Transportation

The Portland metropolitan area has transportation services common to major U.S. cities, though Oregon’s emphasis on proactive land-use planning and transit-oriented development within the urban growth boundary means that commuters have multiple well-developed options.

Some Portlanders use mass transit for their daily commute.   In 2005, 13% rode buses, light rail, or the downtown streetcar.  TriMet operates most of the region’s buses and the MAX (short for Metropolitan Area Express) light rail system, which connects the city and suburbs. Westside Express Service, or WES, opened in February 2009 as commuter rail for Portland’s western suburbs, linking Beaverton and Wilsonville.  The Portland Streetcar operates from the south waterfront, through Portland State University and north to nearby homes and shopping districts.

Fareless Square = Free Riding

Within the Fareless Square, a designated geographic area centered in downtown, rides on TriMet’s buses, MAX, and streetcar are free. Fifth and Sixth avenues within downtown comprise the Portland Transit Mall, two streets devoted primarily to bus and light rail traffic with limited automobile access.  Intense public transit development continues as two light rail lines are under construction, as well as a new downtown transit mall linking several transit options. TriMet also provides real-time tracking of buses and trains with its TransitTracker and even makes the data available to developers so they can create customized tools of their own.

Biking Paradise

Also available to lower commuting costs is an extensive bicycle path system.  Plus TriMet is now 100% bicycle friendly! All MAX and buses can accommodate bicycles.   Check out the bike links.

Portland has the nation’s highest rate of bicycling for a big city − 4.5 percent, according to the U.S. Census. The city auditor’s office, in a survey in 2008, found that eight percent of commuters came into downtown on bikes and that citywide, about 18 percent of residents use bikes as either a primary or secondary mode of transportation.