Editing TriMet (section)

== Timeline ==
{{prose|section|date=October 2021}}

=== 1960s ===
*1969 Tri-Met takes over for the nearly bankrupt [[Rose City Transit]] Company.  The system has 175 buses and a daily ridership of about 65,000.

=== 1970s ===
*1970 Tri-Met takes over the [[Blue Bus lines (Oregon)|"Blue Bus" companies]], the four companies which had been providing bus service to and within Portland's suburbs,<ref name="takesoverblue" /> adding another 88 buses to the agency's fleet.
*1973 Route numbers (or Line numbers) are adopted for the first time; previously, routes had been designated only by names.<ref name="oreg-1973aug7" /><ref name="ad-1973aug" />
*1974 The first shelters at [[bus stop]]s are installed.
*1975 The "[[Fareless Square]]" is created in downtown Portland, with the goal of reducing short automobile trips within the city core and attracting more riders.  Fares outside the Square are 35 cents.<ref name="oreg-12jan75">Colby, Richard (January 12, 1975). "Tri-Met eliminates fare zones, offers free rides downtown". ''The Sunday Oregonian'', p. A38.</ref> The zone-based fare system was discontinued at that time,<ref name="oreg-12jan75" /> but was reinstated less than four years later<ref name="oreg-27aug78">Hortsch, Dan (August 27, 1978). "Tri-Met riders will start paying higher fares on Sept. 3". ''The Sunday Oregonian'', p. B7.</ref> and remained in use until 2012.
*1977/78 The 22-block [[Portland Transit Mall]] opens on downtown's Fifth and Sixth Avenues.<ref>"Mall makes it". (December 12, 1977). ''The Oregonian'', p. A1.</ref><ref>"Mall enters future – and it works!" (March 19, 1978). ''The Sunday Oregonian'', p. M11. Excerpt: "Although the Portland Mall has [now] been officially dedicated, it has been in full operation since December."</ref>  The mall includes bus-only lanes and provides a hub to make it easier for riders to make connections.  Tri-Met also introduces the seven "sector symbols", for different areas of the transit district, used at stops on the new mall: Brown Beaver (SE), Green Leaf (S), Yellow Rose (SW), Orange Deer (W), Red Fish (N), Purple Raindrops (NE) and Blue Snowflake (E)
*1978 After 3½ years using a [[Flat rate|"flat"]] fare system, a zonal fare structure is reinstated, with three fare zones.<ref name="oreg-27aug78" /> Zone 1 consisted of [[downtown Portland]] and extending about one to two miles (3&nbsp;km) out. Zone 2 was a ring around Zone 1 out two to three more miles. Zone 3 wrapped around Zone 2 and consisted of the rest of the system within the suburbs of Portland.

=== 1980s ===
*1981 24-hour recorded schedule information becomes available over the phone.
[[File:Crown-Ikarus bus of Tri-Met, Portland.jpg|thumb|right|One of TriMet's first series of [[articulated bus]]es, in service 1982–99.]]
*1982 Tri-Met introduces [[articulated bus]]es for the first time.<ref name="articulated">Federman, Stan (January 24, 1982). "Introduction of articulated buses kicks off Tri-Met expansion". ''The Oregonian'', p. B1.</ref> The buses were manufactured by [[Crown-Ikarus 286|Crown-Ikarus]], a now-defunct partnership between [[Ikarus Bus|Ikarus]], of Hungary, and [[Crown Coach Corporation|Crown Coach]], of California, but they proved to be sufficiently trouble-plagued that the agency later sues the manufacturer to recover expenses tied to excessive repairs;<ref>Federman, Stan (March 4, 1984). "No wonder the sour look: Tri-Met bendable buses 'lemons'". ''[[The Oregonian|The Sunday Oregonian]]'', p. 1.</ref><ref name="busdefects">Federman, Stan (November 5, 1985). "Tri-Met sues over articulated bus defects". ''The Oregonian''.</ref> a settlement was reached in 1987. The last bus was retired in 1999 and TriMet did not purchase articulated buses again until 2019 (for the Division Transit Project, to enter service in 2022).
*1982 In September, Tri-Met introduces a [[proof-of-payment]] (or "self-service") fare system for all service,<ref name="all eyes">Federman, Stan (August 29, 1982). "All eyes will be on Tri-Met's new self-service plan". ''The Sunday Oregonian'', p. C2.</ref> but discontinues it in June 1984, due to fare evasion, high equipment repair costs and other problems.<ref>Federman, Stan (June 16, 1984). "Inspectors bid goodbye to Tri-Met test". ''The Oregonian'', p. C5.</ref>
*1983 Completion of the installation of [[two-way radio]]s on the entire fleet; 100 buses already had radios by 1980, and all others were equipped in 1982–83.<ref name="grant for radios">"$1.7 million grant awarded Tri-Met [for two-way radios]". ''The Oregonian'', May 20, 1980, p. B3.</ref><ref name="new repair complex">"Tri-Met directors tour bus repair complex". ''The Oregonian'' (West Metro edition), October 14, 1983, p. B1.</ref>
*1986 As part of a package of budget cuts,<ref>Federman, Stan (May 23, 1986). "Tri-Met plans to lay off 81, cut bus lines". ''The Oregonian'', p. A1.</ref> Tri-Met discontinues its all-night [[Night bus|"Owl"]] service,<ref name="1986-0701">Hayakawa, Alan R. (July 1, 1986). "Tri-Met approves $71.9 million budget". ''The Oregonian'', p.B1.</ref> making Portland the second largest U.S. city without all-night transit service. Seven regular (daytime) bus routes also were eliminated.<ref name="1986-0701" />
*1986 The 15-mile (24&nbsp;km) long [[MAX Light Rail]] line between Portland and [[Gresham, Oregon|Gresham]] opens.  It reintroduces rail transit service to the Portland area, missing since the 1950s.
*1989 Tri-Met is named the best large transit system in North America by the [[American Public Transportation Association|American Public Transit Association]].<ref>"Transit professionals single out Tri-Met" (September 27, 1989).  ''The Oregonian''.</ref>
[[File:1992 Flxible bus, TriMet 1714, in downtown Portland in 2013.jpg|thumb|right|For more than 40 years, until 2015, TriMet's fleet included buses built by [[Flxible]], an example of which is the 1992 [[Flxible Metro]] shown in this 2013 photo.]]

=== 1990s ===
*1992 The first bike racks are installed on the fronts of some Tri-Met buses, as part of a one-year trial project.<ref name="oreg-1992jun18" />
*1995 Tri-Met's website goes online, hosted by local [[Internet service provider|ISP]] Teleport (which eventually becomes acquired by OneMain.com, later to become part of [[Earthlink]]). At the time when Internet access was less ubiquitous, Tri-Met also offered a dial-up information service through Teleport using a [[Unix shell]] and [[Lynx (web browser)|Lynx]].
*1996 Tri-Met begins to equip its bus fleet with [[vehicle tracking system]] equipment, to enable monitoring of buses in service, using [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] technology.<ref>Oliver, Gordon (August 18, 1996). "Tri-Met adopts global technology to track bus fleet". ''The Oregonian'', p. D1.</ref>
*1997 The first [[Accessibility#Low floor|low-floor]] buses and light-rail cars go into service.<ref name="smooth">O'Keefe, Mark (September 1, 1997). "New MAX cars smooth the way for wheelchairs". ''The Oregonian'', p. B12.</ref><ref>"Easy-access buses hit the streets in Portland" (December 15, 1997). ''The Oregonian''.</ref>
*1998 Westside MAX (now known as the Blue Line between Portland and [[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]]) opens. Tri-Met also establishes bus lines that come every 15 minutes or sooner everyday, lessening the need to consult a schedule when using them.
*1999 [[GPS|Satellite]]-assisted bus arrival time displays (later to be named ''Transit Tracker'') are installed at select major bus stops in North Portland and downtown.

=== 2000s ===
*2001 Fareless Square is expanded to a small portion of Northeast Portland between [[Lloyd Center]] and the [[Steel Bridge]]. Airport MAX (the [[MAX Red Line|Red Line]]) begins service on September 10 after a public/private partnership, prompted by a proposal from [[Bechtel Corporation]], enables its construction years ahead of TriMet's plans for the use of public funds. Bechtel received exclusive development rights to 120 acres (486,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) near the entrance to [[Portland International Airport]]. The original MAX line began to be referred to as the MAX Blue Line upon the opening of the Red Line. Bus sector symbols began to be phased out from maps and publications.
*2002 With the September schedule change, Tri-Met launches a new [[corporate identity]] strategy.  It is renamed '''TriMet''' (without a hyphen) and a new [[logo]] and blue, white and yellow livery are introduced.<ref name="hyphendrop" /> An improved automated phone service is introduced.
*2004 Interstate MAX (the [[MAX Yellow Line|Yellow Line]]) opens along Interstate Avenue.  The fleet has grown to 638 buses, 208 paratransit vehicles, and 105 trains with a daily ridership of over 300,000.
*2005 TriMet introduces [[biodiesel]] fuel into its fleet, using a B5 blend (5 percent pure biodiesel, 95 percent petroleum diesel), initially on LIFT (paratransit) minibuses only.  Use of B5 biodiesel was expanded to the entire bus fleet in late 2006.<ref name="biodiesel" />
*2007 The [[Portland Transit Mall|Portland Mall]], on 5th and 6th Avenues, is shut down for rebuilding and southward extension (to [[Portland State University|PSU]]), including adding a second light-rail alignment through downtown.  The rebuilding, to take over 2 years, is part of the [[MAX Green Line]] project, but will also replace all infrastructure for buses on the already 29-year-old transit mall.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Redden |first=Jim |date=January 12, 2007 |title=Bye-bye, bus mall as we know it |url=http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=81323 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410142956/http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=81323 |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |access-date=April 4, 2015 |work=[[Portland Tribune]]}}</ref>  Most bus routes serving downtown are detoured to other streets until 2009.
*2009 The {{convert|14.7|mi|km|adj=on}} [[WES Commuter Rail]] opens on February 2. WES (Westside Express Service) provides service between Beaverton and Wilsonville with stations in Tigard and Tualatin in between.<ref name="Operation date" />
*2009 In May, the Portland Mall reopens for buses, and testing and training runs for the new Mall MAX tracks begin, for opening August 30.<ref name="orderly">{{Cite news |last=Redden |first=Jim |date=May 21, 2009 |title=TriMet: Mall can be safe, orderly |url=http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=49851 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410160204/http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=49851 |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |access-date=April 4, 2015 |work=[[Portland Tribune]]}}</ref>
*2009 Due to the [[Late-2000s recession|national recession's]] effect on the agency's finances, the board approves a series of service reductions, to take effect in September.<ref>Rivera, Dylan (May 28, 2009). "TriMet adopts cuts, warns of more later". ''The Oregonian'', p. B1.</ref>  The board votes on August 12 to discontinue [[Fareless Square]] for bus service beginning in January 2010, while retaining [[zero-fare public transport|fare-free]] rides in the downtown area on MAX and the Portland Streetcar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rivera |first=Dylan |date=August 12, 2009 |title=The days of a free bus ride are over |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/no_more_free_bus_rides_in_port.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816143355/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/no_more_free_bus_rides_in_port.html |archive-date=August 16, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2009 |work=[[The Oregonian]]}}</ref>
*2009 On August 30, MAX service on the transit mall is introduced, with the shifting of the Yellow Line to the new alignment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tribune staff |date=August 28, 2009 |title=New MAX line opens downtown |url=http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=54413 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070923/http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=54413 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2015 |work=[[Portland Tribune]]}}</ref>  September 12 brings the opening of the [[MAX Green Line|Green Line]], also using the new transit-mall tracks, running from downtown (PSU) to [[Clackamas Town Center]].<ref name="riderspack">{{Cite news |last=Rivera |first=Dylan |date=September 12, 2009 <!-- (online); September 13, 2009 (print edition) --> |title=Riders pack MAX Green Line on first day of service |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/riders_pack_max_green_line_on.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922191206/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/riders_pack_max_green_line_on.html |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |access-date=September 27, 2009 |work=[[The Oregonian]]}}</ref>  It is TriMet's first light rail line serving Clackamas County.<ref name="leaderspraise">{{Cite news |last=Redden |first=Jim |date=September 13, 2009 |title=Leaders heap praise on new MAX Green Line |url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=125287334832689400 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608054136/http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=125287334832689400 |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=May 13, 2014 |work=[[Portland Tribune]]}}</ref>
[[File:Tilikum Crossing from north sidewalk with MAX train 2016.jpg|thumb|right|TriMet's [[Tilikum Crossing]], built as part of the [[MAX Orange Line]] project, opened in 2015.]]

=== 2010s ===
* 2012 TriMet purchases 55 new Gillig diesel buses to begin replacing buses dating back to 1990. The last four of the new buses are [[hybrid electric bus|hybrid-electrics]] estimated to be 20-50% more fuel-efficient<ref name="hybrids-2013" /> and produce 95% fewer emissions; they replaced hybrid buses that were in service since 2002.<ref name="better bus" />
* 2012 TriMet discontinues "Free Rail Zone" (formerly known as the "Fareless Square") in Downtown Portland and ends use of three-zone, distance-based fare system.<ref name="oreg-2012aug31">{{Cite news |last=Bailey Jr. |first=Everton |date=August 30, 2012 <!--print edition date Aug. 31, 2012, page 1--> |title=TriMet boosts most fares starting Saturday; some routes changing |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/roadreport/index.ssf/2012/08/trimet_boosts_most_fares_start.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902193556/http://www.oregonlive.com/roadreport/index.ssf/2012/08/trimet_boosts_most_fares_start.html |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |access-date=April 28, 2018 |work=The Oregonian}}</ref> Until this time, the TriMet district was divided into three fare zones, with fares based on the number of zones in which a passenger traveled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adult Fares and TriMet's Fare Zones [2012] |url=https://trimet.org/fares/zones.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626172110/https://trimet.org/fares/zones.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=April 28, 2018 |publisher=TriMet}}</ref>
* 2015 TriMet opens the new [[MAX Orange Line]] from Downtown Portland to [[Milwaukie, Oregon|Milwaukie]], and the [[Tilikum Crossing]],<ref name="wait's over">{{Cite news |last=Njus |first=Elliot |date=September 12, 2015 |title=The wait's over: TriMet's Orange Line, Tilikum Crossing up and running |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2015/09/orange_line_tilikum_crossing_o_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190516/https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2015/09/orange_line_tilikum_crossing_o_1.html |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |access-date=September 16, 2015 |work=[[The Oregonian]]}}</ref> used by the Orange Line and two bus lines
* 2018 After 32 years without any all-night transit service, TriMet extends service hours on lines 20-Burnside/Stark and 57-TV Highway to run 24 hours a day. The agency also establishes Line 272-PDX Night Bus to provide early-morning service between NE 82nd Avenue and the [[Portland International Airport]].<ref name="24 hour">{{Cite news |last=Mesh |first=Aaron |date=August 19, 2018 |title=In Two Weeks, Some Portland Buses Will Run 24 Hours a Day—Including a Line to the Airport |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2018/08/19/in-two-weeks-some-portland-buses-will-run-24-hours-a-day-including-a-line-to-the-airport/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008015915/https://www.wweek.com/news/2018/08/19/in-two-weeks-some-portland-buses-will-run-24-hours-a-day-including-a-line-to-the-airport/ |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |work=[[Willamette Week]]}}</ref> (This service was discontinued April 5, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not returned.)<ref>{{Cite web |title=ORDINANCE NO. 362 OF THE TRI-COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT OF OREGON (TRIMET) RETROACTIVELY ADOPTING APRIL 2020 AND AUGUST 2020 SERVICE CHANGES AND UPDATING ROUTE DESIGNATIONS (FIRST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING) |url=https://trimet.org/meetings/board/pdfs/2020-01-27/Ord%20362%20-%20FY%202020-2021%20Pandemic%20Service%20Reductions.pdf}}</ref>
* 2019 TriMet introduces a new paint scheme,<ref name="goes retro" /> the first such change since 2002.
* 2019 TriMet's first [[battery-electric bus]]es, numbered 3801–3805, go into service.<ref name="metro-mag-2019-apr">{{Cite news |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 17, 2019 |title=TriMet's New Flyer electric buses powered entirely by wind |url=https://www.metro-magazine.com/technology/news/733793/trimet-s-new-flyer-electric-buses-powered-entirely-by-wind |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417192341/https://www.metro-magazine.com/technology/news/733793/trimet-s-new-flyer-electric-buses-powered-entirely-by-wind |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |access-date=September 15, 2019 |work=[[Metro Magazine]]}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===

* 2022 on September 18, TriMet's 14-mile [[Frequent Express]] line opens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Frequent Express service |url=https://trimet.org/fx/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116060915/https://trimet.org/fx/index.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=trimet.org |language=en-US}}</ref> 31 60-foot [[Nova Bus|Novabus]] [[Nova Bus LFS|LFSA]] buses are put into service for use on the line.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nance |first=Scott |date=August 26, 2022 |title=The return of the bendy bus |url=https://blog.trimet.org/2022/08/26/the-return-of-the-bendy-bus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902184133/https://blog.trimet.org/2022/08/26/the-return-of-the-bendy-bus/ |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=TriMet Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>
* 2024 on August 25, TriMet completed the [[MAX Red Line#Track improvements and extension to Hillsboro|A Better Red]] project.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Plante |first1=Amiee |last2=Salk |first2=Ariel |title=Major changes coming to MAX, bus service as TriMet completes Hillsboro Airport expansion |url=https://www.koin.com/news/trimet-max-a-better-red-line-expansion-beaverton-hillsboro-airport/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |publisher=[[KOIN]] |date=August 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Luisa |title=TriMet's MAX Red Line from PDX airport to Hillsboro officially opens |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/trimet-max-red-line-extension-pdx-hillsboro/283-2e35985c-a21b-405f-9198-8068178cc446 |access-date=August 28, 2024 |publisher=[[KGW]] |date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>