Better Bus Program
Building a fast, reliable transit network for the Portland Metro region.
The Better Bus program builds on the previous Regional Enhanced Transit Concepts Program. The program will contribute up to $10 million toward the planning and delivery of capital projects that address localized bus delay or congested corridors. It will deliver projects in partnership with local jurisdictions and facility owners.
Speeding Up Buses
Along with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), we’re speeding up transit in areas where buses often get slowed down. Simple adjustments like allowing buses and bikes to go straight through right turn lanes can significantly reduce delays.
We also use cutting-edge technology to prioritize bus travel at traffic signals, giving buses preference over cars at key intersections. This means less time waiting at red lights and less time stuck in congestion.
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Completed
SW 4th and Harrison Project
We collaborated with PBOT and ODOT to improve the intersection for buses at SW 4th Avenue and Harrison in Portland.
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Completed
SE 11th and Hawthorne Project
We worked with our partners at PBOT to install this new bus-only signal at the intersection of SE Hawthorne Boulevard and 11th Avenue in Portland.
Rose Lanes
We’re working with our partners at PBOT to install red transit-only lanes that help speed up buses, which makes faster and more reliable trips for riders. The lanes are painted red and marked “bus only” to let drivers know that they don’t belong in those lanes. We call them “Rose Lanes.”
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Under Construction
SW Fourth Ave Improvement Project
Our partnership with PBOT will reconstruct and repave SW Fourth Avenue between Lincoln and W Burnside streets in Downtown Portland. The improvements will include a business access and transit (BAT) lane between Sheridan and Mill streets. BAT lanes give priority to buses and people turning into driveways or cross streets.
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In Design
SW Alder Rose Lane Project
We’re working with PBOT to improve reliability for riders on buses along SW Alder Street from W Burnside Street to SW 2nd Avenue in Downtown Portland.
Better Bus Transit Priority Toolkit
TriMet and Metro created a Better Bus toolkit that details how we’re working together to reduce delays for bus riders. These efforts include creating dedicated transit lanes, designing better bus stops, creating improved street infrastructure for buses, and more.
