Board votes in April 2026
TriMet wants to shorten the MAX Green Line, and the agency’s Board of Directors will vote on the plan in April 2026.
If approved, trains would stop running between the Gateway Transit Center and downtown Portland. The Green Line would only operate between Gateway and Clackamas Town Center.
The cuts would take effect on August 23, 2026, as TriMet tries to close a $300 million annual budget gap caused by rising costs and fewer riders since the pandemic.
First permanent train cut ever
This would mark the first time TriMet has permanently cut a train line.
MAX light rail has operated since 1986, and while the agency has closed individual stations before, it has never shortened an entire line.
The Green Line is the third-busiest in the system.
Transit advocates called the proposal “devastating” because it removes direct downtown access for thousands of Clackamas County residents who depend on the line for work and daily travel.
Riders would transfer at Gateway
Riders traveling from Clackamas to downtown would need to transfer at Gateway Transit Center under the new plan.
Gateway serves the Blue, Red, and Green lines, so riders could still reach downtown by switching trains. But trip times would increase because of the extra transfer.
All current downtown and I-84 stations would remain open since other lines still serve them, but Clackamas riders would lose their one-seat ride into the city center.
Agency faces $300 million shortfall
TriMet faces a $300 million gap between what it spends each year and what it earns. The agency wants to balance its budget by July 1, 2028.
Staff have already cut $150 million through internal reductions, which included eliminating 68 positions. Twenty-six of those cuts were layoffs.
A hiring freeze now blocks non-essential positions, but the agency says it still needs to make deeper cuts to close the remaining gap.
Operating costs jumped 53 percent
Operating costs per service hour rose 53% from 2019 to 2024. Fuel and tire costs climbed nearly 35% for bus service alone.
Facilities maintenance costs shot up 71%, and the security budget has tripled in recent years. Contract personnel costs increased between 47% and 85% depending on the role.
These rising expenses hit TriMet hard because the agency cannot raise fares or taxes without approval, leaving few options to cover the higher bills.
Ridership is still below pandemic levels
Ridership dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not bounced back. Current ridership sits at about two-thirds of 2019 levels.
Fare revenue has fallen $55 to $60 million per year since the pandemic began. Remote work permanently reduced commuter traffic.
Federal pandemic relief funds that helped cover the losses have now been depleted, forcing TriMet to make hard choices.
The Green Line cost $575 million
The Green Line opened on September 12, 2009, and the construction cost approximately $575 million. The Federal Transit Administration funded about 72% of the project.
The line runs 15 miles from Portland State University to Clackamas Town Center, connecting the southeast suburbs to the city center.
It was the fifth MAX line to open. Some critics now question whether the line should have been built if the agency cannot afford to operate it.
Bus lines also face cuts
The proposal affects 35 bus lines in total. Some bus lines would be eliminated entirely, including Line 19 in east Portland.
Bus service would end in South Gresham. Service on Stafford and Salamo roads in West Linn would be cut. Tualatin-Sherwood Road service in Tualatin would also be eliminated.
These cuts would leave some neighborhoods without any public transit options, forcing residents to find other ways to get around.
Tax increase awaits voter approval
Oregon lawmakers passed a transportation bill called HB 3991 in fall 2025 that would have doubled the transit payroll tax from 0. 1% to 0.2%.
But opponents gathered nearly 200,000 signatures for a referendum. The tax increases are now on hold pending a November 2026 vote.
If voters reject the tax, TriMet will face even deeper cuts because the agency was counting on that money to help close its budget gap.
Portland considers a climate fund to help
The Portland City Council is exploring whether to use climate tax funds to help preserve transit service.
The Portland Clean Energy Fund has $15 million available, and some councilors support directing that money toward TriMet.
The agency is also considering fare increases in 2028. State lawmakers may revisit transit funding after the November referendum.
But for now, the Green Line cuts remain on the table as TriMet searches for solutions.
Critics fear a doom loop
Transit consultant Jarrett Walker called the proposal “sad.”
Critics question whether the $575 million Green Line should have been built if TriMet cannot sustain it. Clackamas County residents would lose the direct downtown access they have relied on since 2009.
Some fear a “doom loop” where declining service pushes away more riders, which leads to even less revenue and more cuts. Advocates note that freeway projects still receive billions in funding while transit gets squeezed.
Visiting Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland remains worth a visit despite the transit challenges.
Pioneer Courthouse Square serves as the city’s central gathering place where locals and visitors meet.
Powell’s City of Books is the world’s largest independent bookstore, filling an entire city block with new and used titles.
The Portland Art Museum features Northwest and Native American art.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park stretches along the Willamette River, and food carts offer affordable meals throughout the area.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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