LIFT

  • Free and easy: TriMet is best way to go for Thorns fans

    Free and easy: TriMet is best way to go for Thorns fans

    Tickets to any Thorns home game in 2025-26 can be used as TriMet fare before and after event

    Image of TriMet buses serving Providence Park in the evening.

    As the Portland Thorns prepare for their first home game of 2025, you can plan your free trip to Providence Park at trimet.org.

    That’s right: free! For up to three hours before kickoff and after the final whistle, your ticket to a Portland Timbers or Thorns home game is your proof of fare on any TriMet bus, MAX or LIFT paratransit vehicle, as well as the Portland Streetcar.

    The Thorns host Angel City FC at 7 p.m. Friday, March 21.

    Go by TriMet

    TriMet is the best way to get to and from Providence Park. MAX Blue Line and Red Line trains serve the Providence Park MAX Station, just feet from the stadium. Several bus lines also stop at or near Providence Park, including:

    Riders can park for free at a TriMet Park & Ride to take the bus or MAX to Providence Park.

    This is the second year we’ve partnered with the Timbers and Thorns to accept game tickets as proof of fare. We’re expanding that partnership in 2025 and 2026 to also include concerts at Providence Park!

    Visit trimet.org/providencepark for more information.

    Follow this guide

    Riding transit to cheer on the Timbers and Thorns is a breeze. Here are six simple steps to help guide you:

    Step 1 — Plan your trip online at trimet.org. You can also set your desired arrival time, customize which modes of travel you’d like to use and how far you’re willing to walk or roll to the stadium, and find the best travel option.

    Step 2 — Leave your car behind. Even if you don’t live close by a bus stop or MAX station, TriMet has dozens of parking facilities throughout the region. Park for free at a TriMet Park & Ride and hop on board. You can also track your bus or train with our real-time map at trimet.org.

    Step 3 — Have your digital game ticket ready. If you go by bus or LIFT, show your operator the ticket as you board. If you’re taking MAX or the Portland Streetcar, display your ticket if you’re asked for proof of fare.

    Step 4 — Hop off at Providence Park. The stadium is just a short stroll away. Say goodbye to having to hike to the game from a faraway parking spot!

    Step 5 — Enjoy the game! Both the Timbers and Thorns feature some exciting new and returning players this season. Additionally, there are new concession options at Providence Park this year, along with a brand-new patio.

    Step 6 — Head back on TriMet. This is a great opportunity to talk about the game with other fans, whip out your smartphone to buy tickets to the next home game, or maybe just put on your headphones and enjoy the ride.

    Where to park

    Slogging through traffic and finding a place to park is stressful. Plus, if you’ve driven to a Timbers or Thorns game before, you probably know that parking near Providence Park is more expensive before, during and after the game. Those event parking fees can drive up the cost of attending a game in a big way.

    Unless otherwise indicated, TriMet doesn’t charge for parking at our Park & Rides. If you’re taking transit, you can park for free.

    Park & Rides

    Here are just a few places you can park, at no cost, to take TriMet to Providence Park:

    • Beaverton Creek, SW 153rd Avenue and Millikan Way in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
    • Delta Park/Vanport, 1940 N Victory Blvd in Portland (served by the MAX Yellow Line and bus Line 6)
    • Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, 9839 NE Multnomah Street in Portland (served by the MAX Blue Line, Red Line and Green Line, as well as multiple bus lines, including Line 15 and Line 24)
    • Gresham Central Transit Center, NE 8th Street & Kelly Avenue in Gresham (served by the MAX Blue Line and multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
    • Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds, 601 NE 34th Ave in Hillsboro (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
    • Millikan Way, SW Millikan Way and 141st Avenue in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)
    • SE Park Ave, 2735 SE Park Ave in Oak Grove (served by the MAX Orange Line)
    • Sunset Transit Center, 10470 SW Barnes Road in Beaverton (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line, as well as multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
    • Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave Transit Center, SW 185th Avenue & Edgeway Drive in Hillsboro (served by the MAX Blue Line and Red Line)

    Please be aware TriMet Park & Rides sometimes fill up on game day! The Sunset Transit Center is our closest Park & Ride to Providence Park. It also has a parking garage. That means it’s a popular place for fans to leave their cars. Just a 10- to 20-minute drive from Sunset, we also have our Beaverton Creek, Millikan Way and Willow Creek Park & Rides. They may be a better place to park closer to game time.

    The MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines do not serve the Providence Park MAX Station directly. Riders can transfer at Pioneer Courthouse Square, which is served by all five MAX lines, or walk or roll to the stadium from there.

  • TriMet celebrates Transit Driver Appreciation Day

    TriMet celebrates Transit Driver Appreciation Day

    Annual day of recognition, March 18, highlights amazing work of bus, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and LIFT paratransit operators

    Image of women holding "We ❤️ our transit operators" and "Thank you operators" signs with a TriMet bus in the background.

    Every day of the year, TriMet’s hardworking transit operators drive the streets of communities across the Portland metro area, getting people where they need to go.

    On March 18, Transit Driver Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating these amazing public servants for everything they do for riders throughout the region.

    Please join us in showing our bus, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and LIFT paratransit operators how much we appreciate everything they do! Check out trimet.org/thankyou for more information and resources.

    “Transit operators deserve to be appreciated every day,” says Donnie Vercher, TriMet’s Director of Bus Operations. “Give them a wave or a smile, greet them when you get on the bus, thank them when you get off the bus. A simple act of kindness makes your driver feel seen, valued and appreciated.”

    Operators who care

    Being a transit operator is hard work! Our operators learn to control large vehicles, share the road with cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and other transit vehicles, and provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for their riders.

    Even so, for many TriMet operators, it’s a dream job. Our operators feel comfortable at the wheel of a bus or the controls of a train. They look forward to the daily interactions they have with riders, greeting regulars by name and learning about their lives. They value small gestures of gratitude and respect, simple good-mornings and thank-yous that tell them their service is appreciated.

    Here are the stories of just four of our amazing operators.

    Image of TriMet Bus Operator Ernest Huerta

    Ernest Huerta

    For 13 years, Ernest Huerta has been welcoming riders aboard his TriMet bus with a friendly smile.

    Ernest came to TriMet after working as a truck driver. He was looking for a steady job where he could put his skills behind the wheel to good use. At TriMet, he found what he had been looking for — including great pay and benefits.

    Ernest found something else to love about TriMet, too. Instead of spending the day alone in the cab of a truck, he gets to greet riders throughout the day from the driver’s seat of his bus. He says it’s what he likes most about driving for TriMet.

    “If you build the atmosphere, you’re nice to people, they’re going to reciprocate,” Ernest says.

    Not only does Ernest appreciate the relationships he has built with his regular riders, he also enjoys meeting new people who get on his bus. That’s one of the reasons he likes working during special events, like the upcoming Portland Rose Festival. For him, every time he presses the button to open his bus’s doors is like opening a Cracker Jack box to find the prize inside.

    “I’m always expecting the best,” Ernest says with a smile.

    Image of TriMet MAX Operator Cori Loggins

    Cori Loggins

    While Cori Loggins has only been driving for TriMet for a couple of years, our transit agency has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

    Cori drove for TriMet LIFT for a few months before deciding to apply to become a bus operator. (LIFT paratransit drivers work with TriMet as contractors, while bus and MAX operators are TriMet employees.) After a short time driving buses for TriMet, he became a MAX operator.

    “I got the confidence doing TriMet LIFT, doing the smaller buses,” Cori explains. “It’s like, if I could do this, I can do a bigger bus. If I could do the bus, I could possibly do a train. So, it’s been a journey.”

    Cori says that for him, being a transit operator is a way to give back to his community. He also enjoys volunteering with employee groups, supporting people in need.

    As a lifelong Portlander, Cori is proud of the service that TriMet provides, and he’s proud to be a part of it.

    “Right here, we have one of the best transit systems in the country, if not the world,” says Cori, whose wife also works for TriMet. “That’s a blessing.”

    Image of TriMet MAX Operator Shana Peck

    Shana Peck

    Just two years after she was hired, Shana Peck was named as our 2024 MAX Operator of the Year. It’s a huge honor that speaks to the reputation for excellence and the respect that Shana has earned in a relatively short time as an operator.

    Like Cori, Shana worked with TriMet as a LIFT contractor before she was hired as a full-time operator. Her goal was to become a MAX operator, and she achieved it within months of officially joining TriMet.

    “It was always kind of a dream to come work here, because there was a lot of opportunity,” Shana says.

    Shana has enjoyed the opportunity to test the new MAX Type 6 trains. She fondly recalls putting them through their paces at 3 a.m. as part of the “burn-in,” a testing period that prepares our next-generation trains to welcome riders aboard.

    As much as she likes operating MAX, Shana takes pride in serving her riders. Many of them depend on TriMet to get around.

    “Seeing how many people that don’t drive, it’s nice being able to make a difference in people’s lives, getting them and from work every day or to the activities that they want to go to,” Shana says.

    Image of TriMet Bus Operator Jim Zinn

    Jim Zinn

    After a career in health care administration, Jim Zinn decided it was time for a new direction. He joined TriMet in 2018, drawn to the job by the excellent benefits that our employees receive.

    Jim is well known at TriMet for his sense of humor, as well as his personal warmth and generosity. He often carries a roll of sparkly stickers with him, using them to decorate the interior of his TriMet FX® bus with positive messages and giving them out to people. In the wintertime, when it’s cold outside, he’ll even give away gloves to riders who need them.

    “I think that the operators that we have out there are truly amazing people who are working very hard to help everybody get around our city, and really actively thinking of ways to make things better in our system and on their bus,” Jim says.

    Like Ernest, Jim says creating a positive atmosphere on his bus is important to him. He likes knowing that he’s made someone’s day a little brighter.

    “What makes my job unique is the people — connecting with different people, listening to their stories, listening to people talk on the bus, hearing them laugh when they get on,” Jim says. “That makes it fun, and you don’t get that in any other job.”

    Image of a man holding a "Your dedication keeps us on the right track" sign alongside a TriMet MAX train in Downtown Portland.

    Sharing the love

    Our operators aren’t just the face of TriMet — they are our heart and soul.

    TriMet first celebrated a day for transit operators in 2013. Our commemoration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day caught on! In the years since then, many other transit agencies across the United States and Canada have begun celebrating March 18 as a special day of appreciation for operators and other transit employees.

    You might hear some friendly honking, cheering and applause if you’re out and about in Downtown Portland today! TriMet’s “Tunnel of Appreciation” has become a beloved annual tradition for our employees to celebrate our more than 1,600 hardworking operators. Hundreds of our employees take shifts on the Transit Mall throughout the day, waving signs and rooting on transit operators at work — including our partners at C-TRAN! Fans and passersby are more than welcome to join us.

    While cheering on operators at the PSU Urban Center and Beaverton, Clackamas Town Center, Gresham Central and Rose Quarter transit centers, we’ve set up “Banners of Appreciation” there, too. Riders are encouraged to write positive messages on them. The banners will be displayed at our bus and rail operations facilities for our operators to see.

    You can also send in your own message of appreciation for TriMet operators at trimet.org/thankyou. This website has cards you can print out for operators, a graphic you can share on social media and more.

    And, of course, you can make any day your own personal Transit Driver Appreciation Day:

    • Say a quick “thank you” when you get off the bus.
    • Wave to your MAX, WES or Portland Streetcar operator when you pass by the train.
    • Be courteous and follow our Rules for Riding.
    • If you have an exceptional experience on TriMet, consider submitting a commendation! Visit trimet.org/thanks, or call or text 503-238-7433 (RIDE). Commendations are part of a TriMet employee’s permanent record. Receiving one is a tremendous honor that helps validate the work our operators do to serve people every day.
  • Timbers ticketholders take TriMet to and from home games for free!

    Timbers ticketholders take TriMet to and from home games for free!

    Leave your car at local Park & Ride, show your digital game ticket on board as proof of fare

    Image of four people, two of them wearing Portland Timbers caps, standing in the doorway of a TriMet MAX train.

    The Portland Timbers kick off their home schedule Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.

    So, what’s the best way to get to Providence Park and cheer on the home team? Take TriMet! If you have a ticket to any Timbers home game in 2025 or 2026, you also have a ticket to ride TriMet for free on match days, from three hours before kickoff to three hours after the final whistle. Tickets are valid fare on all TriMet buses, MAX and LIFT.

    Planning to cheer on the Portland Thorns FC at their home opener Friday, March 21, 2025, or any other home game in 2025 or 2026? It’s the same deal — just show your digital ticket to the game, and that’s your ticket to ride!

    New this year, this ticket promotion covers concerts at Providence Park! Take TriMet to see Post Malone with Jelly Roll on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Your digital concert ticket is your proof of fare on TriMet for up to three hours before and after the show.

    Visit trimet.org to plan your trip today!

    Saving money, skipping stress

    Traffic and parking in the area around Providence Park can be a major headache on game day. Event pricing means parking costs more, and limited availability means soccer fans are often in for a long walk or roll to the stadium.

    Fortunately, there’s an easy way around all of that: ride with TriMet!

    The MAX Blue and Red lines will drop you off just feet from Providence Park. Several bus lines also have stops at or near the stadium, including:

    If you use our LIFT paratransit service, you can also book a trip at lift.trimet.org and present your digital ticket to the game or concert as your ticket to ride.

    Getting there from where you are

    It’s easy to ride TriMet, even if you don’t live near a bus stop or MAX station.

    We have dozens of parking facilities throughout the region, where you can leave your car and hop on board. At every TriMet Park & Ride, parking is free for anyone taking TriMet.

    That’s right: If you have a ticket to a game or concert at Providence Park, you can both park and ride TriMet to and from the event at no additional cost!

    Some of our most popular Park & Rides, like the Sunset Transit Center, can fill up during the day, especially on game day. Instead, consider one of our other westside Park & Rides also served by the MAX Blue and Red lines, such as:

    • Millikan Way, SW Millikan Way and 141st Avenue in Beaverton
    • Beaverton Creek, SW 153rd Avenue and Millikan Way in Beaverton
    • Elmonica/SW 170th Ave, 1200 SW 170th Ave in Beaverton
    • Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds, 601 NE 34th Ave in Hillsboro
    • Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave Transit Center, 375 SW 185th Ave in Hillsboro

    We also have eastside Park & Ride locations where riders can leave their car and get to the game, including:

    • Cleveland Ave, NE 8th Street & Cleveland Avenue in Gresham (served by the MAX Blue Line)
    • Delta Park/Vanport, 1940 N Victory Blvd in Portland (served by the MAX Yellow Line and bus Line 6)
    • Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center, 9839 NE Multnomah Street in Portland (served by the MAX Blue, Red and Green lines and multiple bus lines, including Line 15 and Line 24)
    • Gresham Central Transit Center, NE 8th Street & Kelly Avenue in Gresham (served by the MAX Blue Line and multiple bus lines, including Line 20)
    • Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center, 9525 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland (served by the MAX Red Line)
    • SE Park Ave, 2735 SE Park Ave in Oak Grove (served by the MAX Orange Line)
    • SE Tacoma/Johnson Creek, 8300 SE McLoughlin Blvd in Portland (served by the MAX Orange Line)

    The MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines do not serve the Providence Park MAX Station directly. Riders can transfer at Pioneer Courthouse Square, which is served by all five MAX lines, or take the 15-minute stroll to the park.

    Plan your trip in advance at trimet.org and find the best travel option for you!

    Be a savvy TriMet rider!

    It’s easy to get around on TriMet! Our website has resources for riders, including our trip planner, safety and security information, and ways to contact us. Information is available in multiple languages.

    When you’re traveling to or from Providence Park for a Timbers or Thorns game or concert, remember to present your digital ticket to your bus or LIFT operator, or if a TriMet Customer Safety Supervisor asks for your fare on MAX. Children 6 and under always ride for free on TriMet.

    Check out our Rules for Riding before you go. You can also reach TriMet Security 24 hours a day by calling or texting 503-238-7433 (RIDE).

    Visit trimet.org/providencepark for more information.