Metropolitan Area Express (Portland, Oregon)

Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) is a light rail system in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. It is operated by TriMet and currently has three lines: Blue, Red and Yellow, with Green and Orange planned.

Related Topics:
Light rail - Portland, Oregon - TriMet - Blue - Red - Yellow - Green - Orange

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In the central city, as well as in central Hillsboro, MAX trains run in reserved lanes on surface streets, unlike the Portland Streetcar, which runs in mixed traffic. Outside the central city MAX runs primarily its own right-of-way fully separated from traffic.

Related Topics:
Hillsboro - Portland Streetcar - Right-of-way

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Some track segments are controlled by traffic signals at intersections, including the original sement along East Burnside Street and the newest segment along Interstate Ave. Other segments have gated crossings to give trains the right-of-way. One three mile (4.8 km) section operates as a subway below Washington Park. While this section has only one station, it is 260 feet (79 m) below ground-level, making it the deepest transit station in North America.

Related Topics:
Train - Subway - One station - North America

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Because of Portland's 200-foot (61 m) downtown blocks, trains operate with only one or two cars. The MAX cars are about 90 feet (27.5 m) long, so a stopped train consisting of more than two cars would block intersections. Red Line trains are typically one car long, except during peak airport travel times, while Blue Line trains are typically two cars long. Trains on the recently-opened Yellow Line often run in both configurations.

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