TriMet Celebrates Completion of A Better Red Project
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
A Better Red official opening ceremony participants get ready for a ceremonial ‘first ride’ on a brand new MAX train, one of four purchased as part of the project. From left to right: Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, Port of Portland Chief Public Affairs Officer Dave Robertson, TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr., Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway, FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, TriMet Board Vice President Thomas Kim, Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, ODOT Public Transportation Division Administrator Suzanne Carlson, Centro Cultural Policy Director Nansi Lopez, Westside Economic Alliance Executive Director Elizabeth Mazzara Myers, PBOT Director Millicent Williams
Caption and Image Courtesy of TriMet
PORTLAND, Ore. – The TriMet’s A Better Red Project was finished on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. The project worked to improve light rail reliability and extend the MAX Red line into Hillsboro.
On August 28th, along with the FTA and local partners, TriMet celebrated the extension of the Red Line 10 stations west into Hillsboro. With a budget of $215 million, A Better Red was broken into two phases and spanned three years. It doubled MAX light rail service between Beaverton Transit Center and the new Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds Station, where the celebration was held.
On the east side of the line, the project sought to make improvements between Portland International Airport and Gateway Transit Center. Crews were able to install a second set of tracks in two sections to improve service. Crews also built two bridges to carry the new sections of track.
TriMet General Manager Sam Desue, Jr. said, “I take great pride and am honored to host the celebration today – marking this exciting milestone for TriMet and the entire region. . . This project would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of so many individuals and organizations. A Better Red isn’t just about extending the line – it’s about making our entire MAX system better. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we all come together, and together, we are building a brighter, more connected future for the people of this region.”
At the celebration on Wednesday at the Hillsboro Airport / Fairgrounds MAX station, FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said, “Congratulations to the people of Portland and the TriMet team for completing the ambitious ‘A Better Red’ project, which will improve service and result in smoother, faster travel, allowing people throughout the Portland region to leave their cars behind. . . We appreciate that this project—like all transit projects—has supported so many jobs in the area and will continue to do so. In fact, 44% of the subcontracting firms are certified disadvantaged business enterprises in Oregon, demonstrating our shared commitment to equity and ensuring everyone has a chance to benefit from federal transit investment.”
The FTA granted $99.9 million in a Small Starts grant to the project. The project received close to $9 million from Oregon Metro and $2.3 million from the Port of Portland. TriMet stated the “Port of Portland has played a vital role in the MAX Red Line from the very beginning, part of the public-private partnership that led to the creation of the line.”
Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold said, “Extending the MAX Red Line into Hillsboro gives people who live here, visitors and employees a faster, car-free way to get to and from PDX. . . I love that we’re celebrating the completion of A Better Red the same month we opened PDX’s new main terminal because both projects were part of an overall plan to better serve our community for decades to come.”
In a statement from Metro Council President Lynn Peterson said, “Thinking regionally means helping people move regionally. TriMet’s Red Line extension makes it easier than ever to use MAX to move around our region, supporting the thousands of Oregonians who have chosen to live in the communities along our rail system. Faster commutes, shorter waits and fewer transfers are all great news for our region’s commuters.”
