From Sunday, June 8th, through Monday, June 9th, TriMet will close the Interstate 84 adjacent MAX tracks to ensure crews’ safety while they install short-term-use stairs connecting NE 82nd Avenue with a temporary light rail platform recently constructed west of the current station. Starting on June 10th, when the MAX Blue, Green, and Red line trains resume regular service, riders will begin using the new platform, which will provide crews with unobstructed access to start renovating the nearly 40-year-old NE 82nd Ave MAX station.

During the weekend rail line closure, shuttle buses will run in place of trains approximately every five minutes for most of the day, transporting people between the Oregon Convention Center MAX Station and the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center. TriMet encourages transit users of these routes to plan for an extra 30 minutes of travel time for trips through the disrupted area.

During the closure, crews will install the temporary stairs, which requires TriMet to power down a portion of the MAX system around the NE 82nd Ave station so crews can operate safely above the tracks near the catenary wire. The scaffolding-style stairs will connect to the west side bus stop on NE 82nd Avenue above the tracks. An existing elevator accessed from the east side of the street will remain in use. Riders will access it via a walkway that will connect to the temporary MAX platform. People should note that the elevator now requires proof of a paid fare to activate.

Previous to this closure, contractors removed the lift building at the end of the platform. The transit provider constructed the lift system in the 1980s to assist people with mobility devices into MAX trains before they had rolling stock with near-level boarding. The original Type 1 MAX trains had steps leading to the seating area. The special lifting equipment housed in the brick-clad buildings became obsolete when TriMet introduced low-floor trains in the 1990s. As a result, they are removing unused lift infrastructure from stations during renovations or when practical.

With riders clear of the existing MAX platform worksite, crews can continue with the demolition work needed for TriMet’s months-long NE 82nd Ave MAX Improvements Project, which will refresh one of the most heavily used light rail stations on the MAX system. Crews will completely resurface the station’s concrete and rebuild the stairs with the same number of landings and treads. “One difference is that crews will replace the concrete railing walls with steel guardrails, creating more openness for improved visibility,” explained TriMet representative Tyler Graf. Crews will add a slightly smaller, second covered shelter east of the original unit with a similar design. Workers will refurbish the existing shelter and re-roof it to match the new structure. Contractors will install new guardrails to improve safety on the platform located between commercial rail lines and a freeway.

Contractors will preserve the mural next to the elevator and add a pedestal for a future art piece that TriMet will install between the two shelters. Project planners anticipate completing improvements at this station by the end of 2025.

Update: Slideshow of the completed temporary stairs