Mark your calendars: Bye-bye, buses. Hello, traffic.

By Isaac Kaplan-woolner

A reminder that there's tough news for commuters in the new year.

To make room for MAX line expansions, TriMet is shuffling around lots of downtown bus stops.

Currently, 29 bus lines chug along the bustling 5th and 6th avenues in Southwest and Northwest. Starting Jan. 14, 17 of those lines will be bumped down to the even more pedestrian and auto congested Southwest 3rd and 4th avenues. Another six will go to Columbia/Jefferson, one to Southwest 2nd, with minor adjustments made to the other five lines.
Hoping for a quick fix? No such luck. The city estimates that buses will move back to the Mall in spring of 2009. If all goes as planned with MAX construction, that is. The new MAX line is slated to open fall of '09.
While downtown bus riders may be put out by the construction, Clackamas County is set to receive its first light rail extension, connecting the backwoods to the heart of PDX.
If the move of bus lines has you freaking out, the city recommends you remain calm. TriMet is holding an open house on Thursday, Jan. 4 at Pioneer Courthouse Square. They will be answering questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WWeek 2015

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