenge our ability to provide bus, train and paratransit service. Our priority is the safety of our riders, employees and everyone on the road, which may require adjusting service.

    No matter what the winter season brings, riders can prepare by remembering these simple tips: Plan ahead, leave yourself extra time and always check trimet.org/alerts before you go. Sign up to receive service alerts for your bus or MAX line directly via email or text message at trimet.org/email.

    Riders can find more information at trimet.org/winterweather.

    How we prepare

    TriMet has operating facilities for our buses and trains in Portland, Gresham, Beaverton and Wilsonville.

    We stock up on deicer every year. Currently, we have about 68 tons of magnesium chloride — a salt that can slow or prevent ice formation on surfaces. When we put down deicer, we prioritize areas like walkways and stairs at MAX platforms, for rider safety. Even so, we encourage riders to use caution on sidewalks, stairs and platforms as they head to their bus or train.

    New this year, we now have specialized tractors stationed in Downtown Portland and Gresham, which can help us clear snow and ice from the rails. We have snow plows, sanding trucks and other equipment on hand as well.

    Our buses are also ready for winter. We set aside five sets of tire chains for each bus. When winter weather is in the forecast, our hardworking maintenance crews will work overnight, if needed, to chain up buses and get them ready for morning service. Crews may also chain up buses on their routes if winter weather blows in unexpectedly. About 95% of our buses are equipped with drop-down chains, which are helpful when snow and ice begin to fall before our crews can put on the heavier-duty chains.

    If low temperatures are in the forecast, we have “snowbird” crews that can get out to areas that are prone to icing before the rest of our region, such as the higher elevations in the West Hills. These crews will report on the conditions they see, allowing us to coordinate with our local and state partners and adjust service, if necessary.

    Image of tire chains stored in a TriMet bus garage.

    What riders should expect

    Winter weather can be unpredictable! Keep an eye on the forecast, and be aware of weather conditions.

    Riders should always check trimet.org/alerts before setting out. Signing up for service alerts at trimet.org/email can help keep you in the know when conditions are changing.

    All riders should take precautions when going out in winter weather conditions:

    • Dress warmly, and wear bright or reflective clothing for visibility.
    • Always use caution and look both ways before crossing the street or train tracks.
    • Carry a flashlight or other portable light device for greater visibility. Many smartphones come with a built-in flashlight.
    • Consider using traction devices, such as ice cleats that can fit on your shoes or walking poles for stability. If using traction devices on your shoes, step carefully inside buses and trains as they could be slippery on those surfaces.
    • Be careful on and around stops and stations and when getting on or off transit vehicles, as surfaces may be slick.
    • Keep your phone charged so you can receive alerts. TriMet Customer Service is a call or text away: 503-238-7433 (RIDE).
    • Get other important tips for riding during winter weather at trimet.org/winterweather.

    Tire chains can help our buses get traction when road surfaces are slick. While chained, buses are limited to no more than 25 mph. Our priority is getting people to their destination safely, even if it takes more time to get there.

    Our MAX and WES trains typically handle snow well. During winter storms, we monitor conditions carefully. While we’ve taken steps to protect them against winter weather, ice can still build up on wires and tracks during extreme weather. We will adjust or suspend train service as needed for safety.

    LIFT paratransit service may be limited during extreme winter weather. We will reach out to LIFT riders if their trip needs to be rescheduled.

    Our partnerships

    When Jack Frost comes calling, everyone answers. No one faces a storm alone.

    We are grateful to have strong partners during extreme weather events. We work closely with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Transportation and other agencies at the local and state levels — sharing information about road conditions and challenges we’re facing, and requesting support when snow, ice or debris block our routes. As always, we thank them for working to keep roads clear for our buses.

    We also work with utilities like Portland General Electric. Extreme weather threatens our region’s electrical grid. Many TriMet facilities have backup generators. However, power outages may result in delays for riders. Utility companies are important partners for us in restoring service and getting riders where they need to go.

    No mention of TriMet’s partnerships would be complete without acknowledging the hard work of first responders. We thank our regional firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officers for going the extra mile when winter weather strikes. They provide invaluable support to TriMet, as they do for the rest of our region.

  • Deck the halls — not the roads — with TriMet as your sleigh this holiday season

    TriMet can take you to the best seasonal events without the hassle of parking, but always remember to plan ahead

    The holiday season is back, and so are the festivities that come with it. Whether you’re heading to Portland’s annual Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square, holiday events around the region or doing a little seasonal shopping, avoid the hassle of traffic and parking by letting TriMet take the reins. With us in the driver’s seat, you can relax and focus on what really matters: getting into the holiday spirit!

    Kick off the holidays with Portland’s Tree Lighting

    Pioneer Square North, for westbound trains.

    The holiday magic begins with a dazzling display of light on Friday, Nov. 29, when Portland’s Tree Lighting Ceremony transforms Pioneer Courthouse Square into a festive wonderland. This annual tradition, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., also features Portland’s largest holiday sing-along with Pink Martini. With as many as 25,000 people expected to fill the square, some MAX stations will close from 3 p.m. to approximately 7 p.m. for safety:

    • Pioneer Square North
    • Pioneer Square South
    • Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave Station
    Pioneer Square South, for eastbound trains.

    Make sure to plan ahead at trimet.org! To reach the Pioneer Courthouse Square, exit MAX one stop before or after: Library/SW 9th, heading eastbound; Morrison/SW 3rd, heading westbound; and SW 6th & Madison, heading north.

    All MAX lines may experience delays, and buses will detour off Southwest 6th Avenue until crowds clear out. Extra TriMet personnel will be on-site to assist, provide security and keep everything running smoothly.

    Light up your holidays

    This holiday season, let TriMet be part of your celebrations across the region. We’ll handle the transportation while you focus on the joy, lights and memories that make this time of year magical. It’s the most affordable and convenient way to travel. Now is the perfect time to leave the driving to us. Here’s what you need to know:

    • Adult fare is $2.80 for 2½ hours or $5.60 for all day. All day Honored Citizen reduced fare and Youth Day Passes are $2.80, and for 2½ hours, they are $1.40.
    • You can pay with a Hop Fastpass™ card, a debit/credit card or a contactless payment using your mobile phone. Each  payment device will act as your proof of fare. 
    • Always tap your Hop card, credit/debit card or contactless payment to the green hop reader before boarding. You will never be charged more than the cost of a Day Pass. 

    In addition to Portland’s Tree Lighting, TriMet can take you to many of the other light displays around the region:

    • Milwaukie Umbrella Parade and Tree Lighting: Celebrate the holidays in Milwaukie on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, with the Umbrella Parade and Tree Lighting. Decorate your umbrella and join the fun — no registration required! The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. in South Downtown Plaza (11222 SE Main St.) and ends at historic City Hall with a 5:15 p.m. tree lighting. The City Hall/SW 5th Ave MAX Station, serving the MAX Orange Line, is less than a quarter mile away.
    • Rockwood Spirit of Christmas: Rockwood will transform into its own North Pole on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, with the Spirit of Christmas at Gresham Arts Plaza (401 NE Second St.). With crafting activities and events all day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Spirit of Christmas will be capped off by a 6 p.m. tree lighting. Take TriMet for an easy trip. The Gresham Central Transit Center, serving the MAX Blue Line, is just a quarter mile away.
    • ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo: The annual tradition returns, bigger and brighter than ever. This year promises new displays plus old favorites, with a brand-new magical meadow light show. The dazzling displays will light up through Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. The MAX Blue and Red lines stop every few minutes at the Washington Park MAX Station, with a surface-level plaza steps away from the zoo.

    With more people traveling during the holidays, we’ll be looking out for your safety. If you witness or experience inappropriate or disruptive behavior, see broken or vandalized equipment or have anything you would like to report, don’t hesitate to reach out to our security hotline. You can text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) 24 hours a day to reach someone in our Security Operations Center. 

    TriMet keeps you skating

    Back by popular demand, Portland’s Woodsy Winter Village — featuring an enchanting ice rink and holiday marketplace — returns to Southwest Naito Parkway near the west end of the Morrison Bridge. Woodsy Winter Village offers an ice rink that will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., except on Christmas Day.

    With MAX Blue and Red line stations just a short walk away, as well as nearby stops for Line 15-Belmont/NW 23rd, getting there is a breeze. The Portland Transit Mall, offering access to multiple bus and rail lines, is also within half a mile.

    Other ice skating rinks open this year include:

    Lloyd Center Ice Rink: Conveniently located near MAX Blue, Green, and Red lines at the Lloyd Center/NE 11th Ave MAX Station, plus multiple bus routes, the Lloyd Center offers public skate hours daily.

    OMSI on Ice: For a unique indoor skating experience on a synthetic ice rink, head to OMSI. The museum is served by the MAX Orange Line (South Waterfront/S Moody), the Portland Streetcar and bus lines 9, 17, 35 and 36. Ice skating will be available between Nov 23, 2024 and Jan 1, 2025. 

    Winter Village at Orenco Station: From Nov. 30, 2024, to Jan. 12, 2025, enjoy outdoor ice skating at Jerry Willey Plaza in Hillsboro. This event offers open skate sessions, private rentals and festive theme Fridays. It’s located just feet away from the Orenco MAX Station, served by the MAX Blue and Red lines as well as Line 47-Main/Evergreen.

    Stay safe and shine bright

    The holidays can be dazzling — and possibly distracting. As you navigate busy streets and MAX platforms, stay alert this holiday season and remember to:

    • Stop and look both ways at crossings.
    • Avoid blocking your view with hoods or umbrellas.
    • Wear reflective clothing or carry a light to stay visible during dark evenings.

    Stay aware and alert when you’re riding this holiday season. Riders may experience more crowded buses and trains than usual, with more people expected to be out shopping or going to tree lightings and other holiday events. Trips may also take longer due to increased traffic. 

    If you see something unusual, let us know. For non-urgent concerns, text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) anytime. Save the number to your contacts for easier access. For emergencies, alert the operator or dial 911. Learn more about staying safe at trimet.org/security.

    Plan ahead for the holidays

    The holidays bring bustling crowds, and that can mean occasional travel delays no matter your mode of transportation. Patience is key, especially when visiting popular spots or attending big events. But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Use trimet.org to plan your trip and track your ride in real time. Be sure to check trimet.org/alerts before you go for the latest service updates.

  • TriMet adding weekend bus service in Gresham and Troutdale

    Line 81 will run on all days, connecting communities and serving commuters

    Image of a TriMet Line 81 bus at Gresham Central Transit Central, displaying the header destination Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park.

    TriMet’s latest bus service improvements are coming to East Multnomah County on Sunday, Dec. 1.

    We’re adding more buses on Line 81-Kane/257th, including on weekends. We’re also making a small route adjustment to serve more people in Gresham.

    The improved Line 81 will now provide weekend service to the Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park (TRIP), a major jobs center that is home to Amazon and FedEx facilities. It will continue to connect with the MAX Blue Line, FX2-Division and other lines at the Gresham Central Transit Center, so commuters can get to and from their jobs every day.

    You can find more information at trimet.org/servicechange. Plan your trip now at trimet.org — just select a date on or after Dec. 1, and see the best travel options for you.

    The Line 81 upgrade is the latest to come from our Forward Together service concept. Through Forward Together, we’re making improvements across our entire bus network to better serve riders, connecting them with jobs, schools, services and opportunities, and making our buses work better for people, especially those who rely on transit to get where they need to go.

    What’s changing?

    Starting in December, you’ll see Line 81 buses running on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as weekdays.

    We’re also adjusting the route of Line 81. Instead of running along Northeast Division Street between Kane Drive and the Gresham Central Transit Center, the improved line will run along Southeast Powell Boulevard, similar to the route that Line 80 currently takes.

    With more buses running on Line 81, including weekend service, we are discontinuing Line 80. We’re making this change because of low ridership on Line 80, as well as overlap with Line 81 for much of its route — making Line 81 the best option for most riders. Service to Glenn Otto Park will be discontinued due to low ridership.

    We’re adjusting schedules on a few additional bus lines elsewhere in our service area to improve connections for riders and keep buses running on time. They include:

    These schedule adjustments will make our bus system more reliable and help riders get around, especially those whose trip includes two or more lines. Visit trimet.org/servicechange for more details.

    Forward Together

    The improvements we are making to our bus service are included in our Forward Together revised service concept.

    We began developing the Forward Together concept in 2022, with riders and the community. Our goal is to improve connections and service for people throughout our region, and particularly for those with low or limited incomes. We know many people depend on TriMet for transportation to job sites, classes, health care appointments and more. To make a better bus system for them, we are adding service, adjusting schedules and shifting resources where they’re most needed.

    As we prepare to roll out additional Forward Together improvements in the years to come, we will continue to gather community feedback.

    For more information, visit trimet.org/forward.

  • [VIDEO] Next stop: campus! Schools team up with TriMet for new bus service on Line 25

    Brand-new bus stop at the heart of Mt. Hood Community College’s campus helps connect students with home, work and other destinations

    A blue and orange TriMet bus serves Line 25-Glisan/Troutdale Rd's stop at the Mt. Hood Community College campus.

    Students returning to Mt. Hood Community College for the fall term are finding something new on campus: a TriMet bus stop.

    Mt. Hood Community College is the new endpoint for Line 25-Glisan/Troutdale Rd, which runs between the college campus in Gresham and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center in outer Northeast Portland.

    The new bus service is ultra-convenient for students. The bus stop is just up the stairs and past the fountain from the student union and other major hubs of campus life. Line 25 also links them with the regional transit system, with connections to the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines at the Gateway Transit Center, plus more than a dozen other bus lines.

    We recently extended Line 25 to Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale and Northeast Gresham. It now serves both Mt. Hood Community College and Reynolds High School, among other destinations. In addition, Line 25 now runs on all days, with buses arriving every 30 minutes for most of the day.

    Traci Simmons, Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Mt. Hood Community College, calls it a “game-changer” for Mt. Hood students.

    A redesigned line

    Line 25 was one of several bus lines that saw major upgrades as part of our most recent service improvements, which we rolled out Aug. 25. These improvements are part of TriMet’s Forward Together service concept: a new vision for how we provide bus service throughout our tri-county area.

    The goal of Forward Together is to increase ridership and make bus a better option for more people, particularly those with low or limited income. That’s a challenge that many students at Mt. Hood Community College face.

    Many students “don’t have access to a lot of resources like money, or gas, or even a car,” says Isaias Damian Figueroa, a second-year student. He usually rides his bike to school, or he catches another bus at a stop that is a lot further from his home. Line 25 runs right past his neighborhood, though — and he says now that it connects his home to campus, he’ll be taking the bus a lot more often.

    Daniela Cabrales, another student and part-time employee at Mt. Hood Community College, says she’s already seeing a lot of fellow students on the bus. She calls it a “great resource,” both for Mt. Hood students and others who live in the community. About 30,000 people live within one-quarter mile of the extended Line 25.

    Valued partnerships

    TriMet serves a 533-square-mile area that includes parts of three counties. As we add service, we’re guided by the input we receive from members of the community. The feedback we hear from riders helps to shape the decisions we make about where, when and how often we run buses.

    We also value our relationships! Mt. Hood Community College and the Reynolds School District are trusted partners of TriMet. For years, we’ve worked with them on fare programs that put transit passes in the hands of students. When our partners asked for more direct bus service, we listened — and answered, with the expanded service we’re providing on Line 25.

    “TriMet has been helping us with providing Hop cards and passes and ways for students to get on and off campus for a long time,” says Simmons. “This is just that next level.”

    Line 25 is an example of how TriMet is working with community partners to improve connections and expand access to opportunities throughout the region. On the same week we rolled out this new and improved service between East Multnomah County and Northeast Portland, we also:

    • Created a new bus line, Line 153-Stafford/Salamo, in response to requests from residents and local officials in Lake Oswego and West Linn for a connector between the two cities.
    • Added midday service on Line 29-Lake/Webster Rd, answering Clackamas County’s call for more buses to serve its new Lake Road Health Center.
    • Extended the MAX Red Line to the Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds MAX Station, a long-anticipated service improvement sought by business and community leaders in Washington County and the Port of Portland.

    Those are just a handful of the service upgrades we made in August — and there’s more to come! We’ll continue to roll out more Forward Together improvements in the coming months. Stay tuned for more details.

  • More buses, better service: TriMet celebrates big transit improvements with local leaders

    Officials cut the ribbon in Oregon City on better bus service, part of TriMet’s major Aug. 25 service update

    TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. speaks on a stage outside the Oregon City Transit Center behind a podium labeled "Forward Together."

    City and county leaders joined TriMet officials outside the Oregon City Transit Center on Friday morning, Aug. 23, to highlight upcoming bus service improvements.

    TriMet is adding several new bus lines and adjusting more to better meet riders’ needs, starting this Sunday, Aug. 25. We were proud to celebrate these improvements Friday with some of our key partners!

    Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas and Mayors Denyse McGriff of Oregon City, Rory Bialostosky of West Linn and Joe Buck of Lake Oswego were among those who attended the ribbon cutting.

    “Regional connections are vital to ensure that all our residents can move through our county, no matter where they live or work,” said Commissioner Savas. “I will continue working with TriMet and other partners to make transit in our area accessible, reliable, and convenient.”

    “Oregon City has been working with our partner Clackamas County to bring improved transit/bus service to Oregon City,” Mayor McGriff said. “The proposed upgrades to the Transit Center and the new improved lines 34 and 76 will help improve the connectivity for our residents to get where they need to go — for both work, appointments and leisure activities.”

    “The top of the hill in West Linn has not ever had TriMet service in the past, so this is increasing access to a whole new segment of West Linn and several of our neighborhoods,” Mayor Bialostosky said of the new improvements. “Any time we can increase connections and increase access to transit for folks, that’s awesome.”

    “We are thankful for the continued work with TriMet and regional partners as we work together for continued improvements to the transit system that better serve our suburban community and create more connected, accessible, safe and climate-friendly transportation options for residents,” said Mayor Buck. “We are moving Forward Together!”

    What’s new?

    Starting Sunday, Aug. 25, we’re adding several new bus lines, adjusting several more to better meet riders’ needs, and discontinuing a few lines that overlap with new and existing service. You can find the details at trimet.org/servicechange.

    In Clackamas County, TriMet is:

    • Creating Line 153-Stafford/Salamo, a brand-new community connector between Lake Oswego and West Linn.
    • Extending Line 34-Linwood/River Rd to serve the growing Clackamas Heights area of Oregon City
    • Adding midday service on Line 29-Lake/Webster Rd, so patients can take the bus to their appointments at the new Lake Road Health Center.
    • Extending hourly trips on Line 76-Hall/Greenburg to connect Washington County communities with West Linn and Oregon City.
    • Providing new northbound service on Line 291-Orange Bus to Portland City Center, running in place of some late-night MAX Orange Line trips.

    Among other notable improvements across our service area:

    • The extended MAX Red Line will serve 10 additional stations west of the Beaverton Transit Center, providing a one-seat ride from the Hillsboro Airport to the Portland Airport.
    • The extended Line 25-Glisan/Troutdale Rd will connect the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center with Troutdale and East Gresham, adding stops at Reynolds High School, Mt. Hood Community College and other destinations.
    • The new Line 40-Tacoma/Swan Island will link major job centers like Swan Island and Downtown Portland with residential areas like the South Waterfront and Sellwood neighborhoods, as well as all five MAX lines.

    Historic improvements

    This service update has a tremendous scope — it’s one of the single largest updates in TriMet’s history. To prepare for it, we’re working on about 550 bus stops across the tri-county area. That includes installing new stops, updating signs at existing stops and removing stops that are closing.

    We’re also installing new signage at about 100 MAX stations. Some of that signage is for the MAX Red Line extension. Other signage will direct late-night riders to buses running in place of the last few MAX trains of the night. This late-night service includes Line 291-Orange Bus, as well as new bus lines along the MAX Blue, Red and Yellow lines. Find more information at trimet.org/maxbus.

    Plan your trip now at trimet.org. Just select a date on or after Sunday, Aug. 25, and find the best way to reach your destination on transit.

    From left, West Linn Mayor Rory Bialostosky, Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff, Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas, Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck and TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. cut an orange ribbon in front of a TriMet bus displaying the message "Forward Together."

    Forward Together

    Partnerships and public input are central to TriMet’s Forward Together service concept.

    Our goal with Forward Together is to increase ridership and improve service and connections for people, especially those who rely on transit to get where they need to go. We’re guided in this by the feedback we receive, from community members and leaders alike.

    Our partners specifically requested some of the improvements included in next week’s service update — for example, midday service on Line 29 to the Lake Road Health Center, which was a key priority for Clackamas County.

    We appreciate our partners! We count on their support and involvement as we provide high-quality transit service across the tri-county area, and we work closely with them to make that service even better. Like Mayor Buck said, we truly are moving Forward Together!

    We are excited to roll out the latest Forward Together bus improvements next week, including more community connections for Clackamas County and more service for workers, students and more throughout our region. Look out for additional improvements later this year, into 2025 and beyond.

  • TriMet bus riders save time in Southwest Portland, thanks to transit signal priority

    TriMet partners with PBOT to reduce red-light wait times along Capitol Highway, helping keep everyone moving

    TriMet bus serves Line 43-Taylors Ferry/Marquam Hill.

    Riders on eight TriMet bus lines are getting back a little extra time in their day.

    TriMet and the Portland Bureau of Transportation have teamed up to bring transit signal priority to three intersections along busy Southwest Capitol Highway, in the Hillsdale neighborhood of Southwest Portland.

    PBOT added a Rose Lane to Capitol Highway back in 2022, allowing buses to move around congestion and arrive on time more often even during peak commute times.

    Transit signal priority and Rose Lanes work together to reduce the amount of time buses spend sitting at red lights.

    How it works

    Signals at three Hillsdale-area intersections are newly equipped with transit signal priority:

    • Capitol Highway & Bertha Boulevard
    • Capitol Highway & Sunset Boulevard
    • Capitol Highway & Terwilliger Boulevard

    These signals are now part of a network that tracks bus locations, so they “know” when a bus is approaching and can sync up their timing to give that bus faster green lights.

    We’re harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to improve the transit signal priority network. Thanks to AI, these “smart signals” will actually get even smarter over time, as they “learn” traffic patterns and optimize their timing for more efficiency.

    Thanks to the Rose Lane, TriMet buses can move ahead of traffic on Capitol Highway. But with transit signal priority, they’re not the only vehicles on the road that benefit.

    On Capitol Highway, when the light turns green for a bus, it turns green for all other traffic, too. That means less time waiting, less pollution and less congestion. It helps pedestrians as well, with more frequent walk signs along Capitol Highway.

    Better Bus logo

    Do the math, see the benefits

    Eight TriMet bus lines travel along Capitol Highway through Hillsdale:

    This makes Capitol Highway one of the most heavily used roads by TriMet buses in our entire service area, making it a top priority for transit signal priority upgrades.

    These eight lines have a combined weekly ridership of more than 36,400 trips. Many of those are regular riders who take the bus in both directions on a typical day. They’re now saving time in both directions, thanks to transit signal priority. On some lines, regular riders are saving 5 to 10 minutes per week!

    TriMet buses on Capitol Highway also serve Ida B. Wells High School, in the heart of the Hillsdale neighborhood. Combined with PBOT’s Rose Lane, as well as schedule adjustments we’re making as part of our Aug. 25 service improvements, transit signal priority means students this fall will arrive on time more reliably, and they’ll spend less time in traffic on their way home from school.

    Keep an eye out for more transit signal priority upgrades coming in other parts of TriMet’s service area! We want to save more riders more time on more bus lines, and we’re working with local partners — including PBOT and others — to make it happen.

    Visit our website and plan your trip at trimet.org.

  • Welcome aboard! TriMet introduces new generation of battery-electric buses

    Our newest e-buses are now serving riders on Line 9, with more soon to follow

    TriMet Line 9-Powell bus serves Downtown Portland along the Transit Mall.

    TriMet’s new battery-electric buses are officially on the road!

    Twenty-four next-generation “e-buses” are entering service with TriMet this year. The first of those buses began welcoming riders aboard Line 9-Powell in July, offering a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride between Downtown Portland and the Gresham Central Transit Center. We’ll roll out more new e-buses on more lines in the coming weeks.

    Our e-buses are zero-emissions vehicles, powered by 100% renewable electricity. That means they generate no air pollution, reducing overall vehicle emissions and improving air quality in our region.

    They’re also American-made! We purchased these buses from GILLIG, a bus manufacturer headquartered in Livermore, California. GILLIG built the buses at its manufacturing facility in the San Francisco Bay Area and drove them about 650 miles up Interstate 5 to Portland earlier this year.

    The bus electric

    GILLIG outfits its state-of-the-art e-buses with six lithium-ion battery packs. TriMet recharges these batteries every time a bus returns to our Powell Operations Facility, so it’s ready to roll out again the next day.

    With support from the federal government and Portland General Electric, we’ve been installing charging stations for our e-buses. Most recently, we added 24 charging stations at our Powell Facility in outer Southeast Portland, so each of the new e-buses has a place to plug in.

    In place of an internal combustion engine, every e-bus has a powerful electric motor. This motor runs on battery power, with a range of well over 150 miles on a single charge in our latest generation of e-buses. We’ll keep track of how they perform over the next few months, tackling hilly terrain, varying temperatures, traffic conditions and more, as we evaluate how they can best serve our riders.

    These new e-buses have 33% more battery capacity than the previous generation of GILLIG e-buses we first introduced in 2021. They will also be able to charge on the go. Like our short-range New Flyer battery-electric buses, which we first introduced in 2019, they’re equipped with overhead charging rails for fast charging. This will give us additional flexibility in how and where we run these buses.

    As we roll out these e-buses, we’re replacing older diesel buses that have reached the end of the road with TriMet after many years of service. The 24 new e-buses are joining 10 e-buses that were already in service with TriMet, more than tripling the number of zero-emissions buses in our fleet.

    Catching the wave of the future

    TriMet has set a goal of a full transition to zero-emissions buses by 2040.

    The 24 e-buses from GILLIG are paid for with state and federal funding. We appreciate the support we’ve received from our partners!

    Reaching zero emissions requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. The Federal Transit Administration awarded TriMet a $39 million grant this summer to help us continue moving toward a fully zero-emissions fleet. With this grant, we plan to purchase 14 hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses — a first for TriMet — before the end of this decade.

    The 60-foot articulated fuel-cell electric buses will run along 82nd Avenue, one of the busiest traffic corridors in our region. Together with our partners at Metro, our goal is to open a high-capacity rapid bus transit line, similar to FX2-Division, along 82nd Avenue sometime in 2029.

    The grant will also pay for the infrastructure and training we need to support these buses, including more upgrades for the Powell Operations Facility.

    We also received a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation this summer for the development of our Columbia Operations Facility. This site supports our transition to zero-emissions buses, including fuel-cell electric buses.

  • Coming soon: More opportunities to access jobs, schools and services with TriMet

    Aug. 25 service improvements will get TriMet riders where they need to go, when they need to be there

    TriMet Line 29 bus serves Lake Road Health Center.

    TriMet is preparing to roll out our latest round of Forward Together service improvements on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024.

    These improvements include upgrades both large and small that will help connect riders to vital opportunities: jobs, schools, health care and more. Riders will experience these benefits in all three counties we serve!

    Welcoming Line 40!

    Starting Aug. 25, catch the new Line 40-Tacoma/Swan Island, with service to Swan Island, Rose Quarter, Downtown Portland and Southeast Portland.

    This new line connects with the MAX Orange Line at the SE Tacoma St/Johnson Creek MAX Station, and with the MAX Blue, Green, Red and Yellow lines at the Rose Quarter Transit Center.

    We’ve designed this line with workers in mind. It will run on all days, with buses arriving twice every hour for much of the day.

    Our Forward Together service concept focuses on increasing ridership and making bus service more convenient and accessible for more people, especially those who rely on transit — including commuters. That means more direct bus connections between home and work.

    With Line 40, workers will have a one-seat ride from neighborhoods like South Waterfront and Sellwood to their jobs at Swan Island or elsewhere along the line, including in Portland City Center.

    With the new line providing service in place of lesser-used bus lines, TriMet will discontinue lines 85 and 99. Riders will still be served by other bus lines as well as Line 40.

    Extending Line 25!

    TriMet’s public outreach process is a crucial component of Forward Together. To make the most informed decisions about where to prioritize new bus service, and how to increase ridership, we need to hear from the communities we serve.

    For example, in Multnomah County, school communities at Reynolds High School and Mt. Hood Community College asked for more service, including a direct connection to MAX. And TriMet has answered!

    We are extending Line 25, which is getting a name update as well: Line 25-Glisan/Troutdale Rd. As its new name suggests, Line 25 will run farther east to serve Troutdale. Buses will also arrive about every 30 minutes, and they’ll run every day.

    Line 25 will have stops at Reynolds High School and Mt. Hood Community College. It will also take riders to other community destinations, including the Troutdale Library, the Troutdale Post Office, and retail and recreation areas.

    Riders will be able to take Line 25 from Troutdale and Gresham to the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center in Northeast Portland, where they can connect with the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines.

    Upgrading Line 29!

    TriMet is also working with community partners as we roll out more Forward Together service benefits. One of those partners is Clackamas County, which recently opened the Lake Road Health Center. Its campus on Southeast Lake Road is the new home of Clackamas County’s behavioral health clinics.

    Line 29-Lake/Webster Rd serves workers at the many businesses along Lake Road and nearby areas. We’re adding midday buses so Line 29 now runs throughout the day, Monday through Friday. Buses will arrive every hour.

    This schedule expansion benefits patients at the Lake Road Health Center, workers at local employers like Bob’s Red Mill and Unified Grocers, and students at Milwaukie High School, among others.

    Expanded service on Line 29 also improves connections with the MAX Green and Orange lines and more bus lines in North Clackamas County, including Line 34-Linwood/River Rd, which we’re extending to better serve the community.

    Adjusting bus schedules

    More than three-quarters of TriMet’s bus lines serve at least one high school, college or university campus. TriMet works with schools to get students where they need to go, when they need to be there.

    Across our service area, we’re adjusting bus schedules by up to 5 minutes to better serve morning school bell times, including:

    In addition, we’ve designed the new schedule for the extended Line 25-Glisan/Troutdale Rd to align with bell times at Reynolds High School in the Reynolds School District.

    Read more about the coming service improvements at trimet.org/servicechange.