After a two-week suspension to make way for critical maintenance, the TriMet Eastern MAX Blue Line is set to resume operations. Starting Sunday, the trains will once again run east of the Gateway Transit Center, reconnecting the span that has been serviced by shuttle buses since April 27. The construction project, which was necessary for ensuring the efficiency and reliability of the system especially in hot weather conditions, has reached completion.
During the downtime, the Blue Line underwent a period of improvements that extended beyond system maintenance. Platforms between the Gateway Transit Center and the Cleveland Avenue Station were given extensive cleaning, addressing issues such as graffiti and litter. Overgrown brush was also removed from the area. This revamp is expected to enhance the overall rider experience. According to a report by KOIN, the improvements also included a deep cleaning of the platforms along the impacted route.
In a statement obtained by KATU, TriMet expressed its gratitude towards riders and the general public for their patience during the project. They emphasized that such projects are pivotal and cannot be conducted during the overnight hours when trains are not in operation, thus necessitating the temporary disruption.
Plans for the improvement project were announced last month and were promptly executed, minimizing the duration of inconvenience for regular commuters. Service resumes as previously scheduled, with the first trains expected to run on the morning of Sunday, following the comprehensive upgrade to the track infrastructure. Full details on the resumed service and any additional information are available on TriMet's official website, further easing the transition back to normalcy for its users. An announcement by KGW corroborated the planned end of the disruption and the resumption of the Blue Line service.
