Good excuse to try biking: TriMet’s week-long MAX detour next month

Not rolling west from the Rose Quarter for a week.
(Photo: M.Andersen)

It’s likely to be one of the hottest weeks of the year, but Monday, Aug. 11 through Friday, Aug. 15 is looking like a good time for east-side MAX riders to test non-air-conditioned alternatives.

The 10-block light rail connection between the Rose Quarter Transit Center and Lloyd Center, probably the highest-ridership stretch of rails in the TriMet system, will close for track and switch improvements that week, adding an estimated 15 to 30 minutes to trips in or out of the central city.

TriMet has full details about the temporary shuttle-buses that will connect the two stops through the week. But it doesn’t mention the fact that for everyone going to or from much of the east side, a bicycle will probably become the fastest link to the Rose Quarter and downtown during rush hour.

If you or someone you know has been waiting for a reason to learn your options for a bike route, seems like good timing.

And if it doesn’t take, no harm done.

“The switch replacement is part of ongoing investments that ensure our system remains safe and efficient for years to come,” TriMet’s news release says.

Front Page
route advisory, TriMet