November 29, 2006

TriMet prepares for winter storm

Half of buses to be chained tonight

TriMet is on alert and preparing for freezing rain to come to the Portland metro area tonight. TriMet has added equipment and changed its operating procedures to help MAX run during freezing conditions.

MAX

• Eastside MAX trains will run every 10 minutes throughout the night to keep ice from building on overhead wires with the main focus between downtown Portland and Gresham. The Red Line will also run throughout the night. Yellow Line trains will be added if needed.
• Pantagraphs (the arms that connect the MAX train to the overhead wire) all have heaters this year and will be turned on to warm the overhead wire.
• Four trains with heated ice scrappers will be spaced in among the other trains to shave a thin layer of ice off the wires should it build up.
• Switch heaters will be turned on to keep switches warmed up and operating.

Ice cap is installed on overhead wire on about half the MAX system, including:

• The entire Red Line
• The entire Yellow Line
• Steel Bridge and Rose Quarter
• All MAX platforms between the Rose Quarter and Gresham
• In addition to platform areas, ice cap is on about 80 percent of the overhead wire east of Gateway Transit Center

Bus

TriMet will chain up nearly half its fleet tonight, or roughly 200 buses. Powell Garage will chain the most buses because icy roads are expected to be worst in East County. TriMet road crews will start applying de-icing material and sand about 10 p.m. in coordination with the City of Portland, ODOT and Multnomah County.