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The Portland area features an extensive light rail
system consisting of three routes, collectively known as MAX.
In and near center city there is also a modern-day version
of a local streetcar line; it is under different ownership, and this
collection treats it in a separate series.
The
original MAX route went from downtown Portland east
to Gresham. It has since been expanded far to the west, and the
entire service is named the Blue Line.
Newer tracks branch off on the Eastside north to Expo Center (Yellow
Line) and to Portland Airport (Red Line). All three
cross the Willamette River on the massive Steel Bridge. Total system length, not counting route duplication, is a very respectable 44 miles.
A large zone that encompasses almost all of downtown, and also
includes a strip through the Lloyd
District east of the Willamette, is free at all times for bus and MAX (and
Streetcar) riders.
That "Fareless Square" is treated in the first section of these pages,
which also provides some additional overall MAX information.
Then further sections
cover, in sequence, the Eastside MAX route out to Gresham;
the Westside line to Hillsboro; the Red Line to the Airport after it leaves
the Blue Line; and the Yellow Line Interstate MAX, after Fareless
Square.
There is further expansion underway, which will introduce a Green Line
to Clackamas Town Center, and a revised downtown route for the Yellow
Line. Initial operation is scheduled for September, 2009.
In this photo a westbound Blue Line train is passing along narrow,
tree-rich SW Morrison St. in center city, Portland.
It is just about to cross the
southbound Portland Streetcar track. The curving tracks are used by
Yellow Line MAX trains to reach their downtown turnback
area. |
