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Last week, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) marked the 25th anniversary of the Eastside MAX Blue Line light-rail service.

The 15-mile line was the first light-rail route to be built in the region and the third in the United States, TriMet officials said in a prepared statement.

The line was built after regional officials halted plans for an eight-lane freeway through southwest Portland, Ore. The federal freeway funds were exchanged for light rail and other transportation improvements. Since the line opened in September 1986, about 483 million trips have been taken on the entire 52-mile MAX system, TriMet officials said.

“In the past 25 years, we have significantly expanded our transit system, reached record ridership while also helping to create and enhance neighborhoods along all of our MAX lines,” said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane.

The MAX has been a catalyst for transit-oriented development, agency officials said. Since the system was constructed, more than $10 billion worth of development has occurred within walking distance of MAX stations.