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TriMet bus, MAX lines still impacted by heavy snow cover in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Due to Wednesday’s heavy snowfall, TriMet has announced continued transit disruptions and cancelations, causing significant impact to overall transit services throughout the Portland area.

According to TriMet, service has been cancelled for lines 1, 18, 26, 39, 51, 55, and 63 on Friday. The bus routes cancelled Thursday will be redetermined Friday morning, including: 1, 18, 22, 23, 26, 36, 39, 43, 51, 53, 55, 63, 65, 68, 80, 81, 84,154 and 156.

All buses have been equipped with chains due to slick road conditions, and TriMet said that means bus speeds are capped at 25 mph. Some lines may be operating at an even slower pace, so riders should prepare for longer trips.

For those traveling by train, TriMet says that the MAX Blue and Red lines traveling westbound may be delayed due to a car and train collision near Pioneer Square.

Otherwise, all five MAX lines will continue to run throughout the night, but MAX riders should plan an extra 15 to 30 minutes as well.

Others routes have also been detoured, so TriMet says riders should check trimet.org/alerts to get the latest information before planning routes. TriMet could make additional service adjustments throughout the day.

Due to the state of emergency issued by Multnomah County, TriMet also shared that drivers will not turn away those going to or from a warming shelter from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

TriMet also says its LIFT paratransit service is only fulfilling life-sustaining trips for those requiring dialysis and chemotherapy appointments until at least Friday.

There are still more than 25 buses stuck within TriMet’s 533-square mile service district.

An updated press release from TriMet spokesperson Tia York at 9 p.m. on Thursday said, in part:

“We continue to urge everyone to be careful when going to and from stops, stations, stairs and transit centers. TriMet staff and our contractors help keep these areas clear, but they too have been challenged by staffing and road conditions. They are working to remove snow and put down ice melt. We have closed some stairways leading to MAX platforms due to them being encased in thick ice. If the stairway is closed, riders should use the elevator to access the platform.”

TriMet asks everyone to check trimet.org/alerts before attempting to catch transit.

Stay up to date with KOIN 6 News as updates continue throughout the week.