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How to Pay Your Fare

On the bus

Using cash or an unvalidated ticket

Place your exact cash fare or unvalidated ticket in the farebox when you board. Fareboxes accept any combination of bills and coins (including $1 coins). The operator will give you a transfer receipt, which is good for at least 1 hour past the last scheduled stop or Downtown on weekdays and 2 hours past the last scheduled stop or Downtown on weekends. It's your proof of payment, valid on buses, MAX, WES Commuter Rail, Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN until the expiration time shown. Keep the transfer receipt until you have completed your trip.

Please note: Bus operators cannot make change.

Using a pass or validated (time-stamped) ticket

Show your pass or validated (time-stamped) ticket to the operator and have a seat. Do not place validated tickets in the farebox.

Using a bus transfer receipt

Show your transfer receipt to the operator and have a seat.

On MAX

Using a ticket

There are no fareboxes onboard MAX. Before boarding, buy your ticket from a ticket machine or validate your previously purchased ticket in the validator located near the ticket machine. A validated ticket is your proof of payment, good for 2 hours on buses, MAX, WES Commuter Rail, Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN. Keep your ticket until you have completed your trip.

Using a pass or bus transfer receipt

If you have a TriMet pass or bus transfer receipt, just board MAX and have a seat.

On WES

Using a ticket

There are no fareboxes on board WES. Before boarding, buy your ticket from a ticket machine at the station or validate your previously purchased ticket in the validator located near the ticket machine. The ticket machines at WES stations accept debit/credit cards only. A validated ticket is your proof of payment, good for 2 hours on buses, MAX, WES, Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN. Keep your ticket until you have completed your trip. Be prepared to show the conductor your fare. He/she may check your fare as you board, or after the train leaves the station.

Using a pass or bus transfer receipt

If you have a TriMet pass or bus transfer receipt, just board WES and have a seat. Be prepared to show the conductor your fare. He/she may check your fare as you board, or after the train leaves the station.

Note: SMART (Wilsonville transit) fares are not valid on WES.

On the Portland Streetcar

Using a ticket

There are ticket machines at the Streetcar stations and on board the trains. The machines at the station accept coins, $1 bills, $1 coins and $5 bills, as well as debit/credit cards. The machines inside the Streetcar accept only coins, $1 bills, $1 coins and $5 bills. If you only want to ride the Streetcar, you can buy a Streetcar-only 2-Hour Ticket for $1. If you want to ride buses and MAX/WES trains as well as the Streetcar, buy a TriMet fare.

If you already have a ticket and you begin your trip on the Streetcar, stamp the ticket in the validator on board.

Your validated ticket is your proof of payment, so keep it until you have completed your trip.

Using a pass or bus transfer receipt

If you have a TriMet pass, bus transfer receipt or Streetcar Annual Pass, just board the Streetcar and have a seat.