MAX on the Portland Mall

Light rail comes to 5th and 6th avenues downtown

MAX trains now serve the Portland Transit Mall downtown.

Photo of new MAX train on Downtown Mall

MAX Yellow and Green lines
now serve the Portland Transit Mall.

  • MAX serves stations on 5th and 6th avenues between Union Station and Portland State University.
  • All bus stops and MAX stations are located on the right side of the street, so transfers are safe and convenient.
  • Easy-to-read signs and rider information make it easy to find your stop or station.
  • Bus and MAX shelters have better visibility, better lighting and real-time arrival information displays. Security cameras monitor shelters and station areas.
  • The addition of MAX on the Mall greatly improves north-south transit options downtown and make it easier to make connections with buses.
  • MAX now serves PSU, the top transit destination in downtown Portland, where 40 percent of students, faculty and staff ride TriMet.
  • Supplemental "Mall Shuttle" trains run between Union Station and PSU every 30 minutes on weekdays from noon until 5:30 p.m.

Lanes and signals on the new Mall

Lanes and signals on the Portland Mall have changed to accommodate the addition of MAX service. Here's how it works:

  • On most blocks, cars and bikes use the left-hand traffic lane, while buses and MAX trains use the dedicated transit lanes on the right.
  • Photo of MAX, bus and cars sharing the downtown mallA white, bumpy divider (called a "rumble strip") separates the traffic and transit lanes, and all traffic is controlled by separate signals for safety.
  • Cars and bikes are not allowed in the transit lanes. However, when necessary, buses can move into the traffic lane.
  • Right turns are not allowed from 5th and 6th avenues, except at 5th & Jackson, 6th & Harrison and 6th & Irving.
  • Signals are timed for traffic moving at about 12 miles per hour, so bikes and cars travel at the same comfortable speed.
  • Enforcement of traffic laws is under way, and violations can result in citations and fines up to $242.

Graphic showing the lanes on the downtown mall.

  1. When MAX is leaving a station, buses, cars and bikes stop at a red light.
  2. Once MAX has left the station, buses, cars and bikes get a green light.