TriMet marks 10 years of MAX Yellow Line light-rail service

Nearly 46 million trips have been taken on the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District's (TriMet) MAX Yellow Line light-rail service since it opened in 2004, TriMet officials announced last week.

Annual ridership has grown 24.2 percent since 2004, they said in a press release. Opening year ridership totaled 3.9 million trips, and ridership now tops 4.9 million trips. Weekday ridership has grown 30 percent since 2004, climbing from an average of 11,600 trips to 15,100 trips, TriMet officials said.

Part of the ridership success has been driven by the MAX Yellow Line's capacity, which is 3.7 times more than the former line 5 bus route's capacity, they said.

"The MAX Yellow Line clearly demonstrates that when we invest in transit, the community grows with it," said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane. "The Yellow Line improved transit service to the community, helped attract investment into the community, brought new customers to long-standing businesses, drew other businesses to Interstate Avenue, and made the area a more vibrant place to live."

When the Yellow Line opened in 2004, the area had experienced a 50 percent increase in the number of new businesses along the avenue. The growth has continued, TriMet officials said. In addition, about half a dozen housing developments have opened or are under construction within walking distance to the MAX stations.