Portland Transit | TriMet/Mass Transit News

[MR. Cosmopolitan]

Here's a recent video to start with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9hfzNVitPw not really much but better than nothing.

[PacificNW]

↑↑ Thanks for the link, Mr. Cosmopolitan....

[pdxhome]

I found a time-lapse video of the new green line train traveling northbound/westbound from Clackamas to Downtown PDX. In the video, the train did not stop at stops between Gateway and the Lloyd Center. Is this some time of express train, or was the video just from the testing phases?

here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8zPKuw4k1U&feature=related

[northbay]

thanks people for the links!

Originally Posted by nobody

Do you want some cheese with that?

um, very mature. it's not my fault if ur employer is bossy. but judging from ur attitude I'm not surprised. my request for pix was not meant as an attack against anyone, and I think ur the only one who took it that way. didn't anybody (or nobody) tease and joke with u as a kid?

[nobody]

Uh, what? My employer is related to this conversation how? You came in here and demanded pictures and essentially insulted everyone for not getting it done right away (in two threads). Yes I have deep emotional damage because no one ever joked with me when I was a kid, thank you for uncovering it and bringing it to the light of day so I can finally confront it and get you pictures of some trains.

Good session today, thanks.

[MR. Cosmopolitan]

Originally Posted by pdxhome

I found a time-lapse video of the new green line train traveling northbound/westbound from Clackamas to Downtown PDX. In the video, the train did not stop at stops between Gateway and the Lloyd Center. Is this some time of express train, or was the video just from the testing phases?

here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8zPKuw4k1U&feature=related

Thanks for the video it was really cool, if only MAX was that fast.

The video was made in August 20 so its testing phases.

[crow]

Originally Posted by nobody

Uh, what? My employer is related to this conversation how? You came in here and demanded pictures and essentially insulted everyone for not getting it done right away (in two threads). Yes I have deep emotional damage because no one ever joked with me when I was a kid, thank you for uncovering it and bringing it to the light of day so I can finally confront it and get you pictures of some trains.

Good session today, thanks.

that was pretty funny. um, er the video that was on youtube, and there might even be more (google/images) - what do you know i just did it and there ARE pictures, so I suppose if someone really WANTS or NEEDS pictures, they can use their computer or have better manners.

[bvpcvm]

Originally Posted by nobody

Uh, what? My employer is related to this conversation how? You came in here and demanded pictures and essentially insulted everyone for not getting it done right away (in two threads). Yes I have deep emotional damage because no one ever joked with me when I was a kid, thank you for uncovering it and bringing it to the light of day so I can finally confront it and get you pictures of some trains.

Good session today, thanks.

i think he was just asking. i was surprised no one had posted any either. when vancouver's new line opened there were far more pictures then i had time to look at - and for the green line - nuthin' so far.

[zilfondel]

New Trimet map:



http://trimet.org/maps/railsystem.htm

[northbay]

Originally Posted by crow

that was pretty funny. um, er the video that was on youtube, and there might even be more (google/images) - what do you know i just did it and there ARE pictures, so I suppose if someone really WANTS or NEEDS pictures, they can use their computer or have better manners.

yes there are images on google, but they are limited, and its difficult for an outsider to get a "feel" by just a few pictures where your not even exactly sure what segment your looking at. theres nothing like seeing a transit system from the eyes of a fellow transit enthusiast. portland is such a cool city, u guys dont seem eager to show it off (are u just trying to prevent people from movin in?) this extension is a big deal: its a new line, the modification of the transit mall on 5th and 6th to accommodate light rail - we outsiders wanna know from your point of view how portland has changed with the extension. and the answer to that only u guys can provide for us here on this forum. keep in mind there are alot of lurkers who dont comment.

look, i think theres been a misunderstanding here. like i said, i was merely surprised this thread had been allowed to almost die, and then the line opening to come and go with not even a peep from u locals.

[crow]

hey 420 - I think we were just having fun. The transit system in Portland is certainly something worth looking at - both good and bad. The turnaround at the end of the 5th/6th lines is not complete, but with the PV array and token wind turbines it will be worth a few pictures. A little editorial, but the biggest difference with Portland, is that the transit has been a little ahead of the density and development that other cities benefit from when they put in rail. I think it is more of a planning approach.

[ue]

Originally Posted by northbay420

yes there are images on google, but they are limited, and its difficult for an outsider to get a "feel" by just a few pictures where your not even exactly sure what segment your looking at. theres nothing like seeing a transit system from the eyes of a fellow transit enthusiast. portland is such a cool city, u guys dont seem eager to show it off (are u just trying to prevent people from movin in?) this extension is a big deal: its a new line, the modification of the transit mall on 5th and 6th to accommodate light rail - we outsiders wanna know from your point of view how portland has changed with the extension. and the answer to that only u guys can provide for us here on this forum. keep in mind there are alot of lurkers who dont comment.

look, i think theres been a misunderstanding here. like i said, i was merely surprised this thread had been allowed to almost die, and then the line opening to come and go with not even a peep from u locals.

You could also look on Flickr, where there are bound to be transit enthusiasts willing to take photos to please you. You can get pretty good results from searching there. The TriMet website has a bunch of information already on it too if you want to learn more, or you could go back and read this thread as I'm sure there was some discussion on the Green Line considering it is the thread for it. You do not need to demand people take photos for you to see though.

Also, the Portland section is a lot less active than the other example, Vancouver. So there is going to be less construction updates, less talking, less questions answered, less debate, etc. The Canada Line in Vancouver got so much discussion because SSP: Local Vancouver I think is the busiest local in the website, there is so many members and so much discussion (sometimes barely relevant to Vancouver metro).

[Okstate]

-Outside of the transit mall- (& i'll get blasted for saying this) there isn't much in the way of excitement about the extension other than the obvious...longer, better connected transit network for accessibility. The stops south of gateway transit center are pretty mundane & typical suburban feel (surroundings...not actual stations themselves). Now, do they have potential? Sure, & I hope they don't disappoint.

-If we see a line run down Barbur or Powell- I will be really excited to see what becomes of those corridors close to downtown. I honestly am open as to which one gets picked.

-Now as for the transit mall alignment- That is quite impressive & inspiring for the downtown atmosphere. The city overnight feels more cosmopolitan being able to see trains criss-cross one another downtown. 5th & 6th Ave. will undoubtedly become far more urbane than years prior. Personally, I can't wait to see the section of 5th/6th north of Burnside develop into whatever character it might have. If we can keep springing up retail similar to "The Original: A Dinerant" then we'll be in good shape.

[zilfondel]

I haven't had the chance to ride it yet... only the new trains downtown.

[downtownpdx]

^^what do you think of the new trains? I like the look from the outside, but they feel more narrow and cramped for some reason inside. There's a lot of white paneling too, which was already looking scuffed up. Nice quiet, smooth ride, and cushy seats, but something about it felt cramped. Seems they were trumpeting how roomy they are, but maybe they just hold more seats.

[RED_PDXer]

It's ok.. I'd prefer something more NY or SF Muni - like.. seats along the walls facing inside and lots of standing and maneuvering room. My daily MAX ride is only 6 minutes each way, but because I'm just outside of downtown and i travel in the peak direction, the trains were packed during the peak hours last year (not this deep in the recession though..). Considering that we'll never have more than two-car train sets and we're already experiencing train delays from capacity issues at Gateway and Rose Quarter/Steel Bridge, seems like we should be focusing on fitting as many people in these things. It may be comfortable if you get a seat, but getting out of your seat is inconvenient and most people have to stand anyway. Lastly, it's not comfortable if you have to wait for two trains to pass you before you can even get to stand on one..

[65MAX]

Originally Posted by RED_PDXer

...... Considering that we'll never have more than two-car train sets and we're already experiencing train delays from capacity issues at Gateway and Rose Quarter/Steel Bridge, ......

These, plus the horrendously slow transit time from Lloyd Center to Goose Hollow, are the reasons a subway through downtown (with 3-4 car stations) is essential. We're already bumping up against full capacity. The only way to expand that is to increase train lengths systemwide and streamline service through the center of the city.

[ProTram]

When I first heard about the subway idea I thought it was the worst idea but the more I have thought about it the more it makes complete sense. You are completely right '65MAX', the time it takes to get through downtown will become this systems bane as the area grows over the coming years. The subway stations could be used strictly to get in and out of downtown and the surface lines could be for everything else. It would just be vital to place stations at transit hubs:

How I envision it, there could be BLUE LINE EXPRESS and RED LINE EXPRESS trains. It could initially go underground at around NE 13th ave and NE Holladay St.

-The First stop could be at or near the Rose Quarter Transit Center. (Service to BLUE, RED, GREEN, and YELLOW LINE LOCAL trains and buses)

-The Second and primary and central stop would be at Pioneer Courthouse Square. (Service to BLUE, RED, GREEN, and YELLOW LINE LOCAL trains and buses)

-(Maybe a Third to service PSU and be located near Columbia and 11th so to be near the streetcar line at that station as well)

It could then re-emerge from underground and rejoin the main line at or near the Vista Bridge and tunnel entrance on downtowns west side. There really only needs to be 2 or 3 stations to make it extremely effective. They could be at the transit center hubs which would allow all local trams and buses to funnel people close to the express subway stations so they have the option to get in and out of downtown extremely fast if they so choose.

[RED_PDXer]

Originally Posted by ProTram

When I first heard about the subway idea I thought it was the worst idea but the more I have thought about it the more it makes complete sense. You are completely right '65MAX', the time it takes to get through downtown will become this systems bane as the area grows over the coming years. The subway stations could be used strictly to get in and out of downtown and the surface lines could be for everything else. It would just be vital to place stations at transit hubs:

How I envision it, there could be BLUE LINE EXPRESS and RED LINE EXPRESS trains. It could initially go underground at around NE 13th ave and NE Holladay St.

-The First stop could be at or near the Rose Quarter Transit Center. (Service to BLUE, RED, GREEN, and YELLOW LINE LOCAL trains and buses)

-The Second and primary and central stop would be at Pioneer Courthouse Square. (Service to BLUE, RED, GREEN, and YELLOW LINE LOCAL trains and buses)

-(Maybe a Third to service PSU and be located near Columbia and 11th so to be near the streetcar line at that station as well)

It could then re-emerge from underground and rejoin the main line at or near the Vista Bridge and tunnel entrance on downtowns west side. There really only needs to be 2 or 3 stations to make it extremely effective. They could be at the transit center hubs which would allow all local trams and buses to funnel people close to the express subway stations so they have the option to get in and out of downtown extremely fast if they so choose.

There's an underlying conversation in this region about "access" and "mobility". A subway would reduce "access" to the whole of downtown by having fewer stops downtown, especially if there's only one in the core area. However, it drastically increases regional mobility, which the City of Portland could care less about since they are at the center of the region and the region will continue to have relatively good mobility to the center. A subway increases mobility from the suburbs on one side of the central city to the other side. While I think the subway could be a good idea, the city doesn't see it this way (at least the current transportation planners/politicians there).

I can't stand that our transit system is at-grade. It needs to be completely separate to be effective, but that takes $$.. Who's got that?

[bvpcvm]

I can't believe there would be just one or two stations downtown. I figure, at the minimum, 6 - Civic Stadium, Pioneer Sq, Saturday Mkt (all red/blue), Union Station, 6th/Burnside, PSU (yellow/green). And probably one or two more. Otherwise, given that "people will only walk 1/4 mile", you've pretty much eliminated all service DT.