Friday, August 28, 2009

PORTLAND/PSU NEWS: MAX changes

Beginning Sunday, August 30, MAX Yellow Line trains in downtown Portland will move to the new tracks on 5th and 6th avenues along the Portland Transit Mall. Also on Sunday, MAX Green Line trains will begin two weeks of test runs on the Mall and along I-205 before opening for service on Saturday, Sept. 12.



MAX service changes effective August 30

  • Yellow Line trains will operate on 5th and 6th avenues in downtown Portland between Union Station and PSU. The Yellow Line will no longer operate on SW 1st Avenue, Morrison or Yamhill. Outside downtown, the Yellow Line will continue to operate north to the Expo Center.
  • Schedules on all of the MAX Blue, Red and Yellow lines will be adjusted, with less frequent service in the early morning and late evening to offset a $31 million budget shortfall due to the continued recession.
  • Green Line trains will begin two weeks of simulated revenue service, running every 15-30 minutes on its planned schedule between Portland State and Clackamas Town Center, but will not pick up riders during this testing phase.
For complete TriMet schedules and trip planning, or to receive service updates by email, visit trimet.org or call 503-238-RIDE (7433) weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.



Green Line

In addition to Green Line trains operating in simulated service on the Portland Mall and along I-205, operators will be testing schedules, coordination with buses and other MAX lines, signals and other systems. Construction work is wrapping up that includes final bus and MAX station elements being installed.



Mall safety patrols

With MAX trains operating on the Portland Mall starting August 30, TriMet is stepping up safety patrols to educate motorists and bicyclists about the dedicated transit and travel lanes on 5th and 6th avenues. On Monday, August 31, officers will increase patrols on the Mall, focusing on the area between Burnside and Jefferson. Violators disobeying a traffic control device will be subject to appropriate enforcement actions including citations.



Opening Day Sept. 12

The Green Line opens Saturday, September 12, with opening ceremonies in the morning at Clackamas Town Center TC and PSU Urban Center as well as celebrations at stops along the alignment, including Pioneer Courthouse Square and Clackamas Town Center. Free rides on the Green Line begin at 11:30 a.m. and continue through the end of service.



About the project

MAX Green Line, TriMet’s fifth MAX line, will add 8.3-miles of light rail between Gateway Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center, and to 5th and 6th avenues in downtown Portland between Union Station and PSU. It is the first light rail extension into Clackamas County. It will serve the heart of downtown Portland and the busiest transit destination in the TriMet system—PSU. It will also help revitalize the Mall and poise the region for future rail extensions.



TriMet News

Contact: Mary Fetsch

503-962-6403

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