TriMet May Close 4 Stops In Downtown Portland

PORTLAND, OR — To shave about 2 minutes off TriMet MAX travel through downtown Portland, TriMet is reportedly weighing the merits of closing four MAX station stops. Before it actually does close the stops, however, TriMet wants to hear what its ridership thinks.

TriMet officials on Wednesday announced the possible closures of TriMet MAX stops at the King Hill/SW Salmon St. Station, Mall/SW Fourth Ave. Station, Mall/SW Fifth Ave. Station, and the Skidmore Foundation Station. TriMet will accept public comments through March 2019, with a tentative closure date for all four stops currently set for early September 2019.

According to TriMet spokeswoman Roberta Altstadt, removing these four specific stops in downtown will help MAX trains move more efficiently.

"TriMet estimates trips between the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson St and Old Town/Chinatown stations would be about two minutes faster," Altstadt wrote on the TriMet website. "As we looked to speed up trains through downtown Portland, we considered distance to nearby stations, ridership and the flow of the trains. We believe these four stations are the right ones to close to reduce travel time while maintaining the transit service people value and count on every day."

The stop at Kings Hill/SW Salmon St. Station, Altstadt said, already closes regularly during Portland Timbers and Thorns games out of a concern for safety due to the size of the station itself, but otherwise no MAX station has ever been permanently closed before.

The proposal for all four stops being considered for closure was subject to a Title VI equity review, Altstadt explained, noting that reviewers "found no adverse impact on minority or low-income populations" primarily because there are other stations within a quarter-mile of the ones being considered for closure.

Title VI, in this context, refers to the Federal Transit Administration's guidance on ensuring equitable service from all federally funded transit services and programs. In order to continue receiving funding from the FTA, TriMet must meet the basic requirements outlined in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

For its part, even if it removes the four stops, TriMet will still provide MAX stations within the half-mile service availability threshold outlined by Title VI, Altstadt said.

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The list below shows which stations are nearest those being considered for closure:

• The Kings Hill Station is a block or two from the nearby Providence Park Station and four blocks from the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson St Station.
• The Mall/SW 4th Ave Station is about a block from the Pioneer Square South Station and about two-and-a-half blocks from the Yamhill District Station.
• The Mall/SW 5th Ave Station is also just a block from the Pioneer Square North Station, and it is two blocks from the Morrison/SW 3rd Ave Station.
• Skidmore Fountain Station is two blocks from the Old Town/Chinatown Station and four blocks from the Oak/SW 1st Ave Station.

To provide feedback on TriMet's proposal, email hello@trimet.org or call 503-238-RIDE (7433).

Image via Travis Loose/Patch