COVID-19 Updates
We’re dedicated to making sure transit remains a safe option you can trust for travel around the Portland area.
Here’s what you need to know about safe travel with TriMet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latest Update: All about airflow and ventilation on TriMet buses and MAX
How to ride transit safely
We’re working around the clock to make sure transit offers a safe way to get around. Like in all public spaces, a few simple precautions will help you stay healthy.
Our 8-Point Plan for Safe and Strong Transit
Our riders know: life is better for all when transit is a safe and strong option for getting around.
Here’s what we’re doing to ensure you can trust transit for safe travel:
1 Listen to the health experts
We’re experts in transit, not pandemics. We’re committed to continue working with the experts in public health, listening to their guidance to do what is needed to keep transit safe.
Q & A with Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Vines
2 Keep riders safe
We’ve limited how many riders are allowed on board and everyone — riders and operators — are required to wear face coverings. We also provide free masks on all vehicles and hand sanitizer on most, closed seats to allow for social distancing and added helpful safety signs.
Making mask dispensers
3 Protect our employees
The safety of our 3,300 employees is incredibly important. We’re finishing the installation of operator safety panels on all our buses, we've provided personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks and hand sanitizer, we rigorously clean employee work areas throughout the day, and have provided additional paid time off for employees who need it. And we've put extra space between operators and riders by adding a second yellow line six feet from the operator, urging riders to exit through the rear doors and by installing operator safety panels.
Operator safety panels
4 Clean frequently and thoroughly
We have hundreds of people cleaning, we've brought in new tools and put in place rigorous new procedures. Now, stations are cleaned at least once per day. Buses and trains are thoroughly cleaned and fogged every night and commonly touched places are disinfected throughout the day.
How we're keeping buses and trains clean during COVID-19
5 Reduce the number of places people touch
Less contact with commonly-touched surfaces means fewer opportunities for COVID-19 to spread. We've been encouraging riders to use contactless payment options like Hop, and we even mailed free Hop cards to riders who don’t have one when we weren't taking cash. Our vehicle capacity limits (19-24 on buses, 24-26 per MAX car, and 25-37 on WES) means there is a seat for everyone — no need to hold on to a pole. And many of our buses now have sensor-operated rear-doors. If you do need to touch a surface, we have hand sanitizer on most our vehicles.
Sensor-operated rear-doors
6 Always push to do better
We’ll continue to search for new ways to provide a safe ride on transit. Already we’ve started using UV lamps — like what is used in a hospital operating room — and fogging machines to disinfect vehicles. We’ll continue to explore other promising technology and practices.
UV lamps disinfecting MAX
7 Be transparent
We’re committed to being up front and honest with riders and our community. Don’t hesitate to message us on social media or to reach out to our customer service team if you have questions or concerns. Follow us or sign up for Riders Club so you don’t miss an update.
8 Protect transit’s future
After safety, our focus is to make sure transit will remain strong and reliable for decades to come. As ridership fell this spring, we acted quickly to reduce service and save resources until demand returned. This allowed us to quickly restore much of the reduced service this summer. We will continue to work with our communities as we make decisions about service.
What you should to know to ride transit
We’ve made some important changes over the past few months:
- Face coverings are required (We have them for free on vehicles if you don’t have one).
- Hand sanitizer is available on all buses and some trains.
- Some seats are closed to help keep riders a safe distance apart.
Office hours and status:
Customer Service
We’ve changed our Customer Service hours so we can have staff available when riders need the most help. We’re available by phone, text email or social media from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., seven days a week.
LIFT
We've temporarily reduced reservation call center hours to 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekends. Customer service hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday.
Transit Mobility Center
Closed until further notice.
TriMet Ticket Office
Operating with normal hours. Masks and physical distancing required.
TriMet Lost and Found
Operating with normal hours. Masks and physical distancing required.
We’re here for you!
We mean it when we say we’re all in this together. If you have a question, concern or suggestion, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help.