transit

Using Public Transit to/from Collins View

The original transit mall downtown is being re-done, so most buslines that go downtown have been relocated to temporary "malls".

Going to Hillsdale / Fred Meyer

It easy! Just hop on the #39 HILLSDALE / LEWIS & CLARK. See Trip Planner and Transit Tracker below for tips.

Going Downtown

Take #38 directly downtown during weekday commuter rush hour times.

When #38 is not running, or as an alternative to #38:

Take #39 to Hillsdale, and then take any of (#44, #45, #54, #55, #56) downtown.
Be careful not to get on a bus going to OHSU (65, 65X) -- look at the DISPLAY above the windshield.
Take #39 to Barbur Blvd, and transfer to #12 at TOBACCO TOWN (Across from SAFEWAY).
Take #43 downtown via John's Landing (slow route, but it goes all the way).

Which combination works best or beats the #43 depends on the time of day and conditions. #43 is on the far Northern Boundary of our neighborhood, so you have to get to it somehow first... like by walking many minutes. #39 on the other hand, goes along the length of Terwilliger... so many people can come out of the neighborhood to catch it.

Getting back from Downtown

Generally in reverse order. Depending on what you might want to accomplish, you can take (#44..#56) back through Hillsdale, or take #12 to Fred Meyer, (do an errand), then hop on a #39 to home.

(Will insert bus numbers and actual combinations of routes here in some kind of simple format.)

Getting to PDX

If you are good, you can take a 6:30 AM #38, and make it to a RED LINE MAX to the Airport, depart on an 8:30 AM flight. But 6:30 is the earliest bus there is without using #12 to get downtown. If you have a really early flight, have someone drop you at Pioneer Square or up by Art Media (West of Pio Square) in time to get a RED LINE to the PORTLAND AIRPORT.

Just use Trimet Trip Planner (link below) for Pioneer Courthouse Square to PDX, and enter the time you want to arrive at PDX. Allow time to drive downtown of course. The MAXes do actually run as per schedule. They have to keep them moving, and they control their own right of way for much of their line.

Getting home from PDX

It takes 40 minutes to go from PDX to Pioneer Square in DownTown.

Just head for the MAX station at PDX from the baggage claim area. (The south end). Buy a ticket (notes below) just before going outside. The ride into town is about 40 minutes. You may have to wait 10 minutes before MAX leaves, so make you call to home once the train is moving.

Have your family or a friend pick you up at Pioneer Square. There is a pull-out between the square an Nordstrom - ONE WAY going South. (The Auto-Driver could take I-5 to I-405 to Salmon Street exit).

Getting home, alone. Ask someone you know who rides transit for tips -- Facts like a) where to get on #38 or #12, b) the last #38 out of town is at 6:30 pm, c) the last #12 leaves at 12:32 am.

Trip Planner

The Trip Planner will make suggestions on what bus or combination of buses and max will get you from any address in the region to another address. You can specify whether you have to leave at a certain time, or arrive at a certain time. You can also tell it whether you want the fewest transfers, or shortest time, and how far you are willing to walk. (Note that it might be possible get somewhere quicker if you are willing to transfer, so try different options.)

If you are new to the system, and using Trip Planner to plan your commute, you should look at the transit system map to get a sense of the alternatives proposed.
You can also call trimet and get assistance from a real person at 503-231-RIDE.
Another good resource is fellow riders. They often have good advice and experience to share.

I can usually meet my family after work for dinner just about anywhere in the region without using a car, by using the Trip Planner.

Transit Tracker

Transit Tracker gives you the projected arrival time for any bus at any stop in the system. This is really handy.

Every busstop in the TriMet system has a Stop ID. You can find them at shelters and on signposts. For example, '929' is the stop in Hillsdale behind Wilson High School on the school's side of the street. Buses that pass that stop are either going downtown, or to OHSU, or to Lewis & Clark College.

When you use the web interface, you can simply choose a bus or max line, then choose a stop by cross-street location rather than Stop ID. Once the page comes up, the Stop ID and arrival time is displayed. You can bookmark that page for future reference, and/or note the Stop ID for use with your cell phone.

I use Transit Tracker at home in the morning via the TriMet website to gauge how soon I need to leave the house. Likewise from my office computer to see how much time I have to catch a homeward bus.. rush or stroll?

When you are away from a computer, you can call it from you cell phone, or access a miniature version of the web site on your mobile device. Fromt he TriMet site:

To get arrival times over the phone: Just dial 503-238-RIDE (7433) from any touch-tone phone.
If you're using a web-enabled cell phone, you can access TransitTracker at wap.trimet.org.
On a web-enabled PDA, log on to pda.trimet.org.
For more, go to the help page on TriMet's real-time arrival information system.

Neighborhood Transit Tracker Portal

Clickable links for arrival times for a dozen or so stops in Collins View and Hillsdale. For #38, #39, #43. Each result will show the arrival times for all buses at that stop. The goal is to have a map or diagram with clickable hotspots on it instead of a table.

Trimet Portal Prototype.

2-Hour Ticket to Ride

If you buy a single ticket from dispenser at a max station, it will be printed on-demand, with an expiry time on it --("Validated") -- time starts ticking right then.

You can get a pack of 10 virgin tickets so you can have them handy. The way that works on MAX -- at the platform, you insert the virgin ticket into a VALIDATOR, which will print the expiration time on it. There are no VALIDATORS on board (otherwise passengers could defer validating or not validate till they saw a fare inspector). I'm not sure whether the platform at PDX has a validator outside, or if it is only inside. I would think it must be out on the platform. (Comments?)

Keep your ticket as proof of paying fare. Show to inspector if asked. I've seen inspectors a couple times in ten years, but I have seen them.

The MAX ticket can be used to transfer to a bus, but you must exchange it for a paper TRANSFER when boarding. Don't ask why, I've never figured that one out.

PDX is a 3-Zone Trip, $2. Most trips near dwontown are 2-Zone, $1.70. TO learn about the 3 sort of concentric zones, consult a system map, or examine a route's map for any zone boundary crossings.

Portland Street Car

You can also ride the Portland Street Car with your valid transfer.

Tram

$4 for a two-way ride. An annual or monthly TriMet or Streetcar pass will get you on for free. All others (eg tourist, thrill seekers) must pay to help pay for the operation of the Tram. May be free on Friday nights. Info is current on the Portland Tram page, link below.

Links

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