TriMet opens Green Line

Construction of the 8.3-mile line began in early 2007 and adds a second light rail alignment through downtown Portland. The MAX system now expands to a 52-mile system with 84 stations.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

September 14, 2009

TriMet opens Green Line — More than 40,000 trips were taken on the Tri Met Green Line on opening day. Photo Credit: Thomas Le Ngo

1 min to read

[IMAGE]TriMetGreenLineOpeningThomasNgoFull.jpg[/IMAGE]TriMet's MAX Green Line opened to the public on Saturday, connecting three counties by light rail. TriMet's fifth MAX line extends from downtown Portland to Clackamas County. More than 40,000 trips were taken on the new Green Line on opening day.

Construction of the 8.3-mile line began in early 2007 and adds a second light rail alignment through downtown Portland along 5th and 6th avenues between Union Station and Portland State University, and new tracks along I-205 to Clackamas Town Center.

The project was built on time and on budget. The MAX system now expands to a 52-mile system with 84 stations.

The $575.7 million project was built with 60 percent federal funds, and the balance funded by the city of Portland, Metro, TriMet, Clackamas County and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Part of the project included revitalizing the downtown Portland Transit Mall with new art, shelters and a more vibrant retail environment. The city of Portland and TriMet are also creating a fund for ongoing maintenance, security and programming activities on the Mall.

Topics:light rail state departments of transportation university transit Rail

More Rail

A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Security and Safety•by Staff and News Reports•March 4, 2026

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."

Rail•by Staff•March 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.

Rail•by Staff•February 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

LA Metro underground station with vehicle

Rail•by Staff•February 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Rail•by Staff•February 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Rail•by Staff•February 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

A TriMet MAX Light Rail vehicle overhead shot

Rail•by Staff•February 24, 2026

STV Finalizes Design for First Phase of TriMet MAX Blue Line Substation Upgrades

The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.

HDR rendering of LA to Coachella Valley Rail Project

Rail•by Staff•February 20, 2026

HDR Selected to Advance LA–Coachella Valley Rail Corridor Project

The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance.

Rendering of Austin Transit Partnership's light rail line.

Rail•by Staff•February 19, 2026

Contractor Chosen to Help Build Austin Light Rail

The ATP board’s approval of ARC enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities and advance final design for Austin Light Rail under the first phase of what will be a multibillion-dollar contract.

Rail•by Staff•February 18, 2026

LA Metro A Line Claremont Extension Study Projects $1.1B in Economic Output

Additionally, construction activity is estimated to generate more than $154 million in tax revenue, including more than $20 million for Los Angeles County.

View All →