Entries Tagged 'TriMet News' ↓

TriMet MAX & bus service will be running on a slightly different schedule on the 4th of July.  MAX will be running on its Saturday schedule while bus service will be running on its Sunday schedule.

TriMet has a nice round-up of Portland metro activities with links included to the Transit Planner for each.

Have a happy & safe 4th of July!

Hey cool - just got word that TriMet has a new survey out for Southeast Portland bus riders. The info that’s collected will be used for future improvements to SE PDX bus lines.

There’s also a survey out specifically for bus line 10 riders.  Again, info collected will be considered for future improvements for that bus line.

Did you know TriMet puts together a quarterly publication for employers & transportation coordinators?  It’s called To Work and features updates on TMA (transportation management association) activities & other up-to-date news items.

The summer issue (link to downloadable PDF) is about Westside Express Service (WES) safety, the Steel Bridge construction happening this summer & how more and more TriMet buses are getting equipped with automatic stop announcements (ASA).

Pretty good read!

Planning using Trimet to attend the Starlight Parade (May 31) or the Grand Floral Parade (June 7)?  TriMet has discounted MAX & bus all-day tickets for these two days only!  You can buy them online, at TriMet’s ticket office located at the Pioneer Courthouse Square or at any local Freddies, Albertsons or Safeway stores.

Uh oh - looks like another fare increase is going to hit around September. The rising fare cost is due to “record-high” diesel prices.

Originally, TriMet was only going to bump up the fare prices a nickel… but with this gas crisis that’s happening around the nation, that $.05 has turned into either an increase of $0.20 or $0.25.

TriMet has the lowdown in two downloadable PDFs about what the prices would look like in September for either option. Those can be found here: twenty-cent option & twenty-five cent option.

TriMetiquette reader Kevin shares his opinion:

“Why won’t Tri-Met do more to enforce fares and transit rules such as the smoking ban before considering huge fare increases? It makes no sense at all.”

What do you all think? I think it’s quite an increase… a little shocking, but I guess with diesel prices being what they are, they do need to offset that rising cost somehow. What they need, with this, is an increased presence of fare inspectors (specifically on the MAX) to make sure riders are purchasing fares.

The final piece of the new Portland Mall MAX track was installed on May 9, marking a big completed milestone for the Portland Mall Light Rail Project. With this being done, here are the numbers for the overall project:

• All 57 blocks along the Portland Mall now have track installed, totaling 13,000 linear feet (nearly 2.5 miles).
• Completion of all major light rail construction along 6th Avenue is expected by mid-June.
• Major construction of the Portland Mall is 90 percent complete and the overall project is 66 percent complete.

Though, I’m wondering - I see a lot of overhanging wires and such at the new mall location being tied around trees… is this permanent? I hope not…

Hey! Good news! More & more people are taking public transportation (most likely due to the soaring gas prices) these days! And TriMet has the numbers to prove it - they just had a record-breaking April:

“* More than two million trips were taken on MAX and buses each week, the first time TriMet has topped two million trips for weekly ridership.
* Nearly 69,000 more trips were taken weekly during April 2008, as compared to April 2007.
* 5,400 additional daily trips were taken on transit during the morning rush hour (7-9 a.m.), as compared to April 2007. This adds up to an 11.6 percent increase over April 2007.”

As ridership grows, let’s hope TriMet keeps up with the demand by providing more buses for high-trafficked routes & MAX trains running more frequently.

New MAX trans are coming to Portland in Fall 2008!  Color me excited!  The new trains will be able to hold 36 more individuals per train and will be about seven feet longer than the existing MAX models.  They’ll also have air conditioning!  Take a look at this new MAX train sexy beast:

Love the new “aerodynamic” styling going on!  Makes it look so… so… 21st century.   Seating area illustration:

I’m loving the new look & design, but one thing that’s seemingly missing: more bike storage!   Finding room for the “bike hook area” even not during rush hour times can be hit-and-miss… and people are wanting a better solution for what we have now.  Well, I guess the increased capacity may help in clearing that area a bit… but I’d love to see some other areas riders with bikes can take their bike and ride on the MAX.

Want to hear first-hand about TriMet’s plans on the I-205 / Portland Mall Light Rail & WES (Westside Express Service) Commuter Rail projects? Well, this month’s your lucky… month because TriMet is having a couple of open house meetings for us, the public, to attend.

Monday, May 19, 2008, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Portland Mall Information Center
519 SW 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204

Monday, May 19, 2008, 4-7 p.m.
Public Works Building, Richard Brown Auditorium
8777 SW Burnham St.
Tigard, OR 97223

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 4-7 p.m.
OIT Conference Center
7740 SE Harmony Rd.
Milwaukie, OR 97222

More info about these meetings and, if you can’t attend but wish to get the lowdown on what went down, you can view the resources that will be at the meetings online right here.

I’ve already written a post about TriMet & their involvement with the Cinco de Mayo festival going on at the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park May 1 - 4… but I saw a little tidbit of NEW news in a new press release put out by TriMet.

Apparently, when the festival is up and running, MAX light rail trains will be running near the waterfront every 10 - 15 minutes. If you’re planning on going, paying your fare and taking the MAX would be a great way to get there this weekend.