PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — TriMet is making some sweeping changes to its public transit system as it completes its years-long “A Better Red” project, replacing MAX trains with buses throughout the region during overnight hours.

Nighttime service will include four new bus routes that will, in most cases, run parallel to MAX rail lines. TriMet said these changes are due to nighttime maintenance and cleaning of the light rail system to “reduce both planned and unplanned disruptions to MAX service and provide a better experience for riders.”

“This MAX has the second-shortest window of any U.S. light rail system in the country,” said TriMet spokesman Mark Miller. “By moving the last trips at night to the bus, we have more time for nighttime maintenance and cleaning.”

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The new night bus routes include route 287 (Blue Eastside Bus) between the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson and Cleveland Ave MAX stations, route 288 (Blue Westside Bus) between the Rose Quarter Transit Center and the Hatfield Government Center MAX station, route 292 (Red Bus) between the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson and Portland Airport MAX stations, and route 293 (Yellow Bus) between the SW Montgomery/Mill and Expo Center/Delta Park MAX stations.

In addition, the Orange Bus route 291 will offer a northbound service in addition to its existing southbound service.

All night bus lines run parallel to the MAX.

“In some cases, buses may stop directly at MAX stations,” Miller said. “In some cases, the stops may be a few blocks away.”

These major changes coincide with TriMet’s celebration of the completion of an ambitious project that Extension of the MAX Red Line between Beaverton and Hillsboro with 10 new stations.

The project, A better redextended transit lines west from the Beaverton Transit Center to the Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds Station – allowing trains to run continuously from Hillsboro Airport to Portland International Airport.

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TriMet unofficially launched the expansion on Sunday, but expects to fully launch it on Wednesday, Aug. 28, with celebrations at Beaverton Transit Center, Beaverton Central and Orenco MAX stations. Gifts include luggage tags, small airline travel bags, soft trains, sunglasses and candy, officials say.

“This is a multi-year rollout of the service concept, and we are continually gathering public feedback. We are continually reviewing and evaluating sources,” said TriMet’s Mark Miller.

The weekend’s soft launch also coincided with several other improvements, including new bus routes and more frequent trips across multiple counties.

“We look forward to continuing our Moving forward together – revised service conceptwith service improvements designed to increase ridership and create better connections to jobs and services for low- and limited-income people,” TriMet said on its website about the project. “Forward Together was developed in collaboration with the community in response to the travel changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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The new Route 40 to Tacoma/Swan Island connects job centers with residential neighborhoods in northeast, downtown and southeast Portland, and Route 153 to Stafford/Salamo connects Lake Oswego and West Linn.

Route 76 to Greenburg/Hall, a frequent service line, took on an extended route between Beaverton and Oregon City and “provides hourly service connecting the communities of Washington County with the Clackamas County seat,” according to TriMet.

In response to public requests, more buses are also running on routes 25, 29 and 34 in Clackamas County, Miller added.

For more information on the expansion of public transport, see TriMet website.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow the “A Better Red” project.

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