 Welcome to UPLIFTED!
Welcome to the first issue of UPLIFTED, the new TriMet newsletter for LIFT paratransit customers, their families, support communities and caregivers!
We’re launching UPLIFTED to keep you informed about important LIFT updates, including service changes, new initiatives and other information, as TriMet works through a significant, agency-wide budget deficit. If you prefer not to receive future issues, select the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email.
Thank you for riding with TriMet LIFT—we’re happy to be part of your journey.
TriMet is facing a significant agency-wide budget deficit, and as part of our response, we are making targeted adjustments to LIFT service. These changes are intended to help manage costs while preserving the safe, dependable transportation our riders rely on every day.
We will be working to maintain service quality and provide riders with service reliability they can count on. Accessibility, safety, and respect for our riders remain at the core of LIFT service, even as we adapt to current financial realities.
How Riders Can Help
We ask for your partnership during this time. Small actions can make a meaningful difference in helping LIFT continue serving those who need it most:
- Consider local or neighborhood options for appointments, shopping and personal needs whenever possible.
- Save time, energy and money using our free Instacart grocery and retail goods delivery service and have your groceries delivered to your front door.
- Sign up for LIFT+ service, which provides the same reliable transportation, with partners like Uber, at a lower cost than our main LIFT service.
- Be ready to leave when your vehicle arrives, helping keep trips on schedule and reducing delays for other riders.
To ensure safe and reliable service for all riders, the following LIFT service standards will be in effect as of April 20, 2026:
Standard Service Level: Curb-to-Curb
Operators provide assistance between the curb or sidewalk adjacent to the vehicle and the LIFT vehicle itself (up to 10 feet). Operators will not knock on doors or enter private property. Riders must be ready to meet the vehicle at the curb when it arrives.
Vehicle Arrival Announcements
Operators will verbally announce their arrival within 10 feet of the vehicle. Operators will wait five minutes after arrival within the trip pickup window. If the rider does not board within five minutes of the vehicle arriving, it is considered a “no show.”
Riders are encouraged to sign up for text or phone notifications through My Transit Manager to ensure awareness of vehicle arrival times. TriMet LIFT staff will NOT call to locate a rider.
Door-to-Door Service For Eligible Riders Only
For customers who are not physically able to reach the curb independently, door-to-door service will be provided on a trip-by-trip basis. This includes
assistance between the outermost exterior door of a building and the LIFT vehicle, up to 100 feet. Assistance may include escorting, steadying support and help navigating obstacles along a safe, ADA-compliant path. Operators will knock on the door upon arrival. In some situations, Door-to-Door assistance may not be possible. When this happens, customers will need to meet the vehicle at the curb or travel with a Personal Care Attendant (PCA).
Examples include:
- When assisting a customer would require the operator to lose sight of the vehicle
- When the pickup or drop-off location is at a back or side entrance
- When distance, stairs, or physical assistance needs exceed service limits
- Safety and Assistance Limits
For the safety of our riders, operators and the public, TriMet LIFT operators must maintain effective control of their vehicle at all times.
This includes:
- Keeping the vehicle within line of sight
- Remaining close enough to intervene in the event of a safety concern
- Ensuring the vehicle is secure and accessible
- Avoiding situations where the vehicle could be left unattended, blocked, or unsafe
Because of these requirements:
- Operators may assist riders traveling up or down no more than five stairs and only with limited physical support.
- Operators cannot escort customers beyond 100 feet from the vehicle, or any distance that causes them to lose sight of their vehicle–including back or side entrances of buildings.
- Operators cannot carry packages, groceries, or personal items, but may assist by pushing a grocery cart no larger than 30" tall × 18" wide × 18" deep.
These guidelines help ensure operators can provide safe, reliable service to all riders while keeping vehicles secure and trips on schedule.
Now, you can schedule your trips online, anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the LIFT online trip booking portal. However, you still need to reserve your rides by 5 p.m. for next-day rides.
With our online booking tool, you can:
- Reserve, view and cancel rides at your convenience
- Track your vehicle live on the day of your trip so you’ll know exactly when it’s on the way
- Share feedback about your rides and overall service
Getting started is simple! To book rides or watch a tutorial, visit: trimet.org/lift
For questions, or support with your client ID # or password, contact LIFT customer service:
Email: LIFT@trimet.org
Call 503-962-8000 Option #2
My Transit Manager is a smartphone app designed especially for our paratransit riders and caregivers. With this easy-to-use app, you can track your rides in real time and stay up to date on a vehicle’s location and arrival time.
With My Transit Manager, you can:
- See a live view of the vehicle’s location on a map—know exactly where your ride is and when it will arrive.
- Receive custom alerts and notifications when your vehicle is on the way, when it arrives, and when your trip is complete.
- Get updates on potential delays so you can plan accordingly.
- Caregivers can also use the app to monitor trips remotely knowing the one they care for is safely on the move.
Getting started is easy! Just download My Transit Manager from the App Store or Google Play and sign in using your TriMet LIFT customer information. Find more information on My Transit Manager at trimet.org/lift/mytransitmanager
LIFT+ is a more flexible and convenient way to ride paratransit. It gives TriMet LIFT riders the opportunity to let our scheduling team send some of their trips to trusted Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) including Uber.
Why try LIFT+? When your trip is moved to one of our LIFT+ providers, you’ll often experience shorter wait times and faster and more direct trips to your destination!
How it works:
- You can choose to opt in to the LIFT+ program by completing the online application here: trimet.org/lift/liftplus
- If selected to participate, you will be notified through email
- You will then continue to reserve your trips through your current preferred option, either online through the LIFT web page or by calling the TriMet LIFT call center. After booking your rides, our scheduling team may start assigning your trips to a LIFT+ provider when it can get you there more efficiently.
- You will receive a text message informing you that your trip is being provided by a LIFT+ partner, and as your trip time arrives, you will receive text notifications from the provider including the vehicle arrival time, vehicle make, model and color, as well as the license plate number and driver name.
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be available in the program soon for customers who require use of a ramp or lift-equipped vehicle.
TriMet offers a way for LIFT riders to access fresh food, prescriptions, pet food and more—right from home!
Through this partnership with online retailer Instacart, TriMet LIFT now covers the cost of an Instacart+ membership for eligible LIFT customers. This program makes it easier than ever to shop from over 55 local retailers from the comfort of home–including grocery stores, pharmacies and local restaurants (through a partnership with Uber eats),all through the Instacart app or website.
With your no cost Instacart+ membership, you can:
- Shop from dozens of local retailers for groceries, prescriptions, household items, and even restaurant takeout.
- Enjoy access to fresh healthy food delivered right to your door.
- Save time and money— free deliveries are available for orders of just $10 or more.
- Pay no membership fees— TriMet LIFT takes care of that for you!
Whether you need groceries for the week, a quick pharmacy run, or dinner from a local restaurant, Instacart+ brings that convenience and flexibility to your fingertips.
How to Qualify:
- You have internet service
- You have a smart phone, tablet or computer connected to the internet
- You have an email address
- You have a debit or credit card that can be used to make purchases
How to get started:
- Opt in to the Instacart+ program by visiting: trimet.org/lift/instacart
- Riders will be notified via email once selected to participate
As TriMet LIFT continues to evolve, our goal is to provide you with more flexible, reliable, and convenient ways to travel and manage your day. Whether it’s exploring new service options, adjusting to service changes, using Uber through LIFT+, simplifying errands with Instacart, or staying informed with My Transit Manager, we’re committed to giving you more options and greater control over your trips.
Thank you for riding with us and for being a valued part of our community—we look forward to continuing to improve your experience.
For questions:
Email: LIFT@trimet.org
Call: 503-962-8000 Option #2
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