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See what we've been up to at TriMet!
Portland and TriMet welcome transit professionals from across the country this month for the 2024 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Mobility Conference and International Bus Roadeo! This is the first time either of these events — the biggest in the public transit industry — have been held in Oregon. And it’s the first International Bus Roadeo — considered the “Olympics” for bus drivers and mechanics — in five years.
While the events aren’t open to the public, they are among the largest conferences to come to Portland since the pandemic, with an estimated economic impact exceeding $2.5 million!
Earth Day is a big deal for TriMet! We’ve set a goal for a 100% zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040. That’s why we’re adding 24 new battery-electric buses this year, while our diesel buses run on cleaner-burning renewable diesel.
We thank our riders — on Earth Day and every day — for choosing a climate-friendly way to get around. Every time you ride a bus or train instead of driving in a car, you reduce your carbon footprint and invest in the sustainable future we all want for our region and our planet.
“Did that bus just run a red light?” That was a common question when FX2-Division buses first began rolling in 2022. Bus-only signals and others equipped with NextGen Transit Signal Priority (TSP) technology let our buses go ahead of traffic. That helps buses move safely around congestion to get riders to their destination faster.
We’re now rolling out this cutting-edge technology in more places, including in the Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard corridor. A bus-only signal switched on this spring at Hawthorne and 11th Avenue works with TSP and Rose Lanes to speed up buses and reduce the amount of time riders spend sitting in traffic.
Thanks to the owners and businesses of Time Oil Road, Line 11-Rivergate/Marine Dr riders are avoiding a 30-minute detour due to unplanned construction on North Portland Road. Now that’s what we call teamwork and our riders call a win!
Want buses and trains arriving more often? So do we! We can add more service if we have more operators. That’s why we are still hiring bus drivers and will soon open our MAX operator positions to the public for the first time. Visit trimet.org/careers to apply starting Friday, April 26. Both positions come with a $7,500 hiring bonus.
Anyone interested in career opportunities with TriMet can also join us Wednesday, May 15, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland at Lloyd Center. We’ll be providing information about open positions and taking applications on the spot!
If you haven’t seen our “Clean Team” in action, you’ve likely noticed their work. Our growing team of cleaners has been painting, power washing, picking up litter and so much more. It’s all part of a focused effort to refresh our most heavily used rail stations and transit hubs. The work includes replacing damaged signs, glass, older bus shelters and trash receptacles.
This massive effort comes as we have increased security and rolled out better service as part of Forward Together, the service plan developed with the community.
The first MAX Yellow Line train rolled into service on May 1, 2004. It was the crowning jewel of the “Interstate MAX Project,” a 5.8-mile light rail alignment that travels along North Interstate Avenue and connects communities between the Expo Center and Downtown Portland.
Did you know? The MAX Yellow Line was completed early and came in millions of dollars under budget. As a result, it opened four months early! One heavy lift during the project was figuring out what to do with the 31-foot-high, six-ton statue of Paul Bunyan! It sat smack in the middle of the project until the community came together to move the beloved statue to a new plaza just 59 feet away.
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