ARRA to fund TriMet MAX rail station upgrades
The $740,000 will be used to improve safety, security and fare compliance at the Gresham Central MAX station and stations along the Eastside MAX line.
Portland, Ore.-based TriMet began work to improve safety, security and fare compliance at the Gresham Central MAX station. Over the next two months, crews will be installing railing, lighting and signage around the platforms to improve visibility, make the platform a fare zone and help make the overall environment safer. With the station platform as a fare zone, passengers will be required to have valid fare before boarding, making it easier to check fares at the station.
The next phase of construction includes light pole foundation work, access control railing installation and new light poles. Construction is set to be completed by mid-August.
The cost of the access control and illumination project at Gresham Central and NE 82 Ave. stations is $740,000. Federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are funding the project, which supports 16 jobs and retains three others among the contractors working on this project.
The contractor is Aadland Evans Contractors Inc. Subcontractors include A2 Fabrications and COAT Flagging, both of which are part of TriMet’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.
Federal stimulus funds are also being used to improve safety and upgrade stations along the Eastside MAX line. The work includes upgrading various street and rail crossings at 12 light rail stations; installing signs and/or pavement markings such as "Look Both Ways," "Stop Here," and 'Danger No Trespassing"; station painting; replacing bike lockers with space for a total of 12 bicycles at three stations and adding new bike lockers with space for four bicycles at Gresham City Hall MAX station.
Work is under way to extensively renovate and reopen an existing bike parking facility at Gresham Central TC, with secure parking for 30 bikes. The new Bike & Ride facility will have security cameras and is set to open in the fall.
TriMet was awarded $53.3 million in federal stimulus funds to be used to fix failing infrastructure, make the transit system more robust and put Oregonians to work. TriMet's 29 stimulus projects are projected to fund about 740 direct jobs and 1,100 indirect jobs.
More Rail
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →