PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Access to downtown Portland via public transportation and the city’s major highways has been blocked off Sunday afternoon as police prepare for the possibility of a third night of large demonstrations against police brutality and the killing of George Floyd.
TriMet MAX trains and buses suspended downtown services in Portland, which started at 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The transit agency said the decision was made based on guidance from Portland Police in the wake of “this weekend’s disruptive demonstrations.” The service disruption does not have a concrete timeline, but TriMet said transportation will resume when it is deemed safe for operations to continue.
The Oregon Department of Transportation, in conjunction with Portland Police, has blocked off highway on-ramps that lead into the Portland area. The closures were put in place around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon and have a flexible end time that depends on law enforcement’s needs.
The on-ramp closures include: Interstate-405, Interstate-5, Interstate-84, and Highway 26.
Additionally, TriMet advised that after 8 p.m. Sunday, when the mayor’s curfew goes into effect, people should only use public transit for essential trips.