WATCH: TriMet’s Construction on Airport MAX Station
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of TriMet
PORTLAND, Ore. – TriMet announces construction updates surrounding the MAX Red Line.
Crews have been working on TriMet’s MAX system between the Portland airport and the Gateway Transit Center since June 18th. A news release from TriMet shows that construction is on schedule, and crews are replacing the “Portland International Airport MAX station” and installing “a second track along the alignment, between the new station and Air Cargo Road.”
For the last twenty-plus years, the MAX Red Line has been served by only one track that carries PDX’s inbound and outbound trains. With the addition of a second track, it “involves all the components that support trains, such as rail crossings, signals, rail crossovers and the overhead contact wires, as well as the poles and power systems that support them.” This will allow for more trains to operate in both directions.
Over the summer as construction has continued, alternative modes of transportation in the form of shuttle buses have been offered to riders. These run every 15 minutes throughout the day, and representatives and “Ride Guides” are also stationed at PDX to help travelers make these connections. According to the news release, the first phase of the “Better Red Project” should be completed this fall with regular service for MAX Red Line trains starting October 22nd.
The original MAX station at the Portland International airport was demolished at the beginning of construction in order “to make room for the new stations, designed with two parallel tracks in mind.” Concrete foundations have formed as construction moves along. In order to accommodate the two tracks and subsequent rise in train traffic, the new station will be 200 feet long and 18 feet wide “for improved train movement and rider comfort.”
Instead of the platform resembling the original platform that was triangular-shaped, this new platform will have more space and feature two shelters, similar to stations on its Orange Line. This station will also open in October. Along with a new, more spacious platform, crews are reconstructing the track between the airport and Air Cargo Road and constructing a second grade crossing.
The Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Project will add track and other infrastructure near Gateway Transit Center and extend the Red Line 10 stations west. This project is over 70% completed and is expected to end summer of next year. In addition to adding track near Gateway Transit Center, TriMet also announced that a “new station for westbound trains will also be constructed just north of the Gateway Transit Center.”
Crews are also finishing working on the interior of an operator building “and constructing a walkway for TriMet operators.” This building with house bathrooms, a meal area, and workstation, and should be fit for use next year.
