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January 2, 2007

All buses move off the Portland Mall January 14th

Buses move from 5th & 6th to 3rd/4th, Columbia/Jefferson, & SW 2nd during light rail construction

Beginning Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007, the 29 bus lines that operate on 5th and 6th avenues in downtown Portland will move to make way for Portland Mall Light Rail construction. Buses will move for approximately two years, returning to the Mall in spring 2009.

The Portland Mall project is part of the 8.3-mile I-205/Portland Mall MAX Light Rail Project. TriMet's fifth MAX extension will add light rail to 5th and 6th avenues between Union Station and Portland State University, and between Gateway Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center. When it opens in September 2009, it will be the first light rail extension into Clackamas County, it will serve the heart of downtown to PSU and poise the region for future MAX extensions.

Bus relocation

  • 17 bus lines will move to 3rd and 4th avenues; these lines make up 850f weekday downtown boardings.
  • 6 lines will move to Columbia and Jefferson – these lines carry 60f weekday downtown boardings. Additionally, Line 58-Canyon Road currently runs on the Mall and Columbia/Jefferson will operate only on Columbia/Jefferson.
  • Line 14-Hawthorne – 80f weekday downtown boardings – will move to SW 2nd Avenue.
  • The other bus lines – 10f boardings – will have minor adjustments.

Bus stops

  • Bus stops will be located every 3-4 blocks. In a few cases, they will be every two or five blocks.
  • Bus stop locations were selected to accommodate nearby parking garage entrances/exits, right turn activity, loading zones and on-street parking.
  • Bus shelters will be installed at all stops along 3rd and 4th, except at 4th and Clay.
  • Sidewalks have been extended at four stops along 3rd and 4th and will be removed when buses return to 5th and 6th avenues.
  • Schedule information displays and new-style bus stop signs will be installed.
  • TriMet, city of Portland and Portland Business Alliance staff will alert transit riders of the relocation plan during the month of January.

Construction highlights

  • Public utility relocation work continues on 5th and 6th avenues in advance of light rail construction. Utility relocation is scheduled to be completed in October 2007.
  • Light rail construction on the Portland Mall will begin in late February. Construction will occur in three work zones simultaneously – one in each of the North, Central and South mall areas. Work in each zone will be done in 3-4 block segments and last up to eight weeks.
  • Crews will work double shifts to speed construction – Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Business and sidewalk access will remain open during business hours.
  • Light rail construction on the I-205 light rail segment also begins in late February.

The I-205/Portland Mall project is a partnership between the city of Portland, TriMet, Metro, Oregon Department of Transportation and Clackamas County.