TriMet has four types of service: buses, MAX Light Rail, WES Commuter Rail and LIFT Paratransit.
Buses: TriMet has 79 bus lines that serve much of the tri-county area. Many lines connect with MAX Light Rail, WES Commuter Rail, Portland Streetcar and the Portland Aerial Tram. On our most popular routes, Frequent Service buses run about every 15 minutes during the day, every day. All buses are equipped with air conditioning, exterior bike racks that hold two bikes, boarding ramps, automated stop announcements, Hop Fastpass® fare card readers, accessibility features and priority seating for seniors and people with disabilities. Buses are tracked via GPS and real-time arrival countdowns are available from TransitTracker at trimet.org and other travel apps, on arrival screens at major stops, by text and by phone. Buses run on renewable diesel, a cleaner-burning fuel that has lowered our greenhouse gas emissions by about 61% compared to the biodiesel blend we had been using.
MAX Light Rail: TriMet’s MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail system connects Downtown Portland with Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, North/Northeast Portland and the Portland International Airport. All MAX lines offer Frequent Service, with trains running about every 15 minutes or better most of the day, every day. MAX trains are equipped with air conditioning, interior bike storage areas, boarding ramps, automated stop announcements, accessibility features and priority seating for seniors and people with disabilities. There are no fareboxes or Hop Fastpass fare card readers on board MAX; instead, Hop readers are located at the MAX station and riders must tap the reader to pay before boarding. MAX trains are tracked via sensors embedded in the tracks, and real-time arrival countdowns are available from TransitTracker at trimet.org and other travel apps, on arrival screens at major stops, by text and by phone. MAX trains run on 100% renewable electricity from solar and wind sources, with zero emissions, and regenerative braking recaptures energy that otherwise would have been lost as heat.
WES Commuter Rail: TriMet’s WES (Westside Express Service) is a commuter rail line serving Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville. WES runs on weekdays during the morning and afternoon rush hours, with trains every 45 minutes. WES uses active freight rail tracks operated by Portland & Western Railroad. The fleet consists of three Diesel Multiple Unit self-propelled rail cars and one trailer car. We also maintain two vintage diesel passenger cars that can fill in when a DMU needs maintenance or repairs. WES trains have both a conductor and engineer on board. Hop fare card readers are located at the WES station and riders must tap the reader to pay before boarding. WES trains are equipped with air conditioning, interior bike storage areas, automated stop announcements, accessibility features and priority seating for seniors and people with disabilities. Cherriots (Salem), SMART (Wilsonville) and Yamhill County Transit Area transit systems connect with WES.
LIFT Paratransit: LIFT is our shared-ride paratransit service for people who are unable to use regular buses and trains due to a disability or disabling health condition. You must meet certain eligibility requirements and apply for service before using LIFT. We use several different LIFT vehicle types including large cutaway buses, slightly smaller buses and Transit vans, and we provide some trips with taxicabs (minivans or sedans). LIFT service operates during the same hours and covers the same geographic area as regular TriMet service. Learn more about LIFT Paratransit and eligibility requirements