TriMet has announced that it will add more service to five bus lines and improve schedules on 11 others as part of its new fall schedule to increase reliability, better match rider demand, connect people with jobs and ease crowding. The changes take effect on Sunday, Sept. 4.
The increased service is driven by a new stream of revenue from last year’s passage of an increase in the employer payroll tax. This means new or improved service twice per year — in September and March — through 2025.
“We look forward to adding even more service, as we’ve done every year since 2013, to help better connect people to jobs, school and recreational activities,” said Neil McFarlane, TriMet general manager. “It’s another step in providing more service to a fast-growing metro area while also focusing on improving our on-time performance and reducing crowding on several busy bus lines.”
The service expansions are based on TriMet's comprehensive Service Enhancement Plans developed with key stakeholders, businesses, residents and riders over the past few years.
More bus service
- 4-Division/Fessenden: TriMet’s longest operating and busiest bus line is adding early morning and late-night weekday buses to accommodate work shifts.
- 32-Oatfield: Increasing weekday hours of operation in the morning and evening.
- 36-South Shore: Running buses on Jean Road to Jean Way and Boones Ferry Road to better serve the Lake Oswego Commerce Center and other employment centers. Discontinue service on Pilkington Road, Childs Road, 65th Avenue and McEwan Road due to low ridership, which will improve on-time performance at other stops along the route.
- 63-Washington Park/Arlington Heights: Adding new Saturday and Sunday service to provide trips through Washington Park and neighboring areas.
- 71-60th Ave and 73-122nd Ave: Line 71-60th Ave/122nd Ave is splitting into two bus lines. The renamed 71-60th Ave line will continue to run on its current routing and frequency along 60th Avenue between Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center. The other line will be named 73-122nd Ave, and continue to operate between Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center and SE 94thand Foster. It also will have additional weekday rush-hour trips.
Reliability and capacity improvements
Many bus lines also will feature adjusted schedules to improve connections and better match traffic conditions. This includes the following lines:
- 1-Vermont
- 8-Jackson Park/NE 15th
- 17-Holgate/Broadway
- 18-Hillside
- 39-Lewis & Clark
- 44-Capitol Hwy/Mocks Crest
- 55-Hamilton
- 63-Washington Park/Arlington Hts
- 85-Swan Island
- 92-South Beaverton Express
- 152-Milwaukie
Three bus lines will add at least one trip to help meet rider demand:
- 14-Hawthorne
- 15-Belmont/NW 23rd
- 17-Holgate/Broadway
Finally, the stop location for 35-Macadam/Greeley will change slightly at the Lake Oswego Transit Center to help passengers board the correct bus. Currently, the Line 35 uses the same stop for trips to both the University of Portland and Oregon City. Starting Sept. 4, trips to the University of Portland will board at stop number 8207 and trips to Oregon City will board at the stop adjacent, number 8208.
Renewing and expanding the bus fleet
TriMet is expanding its fleet and improving reliability, safety and comfort for its riders by purchasing new buses. TriMet's entire fleet, active and contingent, is now air conditioned and 95 percent of its fleet is low-floor. The few remaining high-floor buses will be retired over the course of the next 12 months.
Since 2012, TriMet has put 376 new buses on the road and reduced the average age of the entire fleet to about nine years. TriMet also added 77 buses in fiscal year 2016 and plans to add 50 in fiscal year 2017, 57 in fiscal year 2018 and 33 in fiscal year 2019.
