Portland’s Rose Lane Project will help make TriMet bus service faster and more reliable.
The plan, which was adopted by the Portland City Council Feb. 13, creates a roadmap for improvements that keep buses and trains out of traffic, so people can get where they’re going quickly and easily. TriMet says it appreciates the leadership of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Transportation Commissioner Chloe Eudaly for their support in making transit a priority.
“By prioritizing transit on city streets, we can positively affect the livelihood of so many Portlanders,” said Lori Irish Bauman, who sits on the TriMet Board of Directors and testified before the city council vote. “People will be able to get to work on time, get home faster and spend more time with their families.”
The Rose Lane Project provides a unique opportunity for TriMet and transportation leaders to work together to provide more and better service for the region. Under the plan, transit will be faster and more convenient, giving those who choose to drive more incentive to hop on a bus. With space for about 50-60 people, a single bus can take dozens of cars off the road, helping to reduce congestion and keep everyone moving.
Tools to keep buses out of traffic
The Rose Lane Project will use features like special signals, transit-only lanes and red paint on transit corridors to improve safety and separate buses from traffic. It will build on similar, successful projects that are already speeding up trips for riders. One of those can be seen on SW Madison Street in downtown Portland. Delays decreased by as much as 76 percent on the bus lines that travel through there, after Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) installed a bus and bike-only lane last May.
A commitment to more convenience
TriMet plans to increase service as PBOT grows the Rose Lane network. Line 6-Martin Luther King Blvd and Line 12-Barbur/Sandy Blvd will be among the first to receive upgrades, with buses arriving every 10-12 minutes when ridership is highest. The updated schedules are part of the service improvement plan for Fiscal Year 2021, which starts in July.
