Airport Leg of MAX Red Line Closing June 18

This weekend, on June 18th, TriMet will halt MAX Red Line service from the Gateway Transit Center to the Portland International Airport (PDX). Riders looking to travel to and from PDX will need to take the shuttle bus service until the line reopens on October 21st, 2023. This four-month-long disruption is necessary to construct the A Better Red MAX line enhancements and perform other track maintenance.

*MAX train map showing shuttle service segment for Red Line. Illustration curtesy TriMet*

TriMet’s, A Better Red project began construction in September 2021 and is set to complete in fall 2024. Work on the commuter rail system extends the MAX Red Line west to serve ten more stations in Beaverton and Hillsboro. The project also improves schedule reliability for the entire MAX system by adding a second track near Portland International Airport and Gateway Transit Center. A new bridge spanning Interstate 84 at Gateway is required to support the second track and will provide a multimodal access point to the north end of the Gateway Green off-road cycling park. Prolonged disruptions to public transit are a burden for regular riders, but these improvements should help speed up rail transit and make for a more reliable system.

*Rendering of the new Red Line bridge crossing I-84.* *Image courtesy TriMet*

TriMet officials recommend people traveling to or from a destination on the closed segment of the MAX red Line budget 30 minutes additional for their journey. Unlike the majority of the light rail system, shuttle buses must travel in automotive traffic. Riders should expect significant roadway congestion in this area during peak usage times.

Jacob Loeb

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