TriMet’s Lloyd MAX Improvements project begins this weekend, resulting in disrupted service to MAX Blue, Green and Red lines
Written by Tyler Graf, TriMet
TriMet’s Lloyd MAX Improvements project begins this weekend.
TriMet
Tyler Graf, with TriMet, reports on Lloyd MAX Improvements project that begins this weekend.
More improvements are coming to one of the most frequently used sections of the MAX system as part of TriMet’s Lloyd MAX Improvements project. The two-week project kicks off this weekend on Sunday, Oct. 10, and will last through Saturday, Oct. 23, with regular service returning on Sunday, Oct. 24.
The two-week project, Oct. 10-23, will make improvements to MAX tracks and other systems near the Lloyd Center
The work will take place east of the Lloyd Center/NE 11th Ave MAX Station, in an area where eastbound trains begin picking up speed as they enter our exclusive right of way next to I-84. This is a well-traveled area, carrying MAX Blue, Green and Red line trains. It’s also among the oldest sections of the light rail system, opening to the public in 1986 and seeing more traffic over the following 35 years as the MAX system has grown.
Building a better MAX system
Work will take place around MAX tracks located to the east of the Lloyd Center Station. Principally, the work will center on replacing tracks and improving drainage, efforts that will boost the overall resiliency of the MAX system.
Over the decades, runoff from heavy rain has spilled directly into the trackway and pooled, carrying with it leaves, branches and other debris that can end up softening our wooden rail ties more quickly. Our crews will install two new drains to catch the roadway runoff and direct the water away from the tracks. Crews will also replace about 250 wooden ties with more durable ones made of concrete. These improvements will not only help keep MAX trains moving, they’ll create a smoother ride.
With these types of maintenance projects, we know our riders’ time is valuable, and our goal is always to pack in as much work as we can to reduce future rider impacts. As part of the project, we’ll be upgrading our signals system and replacing a switch machine. Crews will also be performing rail grinding, picking up litter and replacing the tactile pavers on closed platforms, all of which is work that’s best performed when trains aren’t running. We appreciate our riders’ understanding and patience as we get this important work done, and we look forward to rolling out these improvements once the project wraps.
Making transit better
Performing regular maintenance is a vital part of keeping trains moving every day. We can sometimes do smaller projects when trains aren’t running, but for bigger projects, crews need extra space and time to operate. Investing in infrastructure yields noticeable returns—a safer, more efficient MAX system with increased durability. It’s a critical way of maintaining MAX, the second oldest of the modern light rail systems on the West Coast and third in the nation. For more about how we’re making transit better, visit trimet.org/bettertransit.
For more information, please check TriMet’s website.
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