Find out which lines will run less frequently starting November 30 – and future service reductions likely too, in our neighborhoods …
This open house, held in the Hazelwood neighborhood byTriMet, was intended to provide information and to gather survey information about the planned service reductions starting November 30, and beyond.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Over the past few weeks, TriMet has been polling Portlanders about how they might reduce the shortfall in their budget.
“TriMet has begun making administrative cuts that may include layoffs — but we also need to cut service, to bring expenses in line with our revenue,” a TriMet press release stated.
To learn more, East Portland News visited a live, in-person open house held at the Rosewood Initiative Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative facility on October 14.
On hand to provide information, it’s TriMet Manager of Media Relations Tia York
“This is our first in-person open house – held in addition to the virtual open houses we held last week – about the service cuts that TriMet announced earlier this summer,” explained TriMet’s Manager of Media Relations Tia York. “We’re working to close a $300 million budget gap; and in order to get there, unfortunately we’ll have to make some service cuts.
“A little clarification on that: We will make some smaller cuts next month, starting November 30th, ones which we believe will be smaller and less impactful – mostly in frequently reduction on five lines.
Many of the attendees complete surveys regarding proposed cuts to TriMet services.
“But in March [2026], we’ll reduce services on another four bus lines,” York continued. “These lines serve these [outer East Portland] neighborhoods, so open houses like this one will influence significant historic service cuts that TriMet will be making in November of 2026. That may seem like a long way off, but we have some time-lines that we need to meet for our Board of Directors, and for our budget year.”
York went on: “This is more than just an informational open house. This is an occasion to gather information from surveys as we’re considering making cuts in service, as we look at the concept of making cuts. These changes [we hope will be as minor as possible] – such as our frequent service on lines, where a bus now arrives every 15 minutes, but soon might perhaps arrive every 17 or 18 minutes.”
Som Subedi helps members of the Bhutanese take their surveys on electronic tablets.
May shorten the MAX Light Rail Green Line
In addition to looking at eliminating low ridership bus lines, they’re considering shortening the TriMet MAX Light Rail Green Line, York announced. “TriMet has never made a significant cut to our light rail service like this, and MAX has been around for almost 40 years.
“One of the questions in this survey is: ‘Should the Green Line run only between the Clackamas Town Center and the Gateway Transit Center?’ – which means riders from Clackamas would have to transfer at Gateway to go downtown and beyond,” York pointed out.
Inner Southeast Portland changes possible, too
Asked if inner Southeast Portland neighborhoods, including the TriMet MAX Light Rail Orange Line, would also see reductions, York replied, “It could, potentially. If there are low ridership lines, those could potentially be in play.”
Hazelwood resident Amanda Briles told East Portland News her concern is that a reduction in service many mean she might “be hanging out on a corner, waiting a long time, or getting stuck in the Gateway Transit Center when it’s freezing cold waiting for a bus.”
Bus line changes on November 30
The November 30 changes to frequency don’t appear to affect outer East Portland riders; on Lines 35, 52, 77 and 81, they’ll arrive hourly after 9 p.m.
However, the big green double car busses on the FX2-Division line may arrive every 24 to 35 minutes during early morning and nighttime hours. But FX2 buses will continue arriving every 12 minutes between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., every day of the week.
Support transit by riding, she encourages
“One of the things that we’re encouraging people to do is to ride public transit,” York said. “You hear a lot of people talk about transit, and they support transit, but they don’t necessarily ride. So, get out there and ride, if you want to see a particular line survive – ride them!”
For more information about upcoming changes to TriMet services, see their official webpage: CLICK HERE.
© 2025 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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