Transportation Options

Portland has a great transportation network but is best known for it's public transportation system and biking culture.

Public Transportation

Zones

The most complicated part of the TriMet system is the division into 3 zones. A standard $2 ticket is good for zones 1-2, which pretty much covers the majority of trips across Portland. Zone 3 is for outlying areas and you must purchase a $2.30 ticket for those trips. Note: For some reason there is still a Zone 1, which is the same price as a Zone 1-2 ticket.. so, pretty much just ignore Zone 1 and always get a Zone 1-2 (or 2 Zone) ticket.

Tickets

Standard fare is $2 and covers buses, MAX trains and the streetcar. You can purchase tickets: from bus drivers (cash only), at MAX stop vending machines (cash or card), on the streetcar (cash only), most grocery stores or TriMet ticket offices.

  • Discount fares available for students, youth and seniors
  • Day, week and monthly passes are available

Validation - Most tickets purchased from stores, in packs or TriMet offices will not be validated, meaning that they can be used any time or day. When you wish to use these tickets, you must validate them. When a ticket is validated, it will be time/date stamped and show an expiry time (2 hours from validation). The ticket now acts like a transfer that you can use as much as you want until it expires.

  • To Validate a ticket, put your ticket into yellow validation boxes located in MAX trains and the streetcar, or present to bus drivers
  • As MAX trains and the streetcar don't have attendants/drivers checking tickets, it is important to always keep your validated ticket/transfer with you. Much of the TriMet is based on the honor system and transit police check tickets periodically
  • Tickets purchased through automated vending machines typically have the option to be validated at time of purchase

Free Rail Zone - Much of the Portland downtown has been designated as a Free Rail Zone, meaning that all MAX and Streetcar rides that begin AND end within this area are free! You still have to pay for buses anywhere in Portland, but when staying within the Free Rail Zone on the MAX or Streetcar, you just get on and don't need to worry about getting a ticket. Just make sure that you either get off before the vehicle exits the square or buy a ticket. Find out more at TriMet.org

 

MAX (Metro Area eXpress) Light Rail System

The MAX is a network of 4 light rail lines spread across the entire Portland metro area, connecting nearby suburbs and towns. All MAX lines cross through downtown Portland and are the fastest public transportation option available.

  • MAX fares are the same as buses
  • MAX stops are spread out further than bus stops (hence the eXpress nature)
  • You cannot purchase tickets inside the MAX trains. You can use transfers or purchase tickets from automated vending machines located at each MAX stop
  • Remember to validate your tickets when taking the MAX by inserting it into the yellow validation boxes on the train or by purchasing a pre-validated ticket from the MAX vending machines
  • The MAX is the fastest and easiest way to get to and from the Portland International Airport or the train station (Union Station)
  • Many suburban MAX stations have free transit parking
  • Many MAX stations have monitors that display times of upcoming trains
  • MAX trains run every 5-15 minutes most of the day, every day
  • You can board MAX trains using any door

Buses

TriMet Bus routes crisscross the entire city and are very reliable. Because there are so many routes, it's best to plan bus trips through the TriMet Trip Planner website or Google Maps directions (even on your mobile or iPhone).

  • You can purchase a validated ticket with exact change from the bus driver
  • Only board buses through the front door
  • If you have a ticket that is not validated, the bus driver will take the ticket and give you a transfer in return (transfers are valid between 1-2 hours, check your transfer expiry time)
  • Buses are not part of the Free Rail Zone program and must be paid at all times

The Portland Streetcar

Portland has one streetcar line that runs from the Northwest District, through Downtown to the Southwest waterfront. It's basically a smaller MAX line, with smaller trains.. a sort of mini MAX.

  • You can board the streetcar at any door
  • There is an automated vending machine on board the streetcar where you can buy validated tickets (cash only)
  • Ticket price is the same as buses and MAX
  • Most of the streetcar line is within the Free Rail Zone (except for the ends)
  • Streetcar stops have monitors that display arrival times of next streetcar
  • Remember to validate your ticket inside the streetcar by inserting it into the yellow validation box

Biking

With over 300 miles of bike paths and trails, Portland is one of the most bike friendly cities in the world. The size of the city makes it very realistic to ditch your car and rely on biking and public transportation.

Green Boxes - Throughout several busy intersections across Portland, you'll find green painted boxes on the road. These are dedicated zones for bicycles to stop at during a red light to increase bike safety. Cars are not allowed to stop in these green boxes.

 

Driving

With several large freeways and highways going through the city, getting around by car is pretty easy. The main issues with driving in Portland arise from rush hour traffic to/from suburbs (and Vancouver, WA), expensive parking in downtown NW and SW, and aggressive cyclists.

Traffic

  • Rush hour has grown worse over the past few years, especially:
    • Into Portland from Vancouver WA, Beaverton/Hillsboro and along I-84 in the AM
    • Out of Portland towards Vancouver WA, Beaverton/Hillsboro and along I-84 in the PM
    • Out of Portland towards Beaverton/Hillsboro along W Burnside St in the PM

Parking

Most of Portland has a lot of easily accessible free parking, except for the downtown SW and NW regions. Parking in this core area is expensive, especially for all-day or monthly parking and many visitors wishing to park all day end up parking across the Willamette River in the NE or SE regions. Regular street parking is pretty busy, but not anywhere near as difficult as larger cities like New York.

  • Downtown all day parking ranges from $12-$30
  • There is no free parking (except for shopping validation) in the downtown NW and SW area
  • Residential streets in the downtown NW and SW require permits for overnight or all-day parking
  • Street parking is paid via electronic meters and ranges from 90 minutes - 3 hours
  • Hourly street parking rate is $1.60 in the Downtown NW and SW area
  • The least expensive parking garages in the city are the city-owned SmartPark garages
  • Several parking lots, including SmartPark garages, validate parking when shopping downtown

Tolls

  • There are no Tolls on Portland area bridges or highways

Airport

The Portland International Airport (PDX) is easily accessible via highways, buses and the Red MAX line. The airport is 8 miles Northwest of the city center and takes approximately 20 minutes by car, or 40 minutes by MAX.

  • To take the MAX from the airport to downtown, just walk over to the MAX stop and board any train. All trains leaving from the airport go straight into downtown Portland.
  • To drive from the airport to downtown, take the I-205 south to I-84 west as per these Google map directions.

Train

Portland's Union Station is located in the NW part of downtown, right on the Willamette River.

  • The train from Seattle to Portland takes about 3.5 hours, costs $30 and gets you right into the center of the city
  • The Green and Yellow MAX lines both stop at Union Station
  • Union station is a 10 minute walk from the Pearl District

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