TriMet News

Portland

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Oregon’s new drug law will improve safety on TriMet, in public spaces starting Sept. 1

    TriMet’s security improvements, combined with new law making possession of illicit drugs a misdemeanor, continue to make riding safer

    As TriMet continues our efforts to provide safe, welcoming and reliable transit service, we look forward to the Sept. 1 revision to Oregon law making possession of small amounts of illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine a crime again. This change will make possession of hard drugs in public—including on TriMet buses and trains, as well as at our stops, stations and transit centers—a misdemeanor offense.

    Despite our continued focus on safety and security efforts, rampant open drug use in the communities TriMet serves extends onto our transit system at times. That creates an unpredictable and potentially dangerous situation for TriMet riders and employees. We believe public spaces and public services should feel safe and comfortable for everyone to use, without worry of being exposed to illegal drug use. TriMet is a lifeline for many who rely on transit to get work, school and other opportunities due to age, disability or income. They deserve to ride with dignity.

    While TriMet’s Code of Conduct already prohibits drug use, starting in September, law enforcement, including officers assigned to TriMet’s Transit Police Division, can cite individuals for drug possession, punishable by up to 180 days in jail. The new law also gives counties the ability to offer deflection programs that mandate engagement with addiction services as an alternative to jail time.

    It’s the first of two new drug laws. The second—taking effect Jan. 1, 2025—explicitly focuses on public transportation. It will classify the use of drugs on public transit buses and trains in Oregon as a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious of misdemeanors, punishable by up to 364 days in jail.

    At a Glance:

    Revisions to Oregon drug law

    HB 4002 – effective Sept. 1, 2024
    What it does: House Bill 4002 recriminalizes the possession of small amounts of hard drugs, giving law enforcement the authority to cite and arrest people for the misdemeanor of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, punishable by up to 180 days in jail. The law also gives counties the ability to offer deflection programs that mandate engagement with addiction services as an alternative to jail time.
    Change and impact to TriMet: While drug use already violates TriMet’s rules for riding, the change in law gives police, prosecutors and treatment centers new tools to address this public health and safety issue.

    SB 1553 – effective Jan. 1, 2025
    What it does: Senate Bill 1553 heightens criminal charges for the use of illicit drugs on public transportation, making it the most serious of misdemeanors, punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $6,250 fine or both. It also classifies drug use on transit as a drug-designated misdemeanor, allowing those convicted access to state-funded treatment in many instances.
    Change and impact to TriMet: This helps ensure that TriMet and all public transit agencies statewide can effectively work to make their systems drug-free zones. It gives law enforcement more tools and better direction on how to handle incidents involving drugs.

    Public drug use has increased significantly in Oregon since 2020, with deadly results. In 2021, overdose deaths increased by 43% statewide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they’ve kept rising in the following years. No other state saw a higher rate of overdose deaths than Oregon did in 2023. Both of the new Oregon laws will open up new avenues for those facing addiction to get help.

    Making transit a drug-free zone

    The new illicit drug laws will make TriMet buses and trains drug-free zones and are important steps in our ongoing work to make transit safer in the face of the societal issues challenging our region. Since the start of 2022, we have more than doubled the number of safety, security and customer service staff on our transit system and taken other steps to address TriMet code violations and inappropriate behavior on board. There are now about 500 people working to make our system cleaner, safer and more accessible.

    Earlier this summer, safety and security staff began increasing enforcement of TriMet’s Code of Conduct—our rules for riding—to improve cleanliness and accessibility on board while addressing inappropriate activity. These rules focus on behavior that is prohibited on TriMet and cover everything from paying fare to not bringing items on board that leak and block aisles and prohibit smoking of any kind.

    As part of this focus, riders will see Customer Safety Supervisors checking fares and, along with our Customer Safety Officers and Transit Security Officers, they’ll let riders know they need to follow the rules. Most important are those rules put in place to make sure people can move safely through our vehicles, especially those who have disabilities and older adults looking to reach priority seating areas.

    More tools for rider safety

    TriMet has a 24-hour Security Operations Center, where riders can report non-urgent security issues such as loud or disruptive behavior, vandalism and litter, among other concerns. Text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE) to connect with security staff that will determine the appropriate response. For an urgent concern, alert the operator or text or call 911.

    We have taken steps to improve safety as well, with updated security cameras and lighting at many of our transit centers, rail platforms and park and rides. We’ve also improved the safety panels next to the bus operator’s seat and added safety monitors on all of our buses that show security camera views.

    For more information on TriMet’s safety and security efforts, go to trimet.org/security.

    Providing support, for a better experience for all

    Among the growing safety and security teams you’ll see on TriMet is our Safety Response Team. The team’s presence discourages inappropriate and illegal behavior, while helping people in need on and around our transit system, conducting social service outreach and providing referrals for housing and mental health services. Safety Response Team members carry backpacks with snacks, water and other supplies including Narcan, the overdose-reversing nasal spray. Their work focuses on ensuring a positive experience for everyone who rides.

    In 2023, TriMet’s Safety Response Team members connected with some 127,500 individuals, including conducting nearly 17,600 welfare checks, providing 5,876 referrals to social services and assisting 47 people showing suicidal thoughts.

    Find more information about our teams at trimet.org/personnel.