TriMet will observe this year’s Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 18th, 2025. For over a decade, the municipal transportation corporation has used this day to invite its users to thank those who keep the system moving. If riding on public transportation this Tuesday, event organizers encourage people to say “thank you,” wave, or smile at the operator. Riders can sign a banner at one of five transit center locations or post their message of thanks on an online board.
TriMet staff welcomes people to join employees at the Portland Transit Mall in southwest Portland. Well-wishers can gather on Alder to Yamhill Street along SW 6th Avenue and Main to Jefferson Street on SW 5th Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Support for public transit and its employees is valuable for all Portlanders, even if they do not rely on it for their own transportation needs. TriMet’s role is critical in building housing density and lowering Oregon’s carbon output. Modern Portland multi-family developments often lack onsite parking or offer minimal vehicle storage space. This development model helps maximize the housing units on a property and encourages people to forgo a private vehicle. Instead, city planners who rezone for more density anticipate that residents will use other commuting methods, including public transit. This model should reduce the environmental impact of transportation in Oregon, but it depends on fast and effective alternatives that use less polluting propulsion. TriMet is the largest transportation provider in the region for those without personal vehicles, providing over 55 million rides in the 2024 fiscal year.
Sign a banner at one of these transit centers:
- Beaverton Transit Center
- Clackamas Transit Center
- Gresham Transit Center
- Rose Quarter Transit Center
- Portland State University Urban Plaza
In that respect, transit drivers are not only responsible for safely moving people throughout the community but also play an impactful role in reducing climate change and mitigating the housing crisis. TriMet drivers always welcome daily appreciation, but March 18th is an appropriate time to communicate your feelings explicitly.
Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the TriMet 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Group