News: Improvements

Portland Streetcar's Art on Board program has installed another piece, this time by local artist Bobby Fouther entitled "United Stories." The piece was originally done in acrylic on canvas and is a combination of two works joined together "to connect a feeling of the inner and outer self," says Fouther.

Fouther continues:

I am a visual and performing artist. Through multiple mediums I love to tell stories on the canvas and the stage, sometimes with paint and sometimes with movement. I have created photos, videos, music, costuming to tell all types of life’s moments from birth to death. My mentors are many both local and international and I say thank you for the blessings … ASHE … Miss Dunham, Mr. Pomare, Ray Eaglin, Charles Tatum, and many others for giving me with wisdom to pass it on.

Dedicated to Ellen Elizabeth Preston for giving me sight and insight and teaching me to use my gifts to the best of my ability on a daily basis.

The Art on Board program began in 2020 and supports local artists through hiring them to create new or repurpose existing works to be displayed on the Portland Streetcar as it provides transit service to Portland's central city.

Portlanders who live or travel in the South Waterfront neighborhood can expect traffic delays on South Moody Avenue between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. April 23 through April 27. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) personnel will be testing propulsion and braking on a new streetcar vehicle built by Brookville Equipment Corporation that will be put into service this summer. The testing will be conducted along South Moody Avenue between the Tilikum Crossing and South Lowell Street.

Beginning at 12 a.m. each night, the streetcar will perform eight test runs along South Moody Avenue that will each last around three minutes. Traffic control and flagging will hold all traffic on the street to accommodate the streetcar proceeding through intersections at speed and exceeding the posted speed limits for testing purposes. Sidewalks and bicycle facilities adjacent to the roadway will be unaffected.

The new streetcar vehicle is one of three purchased by PBOT to expand the Portland Streetcar fleet. The other two vehicles will arrive this summer and will allow for increased streetcar frequency on the east side A and B Loop routes, as well as more reliable service by having additional spare vehicles available.

Testing for the new vehicles requires loading the streetcar with weight to simulate riders and ensure safe and efficient acceleration and braking to certify it for entry into service.

Thank you for your patience while we complete this important testing to improve transit service in Portland’s central city.

The Montgomery Park streetcar extension took an important step today as the leaders of TriMet, PBOT and PSI met at Montgomery Park to discuss the project and outline a path for:

• Moving forward with engineering work on the streetcar extension.
• Conducting public engagement to get valuable input from the community.
• Interfacing with the Federal Transit Administration to ensure a federal contribution to funding the project.

TriMet General Manager Sam DeSue, Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps, PBOT Director Tara Wasiak and PSI Board Chair Dick Davis toured the proposed alignment and discussed next steps to moving the project toward construction. The City of Portland is currently engaged in a process to determine land uses and zoning for the area along the alignment that will maximize the community benefit of the transit expansion.

The Montgomery Park Redevelopment and Transit Project is a planned extension of the Portland Streetcar NS Line along NW 23rd and NW Roosevelt/Wilson with a terminus at Montgomery Park, including the potential for 3,000 new housing units in a new district north of NW Vaughn Street.

Portland Streetcar is going beyond sponsoring the Portland Winter Light Festival this year by transforming into a rolling installation. Every Portland Streetcar will be adorned with LED illumination throughout regular transit service during the festival. This effort will help brighten the central city and provide a moving embodiment of the 2023 festival theme of STARS.

“We received such a glowing response from the community about our lit-up holiday streetcar that we decided to take it a step further,” said Dan Bower, Executive Director of Portland Streetcar, Inc. “By putting LEDs on all our vehicles we can bring light and joy to the city during what can typically be Portland’s grayest time of year.”

Rides on the streetcar will be free after 5:00 p.m. February 3-11 for the festival, offering attendees an electrified, illuminated way to enjoy the exhibits.

“The Portland Streetcar has long been a participant in the Portland Winter Light Festival, providing convenient and easy transportation around the citywide event,” said Portland Winter Light Festival Executive Director Alisha Sullivan. “We are thrilled that the streetcars will be lit up with LEDs this year! The light festival would not be possible without community partners like Portland Streetcar coming up with creative ways to brighten and connect the community by enhancing the nighttime landscape of our city.”

The Portland Winter Light Festival is an annual event that began in 2016 to enrich the public realm through Artful Lighting. Portland Streetcar began service in 2001 and operates three transit lines through Portland’s central city on 100% renewable electricity.

New photographs show a glimpse of the three brand-new Portland Streetcar vehicles currently under construction by Brookville Equipment Corporation in Brookville, Pennsylvania. The three vehicles will expand the Portland Streetcar fleet, allowing for more frequent service and greater reliability.

Brookville Equipment Corporation is an American manufacturer in operation for more than 100 years. The company has built and delivered modern streetcars to Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, Dallas and several other cities.

Portland is receiving three vehicles in a joint order with Sound Transit for the Tacoma T Line streetcar system. The vehicles are expected to arrive in Portland and enter service later this year. See below for photos.

A new art installation by Portland artist Tatyana Ostapenko graces Portland Streetcar’s Art on Board program, showcasing local artists' work on a rolling canvas through the central city. The vehicle wrap debuted on Thursday, December 8.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Ostapenko lives in Portland and paints around the Pacific Northwest.

More of Ostapenko’s work can be found on her website and Instagram.

Artist's Statement

"I was born and raised in Ukraine. My artwork directly focuses on historical atrocities in that part of the world, as perpetuated by the few who hold the power, against the many who suffer. My paintings are deeply rooted in the past and attempt to evoke moments that happen at the juncture of erased, imagined and personal histories.

I created the painting “I’ll Take You There” to celebrate the strength and resilience of Ukrainian people. It is my hope that seeing this image on the streets of Portland will continue to bring awareness and support for their ongoing fight for their lives and freedom."

Celebrate the grand opening of TriMet's Frequent Express bus line, connecting Southeast Portland and Gresham along Division Street. Join TriMet in celebrating FX's debut at three festival locations, complete with food, activities, entertainment, and free FX rides!

Portland Streetcar will be free all day Saturday, September 17, to celebrate the new link in our regional transit network. A and B Loop streetcars will connect to the FX at OMSI/SE Water Avenue, where one of the three festivals will take place.

For more information on the new service and Saturday's celebration, visit the TriMet FX website.

A purple vest and a backpack will be a new sight for regular streetcar riders. Newly-hired Rider Ambassadors are working aboard the streetcar to provide a non-security presence to help keep the system safe, supportive and comfortable.

Completing mental health outreach training and equipped with water, dry socks and other supplies, this team will respond to riders experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental illness or addiction.

“Providing more helping hands on the streetcar is a way we can help our neighbors in need while also keeping the streetcar safe and clean for all riders,” said Dan Bower, Executive Director of Portland Streetcar, Inc. “The Rider Ambassador program is an extra layer of community support, and the team can respond to situations where otherwise a security or police response would be called in.”

The one-year pilot program is funded by a research and demonstration grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The grant is also funding the transition from cloth upholstery to easy-to-clean vinyl seat covers and new rider information screens at key stops.

Portland Streetcar expects to collect data, stories and rider feedback about the program to evaluate its effectiveness at the end of the year. The team will be in addition to existing customer service representatives and PBOT’s fare officers.

I-84 will close in both directions this weekend for the installation of the Blumenauer Bridge, a new biking and walking link between the Lloyd District and Central Eastside over the freeway. The closure will last from Friday night until Monday morning to install the bridge span. Streetcar service will be unaffected.

The new span will connect NE 7th Avenue across I-84 to provide a critical link in the central city's pedestrian network and a key component of the future Green Loop. It will provide safer, easier access to A and B Loop stops at Hoyt, Burnside, Oregon and Holladay, and easier access to destinations from those stops.

Better pedestrian infrastructure means a safer, more accessible streetcar network and we look forward to using this new span to better connect riders to jobs, errands and wherever they may need to go.

Portland Streetcar is hiring up to four Rider Ambassadors to ensure that all riders--especially the community's most vulnerable--have a positive and safe experience on board.

Overall, the Rider Ambassador is the face of transit and should warmly welcome riders while promoting the importance of transit, increasing a sense of safety and community, and assisting wherever needed. The Rider Ambassador serves alongside Portland Streetcar Customer Service Representatives and PBOT Security Officers to ensure all riders are able to travel safely and with the support they require.

The Rider Ambassador also understands that transit plays a key role in reducing rides taken through other modes of transportation that are more harmful to the environment, such as single-occupancy vehicles, and will help create a welcoming atmosphere that will increase ridership. The Rider Ambassador will be offered ongoing training and professional development as available to better serve riders and the Portland community.

For qualifications and information on how to apply, click here.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for employment at Portland Streetcar, Inc.

Portland Streetcar will institute a seasonal schedule revision Monday, September 6. The new schedules can be found on this website, and real-time arrivals and trip planning can be found through the Umo app.

A Saturday schedule will be in effect on Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day.

Request for Proposals: Portland Streetcar Sponsorship and Advertising Program Management

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is now hiring a Field Maintenance Supervisor for Portland Streetcar. The Portland Streetcar Maintenance Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day work assignments and supervision on maintenance and repairs of rolling stock (streetcars), Track (MOW), Signal control systems, and overhead contact wire (OCS). This is a unique opportunity as this position will not only be responsible for supervising the team but will work hands-on in the field with employees on techniques, standards, and safety procedures including troubleshooting maintenance issues.

What you’ll get to do:

• Act as an equitable supervisor to streetcar technicians and utility workers including coaching, mentoring, imposing discipline as needed and general employee management
• Track parts and labor in an asset management system and providing reports
• Plan maintenance, repairs, and overhaul of equipment
• Troubleshoot and diagnose equipment electrical and mechanical failures
• Reviews technical documents such as plans & specifications
• Respond to field emergencies and critical situations.
• Make safety related decisions that have real impacts to service.

For more information and to apply, click here.

The Federal Transit Administration featured in an Earth Day video transit-oriented development (TOD) planning for the proposed Portland Streetcar extension to Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland. Funded by an FTA TOD planning grant awarded to Metro, Portland Streetcar and the City of Portland have worked to ensure any streetcar capital investments reflect equity, affordability and community benefits while connecting a rapidly-changing Northwest Portland with high-capacity, emission-free transit.

The video showcases ways in which transit planning can be an essential tool in combating the climate crisis, reducing congestion and ensuring clean air for generations to come.

After a year of reduced service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Portland Streetcar is adding back more frequency with a new schedule that begins Sunday, March 7. Peak service hours will return to 15-minute headways on the NS Line, providing two additional streetcars in service to the four running over the past year.

Service on the A and B Loops will remain at 20-minute headways to ensure enough spare vehicles for reliable service throughout the day.

Check the new schedules here or use TriMet's trip planner to plan your travel!

The Federal Transit Administration announced this week the award of $440,000 to Portland Streetcar as part of the Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program. Portland Streetcar and the Portland Bureau of Transportation submitted a proposal in Fall 2020 to fund measures to keep streetcars safer and provide better communication of public health guidelines to riders.

The proposal comprised three main elements:

• Replace cloth seat covers with nonporous, easy-to-sanitize vinyl;
• Install new, more variable message boards at streetcar stops to allow for more information to be communicated to riders; and
• Hire additional staff trained in current public health guidance to ensure vehicles are properly sanitized and staff are adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Funding totaling $15.8 million was allocated to 37 projects across the country to support strategies that develop, deploy and demonstrate solutions that improve the operational efficiency of transit agencies and enhance rider mobility during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The federal award announcement comes as Oregonians await widespread rollout of COVID-19 vaccination and must remain vigilant in social distancing, wearing face coverings and otherwise working to prevent the spread of illness. Portland Streetcar riders are still required to wear masks on board and are asked to limit travel to only essential trips.

Should the City extend Portland Streetcar or new transit in NW or NE Portland? What kind of new development do you envision in these places? Affordable Housing? Commercial and Retail? Industrial Uses? New Offices? Something else?

The Montgomery Park to Hollywood Transit and Land Use Development Strategy (MP2H) is considering equitable development plans for transit-oriented districts in NW Portland and NE Portland. The MP2H Urban Design Concepts provide information on possible land use Development Scenarios for the NW study area, and possible streetcar/transit Alignment Alternatives for the NE study area.

Help us shape the future of land use and transit that better serves these major destinations!

Virtual Open House – share your thoughts through August 9, 2020

Please visit the Urban Design Concept Virtual Open Houses during July to learn more, then tell us what you think by completing the Open House Survey! Click the links below to visit.

• NW Portland Study Area - Virtual Open House and Survey
• NE Portland Study Area - Virtual Open House and Survey

The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Bureau of Planning and Sustainability will hold an open house Monday evening to receive public input on a potential streetcar extension between Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland and Hollywood Town Center.

The proposed extensions are projects in the City of Portland's Transportation System Plan and the Regional Transportation Plan, but planners need public input on potential routes and land use changes to maximize the benefits of any transit improvement in those areas.

The open house will be held in the Council Chamber at Metro, 600 NE Grand Avenue, between 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to learn about the projects and weigh in on potential options being studied.

For more information, click here.

The business access and transit (BAT) lane installed last spring on a segment of Northeast Grand Avenue has improved afternoon peak travel times by 25%, according to Portland Streetcar's analysis.

New striping, signage and a transit priority signal help the B Loop streetcar and TriMet Line 6 bus avoid congestion resulting from backups on the eastbound on-ramp to I-84, which have previously meant the streetcar would sometimes take as long as 15 minutes to move between the stops at Southeast Stark and Northeast Hoyt. The project was installed by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) as part of a suite of transit priority projects in the central city.

On average, weekday streetcar travel times went down 25% between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., with a dramatic 47% reduction at 5:30 p.m. This improvement in reliability means less time spent commuting and more time home with family and friends for Portland transit riders.

Portland Streetcar will continue to monitor the performance of this BAT lane and look for other opportunities to reduce delay and improve travel time reliability across the system.

Read the full analysis here.

Portland Streetcar's revised schedules will enter service on Sunday, September 1, 2019. The new schedules will be similar to current service but regular riders should check to make sure they can catch an expected streetcar at the correct time.

The revised schedules will provide a service improvement through restoring frequent service on the A and B Loops and starting frequent service earlier in the morning.

Check here for online and printable PDF schedules. For real-time arrival information, use our interactive map or download the NextBus app. To plan a trip in advance, use the trip planner at TriMet.org and select "Train Only."

The following day is Labor Day, on which we will operate a Saturday schedule.