Editing MAX Light Rail (section)

==Operation==
===Segments===

The MAX rail network is approximately {{convert|60|mi|km}} long. It was built in a series of six projects starting with the {{convert|15.1|mi|km|adj=on}} Banfield—now called Eastside—segment between downtown Portland and Gresham. Each successive project has either been an extension or a [[branch line|branch]] of an existing segment. TriMet has typically paired each project with the opening of a new line, often making the line and segment synonymous (e.g. "Airport MAX Red Line").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/history/maxoverview.htm |title=MAX Light Rail Project History |publisher=TriMet |access-date=April 28, 2023 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502012622/https://trimet.org/history/maxoverview.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=900|frame-height=450|frame-lat=45.516|frame-long=-122.71|zoom=11|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/MAX Light Rail}}|text=A geographic map of the MAX Light Rail network. The official system map can be viewed on the TriMet website.}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|+ List of completed MAX projects
|-
! rowspan=2 | No.
! rowspan=2 class=unsortable | Project name
! rowspan=2 | Opened
! rowspan=2 class=unsortable | End points
! colspan=2 | Length (new)
|-
! (mi)
! (km)
|-
| align=center | 1
| [[Banfield Light Rail Project|Banfield]] ([[Eastside MAX|Eastside]])<ref name="max-blue-line-eastside-factsheet-2016"/>
| {{dts|1986|09|05}}
| Downtown Portland–Gresham
| {{convert|15.1|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="MR-1987Nov">{{cite news |last=Shedd |first=Tom |title=MAX: Portland's Light Rail Is an Instant Success |date=November 1987 |magazine=[[Modern Railroads]] |pages=14–15 |publisher=International Thomson Transport Press |location=Chicago, Illinois |issn=0736-2064}}</ref><ref name="TRB-221">{{cite book |title=Special Report 221 – Light Rail Transit: New System Successes at Affordable Prices |url=http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr221/221.pdf |publisher=[[Transportation Research Board]] |year=1989 |isbn=0-309-04713-7 |pages=25, 34, 90, 92, 317, 319, 468 |access-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710103622/http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr221/221.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wade |first=Michael |title=Popularity of MAX spearheads boost in Tri-Met ridership |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=November 17, 1986 |page=B4}}</ref>
|-
| align=center | 2
| [[Westside MAX|Westside]]<ref name="max-blue-line-westside-factsheet-2016">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-blueline-westside.pdf |title=Westside MAX Blue Line Extension |publisher=TriMet |date=July 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302190959/http://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-blueline-westside.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| {{dts|1998|09|12}}
| Hillsboro–Downtown Portland
| {{convert|17.7|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="LRA-1994">{{cite book |last=Sebree |first=Mac |author-link=Mac Sebree |year= 1994 |chapter=Portland's Westside Tunnel: An LRT Breakthrough |title= 1994 Light Rail Annual & User's Guide |pages=10–14 |location= Pasadena, CA |publisher = [[Pentrex]] |issn= 0160-6913 }}</ref>
|-
| align=center | 3
| [[Airport MAX|Airport]]<ref name="max-red-line-factsheet-2016"/>
| {{dts|2001|09|10}}
| Portland International Airport–Gateway
| {{convert|5.5|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="Selinger"/>{{rp|66}}
|-
| align=center | 4
| [[Interstate MAX|Interstate]]<ref name="max-yellow-line-factsheet-2016">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-yellowline.pdf |title=Interstate MAX Yellow Line |publisher=TriMet |date=July 2016 |access-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710102319/https://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-yellowline.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>
| {{dts|2004|05|01}}
| North Portland–[[Steel Bridge]]
| {{convert|5.8|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="max-yellow-line-factsheet-2016"/><ref name="Selinger"/>{{rp|66}}
|-
| rowspan=2 align=center | 5
| [[I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail Project|Portland Mall]]<ref name="max-green-line-factsheet-2016">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-greenline.pdf |title=I-205/Portland Mall MAX Green Line |publisher=TriMet |date=July 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302191021/http://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-greenline.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{dts|2009|08|30}}
| Steel Bridge–PSU
| {{convert|1.8|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="RGI-2007Aug">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->  |title=Finance [part of monthly news section] |magazine=[[Railway Gazette International]]|date=August 2007 |page=470}}</ref><ref name="ptj2010-1"/>
|-
| [[I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail Project|I-205]]<ref name="max-green-line-factsheet-2016"/>
| {{dts|2009|09|12}}
| Gateway–Clackamas
| {{convert|6.5|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="oreg-2009sep5"/><ref name="RGI-2007Aug"/>
|-
| align=center | 6
| [[Portland–Milwaukie Light Rail Project|Portland–Milwaukie]]<ref name="max-orange-line-factsheet-2016">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-orangeline.pdf |title=Portland–Milwaukie MAX Orange Line |publisher=TriMet |date=July 2016 |access-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423063026/https://trimet.org/publications/pdf/factsheets/max-orangeline.pdf |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{dts|2015|09|12}}
| Downtown Portland–Oak Grove
| {{convert|7.3|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="max-orange-line-factsheet-2016"/><ref name="Selinger"/>{{rp|66}}
|-
| align=center | 7
| [[MAX Red Line#Track improvements and extension to Hillsboro|A Better Red]]<ref name="better-red-factsheet-sep2021" />
| {{dts|2024|08|25}}
| Hillsboro–Portland International Airport
| {{convert|0|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}}<ref name="better-red-factsheet-sep2021" />
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align:right;"| Total
! style="text-align:right;"|59.7
! style="text-align:right;"|96.1<!--Do not use {{convert}}-->
|}

===Lines===

For MAX, a "line" refers to the physical railroad tracks and stations a train serves within its designated [[Rail terminus|termini]], i.e. a train "route" or "service". MAX operates five lines, each assigned a color.<ref name="Rail system map">{{cite map |url=https://trimet.org/maps/pdf/railsystem.pdf |title=Rail System Map with transfers |publisher=TriMet |access-date=July 25, 2018 |archive-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210194620/https://trimet.org/maps/pdf/railsystem.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> TriMet adopted the use of colors to distinguish separately operated routes in 2000 and brought them into use on September 10, 2001, when it opened the Airport MAX extension. On that day, the service running between Hillsboro and Gresham became designated the Blue Line, while that running between downtown Portland and Portland International Airport was designated the Red Line.<ref name="taut-dec2000"/><ref name="airport-max-in-sight">{{cite news |last=Briggs |first=Kara |title=Airport MAX light-rail service in sight |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=August 29, 2001 |page=C2}}</ref><ref name="selinger-2019"/>{{rp|83}}

Every MAX line [[Through train|interline]]s with at least one other service, particularly as it approaches the system's central area.<ref name="Rail system map"/> The Steel Bridge accommodates the most interline routes with four lines (Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow) utilizing the same tracks.<ref>{{cite report |author=[[CH2M|CH2M HILL, Inc.]] |title=Steel Bridge Transit Improvements: Long-Term Concept Final Report |date=December 8, 2017 |publisher=Metro |page=2-1 |url=https://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/2019/06/27/SBTI_final_memo_022018.pdf |access-date=April 16, 2023 |archive-date=April 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416204933/https://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/2019/06/27/SBTI_final_memo_022018.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> TriMet has modified train routes over time, often as part of system expansions. For example, the Yellow Line, which began service in 2004, originally followed the same route into downtown Portland as the Blue and Red lines. It was realigned to the transit mall in 2009 when light rail service was introduced to that corridor.<ref name="ptj2010-1">{{cite journal |last=Morgan |first=Steve |title=Expansion for Portland's MAX: New routes and equipment |journal=[[Passenger Train Journal]] |date=2010 |volume=33 |issue=1 – First quarter 2010 |pages=38–40 |publisher=White River Productions, Inc.}}</ref><ref name="tribune2009-0828"/>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|+ List of MAX lines
|-
! scope="col" | Service
! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Stations
! scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Termini
|-
| scope="row" | {{ric|TriMet|Blue|name=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trimet.org/schedules/maxblueline.htm |title=MAX Blue Line Map and Sechdule |publisher=TriMet |access-date=November 2, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216065718/http://trimet.org/schedules/maxblueline.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | 48
| {{stn|Hatfield Government Center}} ([[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]])
| {{stn|Cleveland Avenue}} ([[Gresham, Oregon|Gresham]])
|-
| scope="row" | {{ric|TriMet|Red|name=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trimet.org/schedules/maxredline.htm |title=MAX Red Line Map and Sechdule |publisher=TriMet |access-date=November 2, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216065723/http://trimet.org/schedules/maxredline.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | 37
| {{stn|Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds}}
| {{stn|Portland International Airport}}
|-
| scope="row" | {{ric|TriMet|Green|name=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://trimet.org/schedules/maxgreenline.htm |title=MAX Green Line Map and Sechdule |publisher=TriMet |access-date=September 12, 2009 |archive-date=September 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914113529/http://trimet.org/schedules/maxgreenline.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | 30
| [[PSU South stations|PSU South]]
| [[Clackamas Town Center Transit Center]]
|-
| scope="row" | {{ric|TriMet|Yellow|name=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trimet.org/schedules/maxyellowline.htm |title=MAX Yellow Line Map and Sechdule |publisher=TriMet |access-date=November 2, 2008 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207192704/http://www.trimet.org/schedules/maxyellowline.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | 17
| {{stn|Expo Center}}
| [[PSU South stations|PSU South]]
|-
| scope="row" | {{ric|TriMet|Orange|name=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trimet.org/schedules/maxorangeline.htm |title=MAX Orange Line Map and Sechdule |publisher=TriMet |access-date=February 18, 2016 |archive-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225164159/http://trimet.org/schedules/maxorangeline.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | 17
| [[Union Station/Northwest 6th & Hoyt and Union Station/Northwest 5th & Glisan stations|Union Station]]
| {{stn|Southeast Park Avenue}} ([[Milwaukie, Oregon|Milwaukie]])
|}

===Right-of-way===
[[File:Portland Transit Mall with cyclists crossing.jpg|thumb|right|Buses traveling on MAX tracks on the Portland Transit Mall]]

MAX operates on a mixture of shared and exclusive transit right-of-way.<ref name="light-rail-technology">{{cite report |author1=Center for Urban Transportation Research. [[University of South Florida]] |author2=[[Transportation Technology Center, Inc.]] |title=Research Report and Findings: Light Rail Technology Scan and Case Studies |publisher=Federal Transit Administration |date=October 2022 |pages=97–112 |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-10/FTA-Report-No-0234.pdf |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313164949/https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-10/FTA-Report-No-0234.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|98}} Within downtown Portland, trains run on surface streets. They operate in dedicated lanes restricted to personal vehicles, and operators abide by the city's traffic control system.<ref name="how-max-moves">{{cite web |url=https://blog.trimet.org/2019/08/07/how-max-moves-downtown/ |last=Earisman |first=Misty |title=How MAX Moves Downtown |date=August 7, 2019 |publisher=TriMet |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418000317/https://blog.trimet.org/2019/08/07/how-max-moves-downtown/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="are-cars-allowed">{{cite web |url=https://blog.trimet.org/2020/01/17/ask-trimet-cars-on-max-tracks/ |last=Flynn |first=Alyssa |title=Ask TriMet: Are Cars Allowed on MAX or Streetcar Tracks? |date=Jan 17, 2020 |publisher=TriMet |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418000318/https://blog.trimet.org/2020/01/17/ask-trimet-cars-on-max-tracks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On the Morrison and Yamhill couplet, MAX travels in the left lanes.<ref name="Conceptual Design banfield">{{cite report |author=Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon |title=Banfield Light Rail Project: Conceptual Design Information for the City of Portland |url=https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=oscdl_trimet |publisher=TriMet Collection |volume=9 |date=November 1, 1981 |access-date=July 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928184313/http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=oscdl_trimet |archive-date=September 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|10}} On the Portland Transit Mall (5th and 6th couplet), MAX shares dedicated lanes with buses; both vehicle types travel in the center or right lanes and stop at their respective curbside platforms on the right lane.<ref name="power-signals"/> Lanes may be separated by turtleback [[delineator]]s or double-solid white lines,<ref name="light-rail-technology"/>{{rp|106}} and marked with white diamonds or white "T"s.<ref name="are-cars-allowed"/>

Outside of downtown Portland, MAX runs on street medians and viaducts, alongside freeways and freight lines, and underground. Where the tracks run within a street median, intersections are controlled by [[traffic signal]]s that give trains [[traffic signal preemption|preemption]]. Where tracks run on a separate right-of-way, trains are protected by [[Boom barrier|automated grade crossing gates]] when traversing [[level crossing]]s.<ref name="power-signals"/> Some segments of MAX are elevated to carry trains over busy thoroughfares and difficult terrain.<ref name="Don't look up">{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Bill |title=Don't look up, but MAX bridge going in over I-205; strict safety measures are in place to protect motorists, and as the span is built, tracks will start going in on Airport Way |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=December 17, 1999 |page=A1}}</ref><ref name="longest-spans">{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Bill |last2=Leeson |first2=Fred |title=Interstate MAX may cross one of city's longest spans |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=February 26, 2001 |page=C3}}</ref> A {{Convert|3|mile|km|adj=on|abbr=out|spell=in}} section of tracks runs beneath [[Washington Park (Portland, Oregon)|Washington Park]] in Portland's [[Tualatin Mountains|West Hills]] through the Robertson Tunnel, the system's longest underground segment.<ref name="Board picks tunnel">{{cite news |last=Mayer|first=James |title=Board picks light-rail tunnel |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=April 13, 1991 |page=1}}</ref>

MAX crosses the Willamette River using the Steel Bridge and Tilikum Crossing. In studies conducted for the Eastside MAX, planners recommended using the Steel Bridge due to its former role as a river crossing for the city's historic streetcars. When MAX commenced service in 1986, trains shared the bridge's center lanes with vehicular traffic.<ref name="Conceptual Design banfield"/>{{rp|26–27}} In 2008, workers closed the bridge's upper deck to construct a junction between the Eastside MAX tracks and the newer Portland Transit Mall tracks. Upon reopening, the two inner lanes became exclusive to MAX trains, while cars, buses, and other motorized traffic were restricted to the two outer lanes.<ref name=trib-2008aug>{{cite news |last=Redden |first=Jim |title=Steel Bridge reopened with changes |url=http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=73269 |access-date=July 16, 2019 |newspaper=Portland Tribune |date=August 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107103941/https://pamplinmedia.com/component/content/article?id=73269 |archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> TriMet designed and built the newer Tilikum Crossing to accommodate transit vehicles (MAX, streetcar, and buses), cyclists, and pedestrians only; with the exception of [[First responder|emergency responders]], private vehicles are prohibited.<ref name="tilikum-factsheet-june-2014">{{cite web |url=https://trimet.org/pdfs/pm/Fact-sheets-timelines/TC_2Page_June2014.pdf |title=Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, brings new connections and new options in 2015 |publisher=TriMet |date=June 2014 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302213206/http://trimet.org/pdfs/pm/Fact-sheets-timelines/TC_2Page_June2014.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tilikum Crossing is thus recognized as the first major "car-free" bridge in the United States.<ref name=Libby2015/>

===Power and signaling===

MAX is powered by a conventional 750-volt [[direct current]] (DC) [[Overhead line|overhead wire]] system. Most of the system uses a dual-wire catenary, with a [[contact wire]] supported by a [[messenger wire]]. In central city areas such as downtown Portland, however, it uses a single contact wire to minimize the amount of overhead wiring. To further minimize visual impact, ornamental [[street light]] poles, buildings, and bridge structures are used to support the wiring. [[Traction substation|Substation]]s, spaced approximately every {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} apart, convert the high-voltage public supply to the voltage power used by trains. The power system can [[bridge]] any one substation so that trains can continue to operate should a substation or its supply go down.<ref name="power-signals"/>

Approximately 70&nbsp;percent of the MAX system uses [[automatic block signaling]] (ABS),<ref name="power-signals"/> which allows for relatively fast operating speeds—up to {{convert|55|mph|kph|}}—and short [[headway]]s.<ref name="max-blue-line-westside-factsheet-2016"/><ref name="going-to-the-max">{{cite news |last=Federman |first=Stan |title=Going to the MAX: Your ticket to light rail |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=September 5, 1986 |page=T10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Federman |first=Stan |title=Tri-Met stresses safety of light-rail system |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=September 5, 1986 |page=T7}}</ref> For example, between [[Lloyd Center/Northeast 11th Avenue station]] and Gateway Transit Center along the Banfield Freeway, ABS can accommodate an operating headway of two minutes. Within these sections, [[automatic train stop]]s (ATS) enforce speed limits and automatically apply the [[Railway brake|brake]]s should a train operator fail to do so. The remaining 30&nbsp;percent of the system relies on traffic signals and [[Sightline|line-of-sight]] operation. Speeds do not exceed {{convert|35|mph|kph|abbr=on}} in these sections.<ref name="power-signals"/>