TriMet begins work on access control project in Gresham

TriMet in Portland, Ore., has begun work to improve safety, security and fare compliance at the Gresham Central MAX station. Over the next two months, crews will be installing railing, lighting and signage around the platforms to improve visibility, make the platform a fare zone and help make the overall environment safer. With the station platform as a fare zone, passengers will be required to have valid fare before boarding, making it easier to check fares at the station.

The next phase of
construction includes light pole foundation work, access control railing
installation and new light poles. Construction is set to be completed by
mid-August.


The cost of the access
control and illumination project at Gresham Central and NE 82 Ave stations is
$740,000. Federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act are funding the project, which supports 16 jobs and retains three others among
the contractors working on this project.

 The contractor is Aadland Evans
Contractors, Inc. Subcontractors include A2 Fabrications and COAT Flagging,
both of which are part of TriMet’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

Federal stimulus funds are
also being used to improve safety and upgrade stations along the Eastside MAX
line. The work includes: 
Pedestrian improvements

• Work is under way
to upgrade various street and rail crossings at 12 light rail stations.

• Work includes
installing bollards, chains and railings to channel pedestrians to help them be
more aware of train movement.

• Crews are also
installing signs and/or pavement markings such as "Look Both Ways,"
"Stop Here," and ‘Danger No Trespassing."

Some Eastside MAX
stations have had limited refurbishments over the years and needed painting:

• Six stations are
being repainted: E 102nd Ave, E 122nd Ave, 162nd Ave, E 181st Ave, Ruby
Junction/E 197th Ave and Gresham Central

Bike parking improvements

• Replaced bike
lockers with space for a total of 12 bicycles at three stations and added new
bike lockers with space for four bicycles at Gresham City Hall MAX station.

• Work is under way
to extensively renovate and reopen an existing bike parking facility at Gresham
Central TC, with secure parking for 30 bikes. The new Bike & Ride facility
will have security cameras and is set to open in the fall.

•Work will begin this
summer to replace damaged and worn tactile pavers that alert riders of trackway
at five stations.

TriMet was awarded $53.3
million in federal stimulus funds to be used to fix failing infrastructure,
make the transit system more robust and put Oregonians to work. TriMet’s 29
stimulus projects are projected to fund about 740 direct jobs and 1,100
indirect jobs.