PDX Light Rail.

AirframeAS · Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:11 pm

I know the city of PDX has a light rail, but does it go to/from the airport to downtown Portland? How much does it cost to ride on it? Do they have a website? I am thinking of taking a daytrip up to PDX and would love to ride on that thing!

Any insight would be appreciated.

Cadet57 · Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:18 pm

Quoting AirframeAS (Thread starter):
does it go to/from the airport to downtown Portland?

Yes.

Google is your friend.

PhilGil · Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:08 pm

You need an all-zone fare to travel from the Airport to downtown - cost is $2.30. Ticket machines are located at all MAX stations and accept cash or debit cards. An all day TriMet pass is only 15 cents more than the round-trip MAX fare, so if you'd like to explore the system (and get on and off at your leisure) it's a great value. All transit (bus, MAX and Streetcar) in downtown Portland is free - see the "Fareless Square" map on the TriMet site.

seb146 · Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:32 pm

Also, if you switch to a Blue Train going to Hillsboro, you can also ride to HIO. Intel used to have flights there, but since cutbacks, I don't think they have much service. Besides www.trimet.org another good website is www.flypdx.com where you can see the layout of the airport and where to claim your bags, catch your flight, and see where Red Line leaves relative to where you will be.

But, Phil, I was just downtown and ran into a few machines that were "card only." Each platform, however, does have at least one machine that takes cash.

doug_or · Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:59 pm

Quoting Seb146 (Reply 4):
But, Phil, I was just downtown and ran into a few machines that were "card only." Each platform, however, does have at least one machine that takes cash.

Unless its broken. The trimet ticket machines are a $%^&*(ing joke. I finally started buying ticket packets so I wouldn't have deal with them.

ok rant off.

Portland is a great city and the transit system is overall pretty darn good for a city of its size. The red line at the airport will take you right through the city center (old town, Pioneer Square, Civic Stadium [no, I will NOT call it PGE park]).

seb146 · Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:10 am

Quoting Doug_Or (Reply 4):
Unless its broken. The trimet ticket machines are a $%^&*(ing joke. I finally started buying ticket packets so I wouldn't have deal with them.

Even if you get off at every *&#%% station only to encounter a broken &*@^$# machine on every single %#*@# platform, the $^*@& transit gestapo will still write you a @*&$*@ ticket if they catch you.

Quoting Doug_Or (Reply 4):
The red line at the airport will take you right through the city center (old town, Pioneer Square, Civic Stadium [no, I will NOT call it PGE park]).

Oh, yes: for all visitors riding MAX, unless you have business or you are here on the weekend, don't bother getting off at the Skidmore Fountain station. But, Red Line riders will get to experience one of the deepest station stops in North America at Washington Park. Doug, I think some of the signs around PGE Park Station also say Civic Stadium, so go ahead!

Alias1024 · Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:16 am

Hey Mods!!!

The guy asks for a website. I post a link to it and it gets deleted???

cannibalz3 · Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:22 am

Just as an aside, I didn't realize there were so many Portlanders on Anet. I'm pretty repressed as far as plane geeks go, but anybody feel up for a mini-meet at that road across the canal?

Just to make it relevant: The MAX is awesome, that new line is opening down by my place. But given the way MAX interacts with traffic downtown, how are there not a *[email protected]*load of accidents? Us Americans ain't used to light rail in the city.

AirframeAS · Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:26 am

Thanks, guys!! Smile

Quoting Alias1024 (Reply 6):
Hey Mods!!!

The guy asks for a website. I post a link to it and it gets deleted???

Now I'd like to know too since someone else also posted a link for me. What gives?

KirkSeattle · Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:40 am

I lived in PDX for six years and MAX was awesome. Portland has it together on transit compared to Seattle. It was easy to take from downtown to the airport and back. The fareless square has it's pro's and con's but it was always efficient for me.

Everything is still up for debate here in Seattle - the viaduct, 520, light rail. At least they break ground on the new light rail up on Capitol Hill this week Big grin

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...2008824266_websoundtransit06m.html

Then again, when in Seattle, you can always ride the SLUT

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/332081_slut18.html

-Kirk

doug_or · Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:02 am

Quoting Seb146 (Reply 5):
Even if you get off at every *&#%% station only to encounter a broken &*@^$# machine on every single %#*@# platform, the $^*@& transit gestapo will still write you a @*&$*@ ticket if they catch you.

Yeah. I've had to get off at a station I wasn't intending to more than once when I saw the neon yellow storm troopers massing on the platform. what a joke.

as for the deleted website:

trimet.org. Not sure what's so controversial. All the titty pics are very artful and classy.

seb146 · Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:55 pm

Quoting Cannibalz3 (Reply 7):
anybody feel up for a mini-meet at that road across the canal?

Let's examine a few things, here:

"That road" is Marine Drive. Anyone trying to get from North Portland to East County during rush hour, this is the best way to do it. "The Canal" would be the Columbia River. But, as for a meet, I think we tried that once and Port of Portland told us that they did not have the officers for that kind of crowd control or something similar. So, we could do it, but just keep it on the QT or DL or whatever letters you kids are using these days.

Quoting Cannibalz3 (Reply 7):
But given the way MAX interacts with traffic downtown, how are there not a *[email protected]*load of accidents?

You would be surprised how many cars run lights right in front of a train. "Oh, look, honey, there are tracks crossing our lane and our light is red. I think I can make it!" I see people driving on the MAX tracks all the time, too.

Quoting KirkSeattle (Reply 9):
Then again, when in Seattle, you can always ride the SLUT

Funny thing is: The SLUT and the Tacoma Link are the exact same type as the Portland Streetcar. The first time I rode the Link, I tried to pay. Silly me. I am so used to paying for streetcars and light rail. I was shamed by fellow riders.

As far as Sound Transit, I lived in Auburn way back when. Major events, when I lived there, were the "Battle In Seattle" (WTO riots), "Dome To Dust" and "Rattle In Seattle." I was only there for two years, but the whole time, they were trying to get the light rail started. Sound Transit was always being sued by some neighborhood because everyone wanted light rail. Before ground was even broken, they were something like 3 years behind and $10 million over budget. I was just in Seattle for New Years Eve and the thing still was not running! At least they have the train sets.

Alias1024 · Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:08 pm

Quoting Seb146 (Reply 11):
You would be surprised how many cars run lights right in front of a train. "Oh, look, honey, there are tracks crossing our lane and our light is red. I think I can make it!" I see people driving on the MAX tracks all the time, too.

I saw a MAX train hit a car at 181st and E Burnside about a year ago because some moron ran a red light. I hope Trimet sent him the bill for any repairs the train needed.

Quoting Doug_Or (Reply 4):
Unless its broken. The trimet ticket machines are a $%^&*(ing joke. I finally started buying ticket packets so I wouldn't have deal with them.

That's what I did too. I kept a pack in my overnight bag as backup for when the machines were all broken or I just didn't have the cash. MAX is a great system but those ticket machines are pathetic.

57AZ · Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:37 am

Quoting Alias1024 (Reply 12):
I saw a MAX train hit a car at 181st and E Burnside about a year ago because some moron ran a red light. I hope Trimet sent him the bill for any repairs the train needed.

They probably billed did bill the driver. The street railway I work for here in Tucson, Arizona does that. Personally, I have been involved in three streetcar vs. auto collisions where the automobile driver was found at fault and cited. In all three cases, we billed the driver for damages to the streetcar.

AirframeAS · Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:03 pm

Quoting Seb146 (Reply 3):
www.flypdx.com

Did you guys just notice, on this page, on the quick links, they are using WN's logo for the arrivals and departures link?? I wonder what WN would have to say about the free advertising.

seb146 · Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:21 pm

Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 14):
Did you guys just notice, on this page, on the quick links, they are using WN's logo for the arrivals and departures link?? I wonder what WN would have to say about the free advertising.

Not so much, I don't think. It looks like a generic 737. But, the "Nonstop Destinations" box does have WN. I just noticed, also, there is new non-stop service PDX-YYC on AC.

AirframeAS · Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:30 pm

Quoting Seb146 (Reply 15):
Not so much, I don't think. It looks like a generic 737.

The blue top looks the SAME as on WN's logo, except the bottom of the fuselage is gray on the PDX site. The logo is basically the same, except the color.

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