TriMet Six-Week MAX Disruption Starting Jan. 24th

TriMet announced a six-week MAX disruption from January 14th through February 25th so contractors can finish construction at the Gateway Transit Center.

Courtesy of TriMet

PORTLAND – TriMet announced a six-week MAX disruption from January 14th through February 25th so contractors can finish construction at the Gateway Transit Center.

TriMet announced a six-week MAX disruption from January 14^th through February 25^th  so contractors can finish construction at the Gateway Transit Center. As it finishes on it’s A Better Red construction, the Gateway Transit Center will be closed during this time so crews can “connect new track and systems that were previously constructed just north of the transit center.” Service for the new Gateway North station will begin on Monday, February 26^th.

This construction is part of the Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability project near the Gateway Transit Center and PDX and seeks to “improve train movement between the transit center and airport by adding another track to previously single-tracked sections.” In addition, the work includes new bridges and a new MAX station for City Center-inbound trains.

Closing during construction will allow crews more time to make upgrades at Gateway, including removing litter and graffiti. Additionally, it will replace 9,000 wooden rail ties with concrete ties, install 14,000 feet of new rail (which includes curved rail at NE 97^th Ave.) This area is part of the original MAX Blue Line which has been in use for 37 years.

For its passengers, TriMet encourages MAX Blue, Green, and Red Line riders to use alternative modes of transportation such as bus lines 12, 15, 19, 20, and 77. During the Jan-Feb construction, the LIFT Paratransit and the Columbia Gorge Express will still run and serve the Gateway Transit Center. TriMet released a video animation of the “A Better Red” disruption from January 24^th – February 25^th.

In the news release, TriMet stated it is “about 85% done with the entire A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Project.” By Summer, the project is expected to be completed, and “riders will have a one-seat trip between Hillsboro Airport and PDX – an extension of the MAX Red Line by 10 new stations west! Improvements around Gateway and the airport – including the addition of a second track, a rebuilt PDX station and a new Red Line station north of Gateway for inbound trains heading into Downtown Portland – will improve reliability across the entire system.”