Editing MAX Light Rail (section)

===Red Line track improvements and extension to Hillsboro===
[[File:Red Line track and I-205 bike path, February 2018.jpg|thumb|left|alt=refer to caption|A single-track segment of the Airport MAX along I-205 in 2018. Since January 2024, this formerly [[single-track railway|bidirectional section of track]] is used solely by outbound trains.]]

In October 2017,<ref name="trimet-considering-expansion">{{cite news |last=Howard |first=John William |title=TriMet considering expansion of MAX Red Line to county fairgrounds |newspaper=[[Hillsboro Tribune]] |date=October 25, 2017 |url=https://pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/376594-262316-trimet-considering-expansion-of-max-red-line-to-county-fairgrounds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010164324/https://pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/376594-262316-trimet-considering-expansion-of-max-red-line-to-county-fairgrounds |archive-date=October 10, 2018 |access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref> TriMet, citing system-wide delays caused by two [[single-track railway|single-track]] segments along the Airport MAX, announced the MAX Red Line Improvements Project,<ref name="red-line-imp-fs-mar20">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/redlineimprovements/pdf/fact-sheet-english.pdf |title=MAX Red Line Improvements Project |publisher=TriMet |access-date=Mar 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302143604/https://trimet.org/redlineimprovements/pdf/fact-sheet-english.pdf |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> later renamed "A Better Red".<ref name="better-red-factsheet-sep2021">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/betterred/pdf/fact-sheet-english.pdf |title=A Better Red |publisher=TriMet |access-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928180252/https://trimet.org/betterred/pdf/fact-sheet-english.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref> ''A Better Red'' sought double-tracking a {{convert|2800|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} section of track north of Gateway Transit Center and another {{convert|3800|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} section alongside Northeast Airport Way just before the airport terminal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/betterred/pdf/better-red-JPACT-1-18-18.pdf |title=MAX Red Line Extension and Reliability Improvements Project, Project Briefing to JPACT |date=January 18, 2017 |publisher=TriMet |access-date=June 11, 2024 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023205033/http://trimet.org/betterred/pdf/better-red-JPACT-1-18-18.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> To qualify the project for federal funding, TriMet included extending Red Line service farther west to [[Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds station|Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport station]] in Hillsboro;<ref name="trimet-considering-expansion"/> this extension would use existing Westside MAX tracks and create a one-seat option from 10 additional stations to Portland International Airport. Additionally, TriMet had announced it would procure up to eight new light rail vehicles to accommodate the improvements,<ref name="red-line-imp-fs-mar20"/> but later purchased 30 new trains overall; four were part of ''A Better Red'', while the remaining 26 were replacements for the original MAX fleet, which are gradually being retired.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/max6/ |title=Meet the New MAX |publisher=TriMet |access-date=June 27, 2024 |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606163816/https://trimet.org/max6/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Preliminary design work began in February 2018.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://www.parametrix.com/who-we-are/news/2018/02/12/02.12.18-parametrix-to-complete-preliminary-design-for-max-red-line-extension |title=Parametrix to complete preliminary design for MAX Red Line extension |publisher=Parametrix |date=February 18, 2018 |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913142552/https://www.parametrix.com/who-we-are/news/2018/02/12/02.12.18-parametrix-to-complete-preliminary-design-for-max-red-line-extension |archive-date=September 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> TriMet adopted a locally preferred alternative in April 2019,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=TriMet moves forward with plan to extend MAX Red Line into Hillsboro |publisher=[[KPTV]] |date=April 24, 2019 |url=https://www.kptv.com/news/trimet-moves-forward-with-plan-to-extend-max-red-line/article_31d325ec-66dd-11e9-b120-9fe435c6ad2d.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425062828/https://www.kptv.com/news/trimet-moves-forward-with-plan-to-extend-max-red-line/article_31d325ec-66dd-11e9-b120-9fe435c6ad2d.html |archive-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> and the FTA announced $99.99&nbsp;million for the project through the Capital Investment Grants program in May 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corselli |first=Andrew |title=FTA Announces $891MM in Funding |magazine=[[Railway Age]] |date=May 29, 2020 |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/fta-announces-891mm-in-funding/ |access-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529190443/https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/fta-announces-891mm-in-funding/ |archive-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2020/05/29/trimet-gets-100m-from-feds-for-red-line-extension.html |last=Danko |first=Pete |title=TriMet gets $100M from feds for MAX Red Line project |newspaper=Portland Business Journal |date=May 29, 2020 |access-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529190834/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2020/05/29/trimet-gets-100m-from-feds-for-red-line-extension.html |archive-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref> Final design was completed by engineering firm [[Parametrix (company)|Parametrix]] in early 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corselli |first=Andrew |title=TriMet Selects Parametrix to Finish 'A Better Red' |magazine=Railway Age |date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 13, 2020 |url=https://railwayage.com/passenger/light-rail/trimet-selects-parametrix-to-finish-a-better-red/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310160256/https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/light-rail/trimet-selects-parametrix-to-finish-a-better-red/ |archive-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/betterred/design.htm |title=Design – A Better Red |publisher=TriMet |access-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526213644/https://trimet.org/betterred/design.htm |archive-date=May 26, 2021}}</ref> The design includes two new bridges north of Gateway Transit Center to accommodate the second track and a new MAX platform called "[[Gateway North station|Gateway North]]".<ref name="better-red-factsheet-sep2021"/> TriMet broke ground on September 28, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Altstadt |first=Roberta |title=(VIDEO) FTA, TriMet and partners officially break ground on 'A Better Red' MAX extension and improvement project |date=September 29, 2021 |publisher=TriMet |url=https://news.trimet.org/2021/09/fta-trimet-and-partners-officially-break-ground-on-a-better-red-max-extension-and-improvement-project/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607214007/https://news.trimet.org/2021/09/fta-trimet-and-partners-officially-break-ground-on-a-better-red-max-extension-and-improvement-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From April 2–9, 2022,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/alerts/redline/index.htm |title=A Better Red MAX disruption April 2–9 |publisher=TriMet |access-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405000813/http://trimet.org/alerts/redline/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |author=TriMet |user=trimet |number=1513172850596724743 |title=MAX Red Line has resumed normal service. Thank you for your patience while we completed this necessary work for the Better Red project. Here are some photos from our work over the past week. |access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> Red Line service was suspended to make way for construction, and [[shuttle bus]]es operated between Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport.<ref>{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Sam |title=MAX Red Line service halted during weeklong construction |publisher=[[KOIN]] |date=April 1, 2022 |url=https://www.koin.com/news/traffic/max-red-line-service-to-halt-during-weeklong-construction/ |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403003408/https://www.koin.com/news/traffic/max-red-line-service-to-halt-during-weeklong-construction/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Villanueva |first=Mia |title=Temporary MAX Red Line closure starts Saturday |publisher=KPTV |date=April 1, 2022 |url=https://www.kptv.com/2022/04/01/temporary-max-red-line-closure-starts-saturday/ |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401203923/https://www.kptv.com/2022/04/01/temporary-max-red-line-closure-starts-saturday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The project was completed in March 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Luczak |first=Marybeth |title=TriMet's 'A Better Red' Receiving $99.1MM CIG Grant |magazine=Railway Age |date=September 27, 2021 |url=https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/trimets-a-better-red-receiving-99-1mm-cig-grant/ |access-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929213423/https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/trimets-a-better-red-receiving-99-1mm-cig-grant/ |archive-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--no by line; staff writer(s)--> |title=FTA, TriMet and partners officially break ground on 'A Better Red' MAX extension and improvement project |magazine=Mass Transit |date=September 29, 2021 |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/press-release/21240284/trimet-fta-trimet-and-partners-officially-break-ground-on-a-better-red-max-extension-and-improvement-project |access-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930170321/https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/press-release/21240284/trimet-fta-trimet-and-partners-officially-break-ground-on-a-better-red-max-extension-and-improvement-project |archive-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref>

From June 18 to October 21, 2023, TriMet suspended MAX service between Gateway Transit Center and the airport to allow for construction of the second track between the airport and Mount Hood Avenue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stein |first=Rosemarie |title=TriMet shuts down MAX Red Line to PDX for more than 4 months beginning Sunday |date=June 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Oregonian |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2023/06/trimet-shuts-down-max-red-line-to-pdx-for-more-than-4-months-beginning-sunday.html |access-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614170346/https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2023/06/trimet-shuts-down-max-red-line-to-pdx-for-more-than-4-months-beginning-sunday.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Graf |first=Tyler |title=TriMet's A Better Red project requires 126-day shutdown of MAX Red Line starting this weekend |date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=TriMet |url=https://news.trimet.org/2023/06/trimets-a-better-red-project-requires-126-day-shutdown-of-max-red-line-starting-this-weekend/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614164833/https://news.trimet.org/2023/06/trimets-a-better-red-project-requires-126-day-shutdown-of-max-red-line-starting-this-weekend/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From January 14 to March 3, 2024, TriMet suspended MAX Red, Blue and Green Line service between NE 7th and Gateway Transit Center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MAX Improvements Project |url=https://trimet.org/alerts/2024/index.htm |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=trimet.org |language=en-US |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225092309/https://trimet.org/alerts/2024/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Inbound Red Line trains from PDX began serving Gateway North on March 4, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLawhorn |first=Jennifer |date=February 16, 2024 |title=TriMet Gateway North MAX Station Opens in March |url=https://www.rtands.com/passenger/trimet-gateway-north-max-station-opens-in-march/ |access-date=25 February 2024 |website=Railway Track & Structures |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225092309/https://www.rtands.com/passenger/trimet-gateway-north-max-station-opens-in-march/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These projects eliminated the last bidirectional single-track sections on the MAX system.<ref name="ptj2024-2">{{Cite news |last=McKinney |first=Kevin |date=May 2024 |title=Rush Hour [transit news section] |volume=48 |pages=68–69 |work=[[Passenger Train Journal]] |publisher=White River Productions, Inc. |issue=2 – Second quarter 2024 |issn=0160-6913}}</ref>

The Red Line extension to Hillsboro began service on August 25, 2024 with a soft launch, with the full launch beginning on August 28. Fair Complex/Hillsboro Airport station was also renamed to [[Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds station]].<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>