Urban Transportation

Fareless Square

On TriMet buses, MAX light rail and the Portland Streetcar, there is such a thing as a free ride. Throughout the 330-block downtown "Fareless Square," passengers ride free of charge. The Fareless Square is bordered on the west and south by I-405 and on the north by Irving Street. The eastern boundary now extends across the Willamette River to the Rose Garden arena, Oregon Convention Center and Lloyd Center mall. Basic fare outside Fareless Square is $1.25; an all-zone ticket is $1.55. Up to three children under age 7 can ride free, while older children pay 95¢. Seniors ride anywhere for 60¢. Also available: the $4.00 day pass and the $10 3-day Adventure Pass - perfect for visitors.

Thanks to forward-thinking city officials and an economical, easy-to-use transit system, you can explore even the farthest reaches of the Portland metropolitan area while concentrating on enjoying the city - not navigating it.

For more information, visit the City of Portland Office of Transportation, which provides bicycle maps and other helpful information.

BUS AND MAX LIGHT RAIL

Portland has long been known as a clean, green and friendly metropolis, with lots to do and even more to see.

Leading the "City of Roses" into the 21st century is its economical, easy-to-use public transit system, which every year transports millions of visitors and residents through the city and its surrounding neighborhoods.

On the TriMet bus system, which covers the city and its suburbs thoroughly, you'll find low fares, friendly drivers and full wheelchair accessibility. And since most buses are now equipped with bike racks, mass transit has become more user-friendly for the cycling set.

TriMet's 38-mile MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) light rail system, which began the West Coast's only train-to-plane service in September 2001, also features door-to-door access to one of the area's richest collections of visitor attractions. A 10-minute ride from downtown will deliver you to Washington Park station, the deepest underground transit station in North America. The stop, 260-feet below the Earth's surface, provides nearby access to Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo, the Forest Discovery Center (formerly known as the World Forestry Center Museum), the Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial, Hoyt Arboretum and the new site of the CM2 - Children's Museum 2nd Generation .

A new streetcar system links Portland's downtown Cultural District, the Pearl District, Portland State University and the Northwest/Nob Hill Neighborhood. The sleek Euro-designed streetcars follow a 4.8 mile loop route through downtown Portland, the art gallery-filled Pearl District, and Nob Hill, known for its outstanding restaurants and hip, upscale shopping.

No such thing as a free ride? TriMet buses, the Portland Streetcar and MAX see it differently. Passengers always ride for free in "Fareless Square," a 330-block area that encompasses the city center. This expansive zone is bordered on the west and south by Interstate 405 and on the north by Irving Street. The eastern boundary now extends across the Willamette River to the Rose Garden arena, Oregon Convention Center and Lloyd Center mall.

Day passes and tickets - including a popular three-day, $10 Adventure Pass - are available at the TriMet office in Pioneer Courthouse Square, located on Southwest Sixth Avenue between Morrison and Yamhill. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or check its website at www.trimet.org. For trip-planning information, call 503.238.RIDE on weekdays, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can also plan your trip online, 24 hours a day, at www.trimet.org.

TRANSIT MALL

More than half of TriMet's bus lines run through the transit mall along Southwest Fifth and Sixth avenues, including Line 12, Sandy Boulevard from the Portland International Airport; and ART, The Cultural Bus (Line 63), which stops at Portland-area attractions.

PORTLAND STREETCAR

The new Portland Streetcar system links Portland's downtown Cultural District, the Pearl District, the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, and Portland State University. The sleek Euro-designed streetcars follow a 4.8-mile loop route that travels through the PSU campus, downtown Portland, the art gallery-filled Pearl District and Nob Hill, known for its outstanding restaurants and upscale shopping. Like all Portland buses and MAX light rail trains, there will be no fee to ride the streetcar in Portland's "Fareless Square" district. Outside Fareless Square, the streetcar fare will be the same as those charged for buses and MAX light rail.

VINTAGE TROLLEY

Another popular - and free - set of wheels belongs to the Vintage Trolley. Four turn-of-the-century-style trolleys connect downtown Portland to the eastside's Lloyd Center District. The trolleys run on the MAX light rail line every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends; 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Vintage Trolleys operate daily, May to December. In March and April, they operate on weekends only; during January and February, the trolleys are on vacation.

DOWNTOWN ON FOOT

Portland's short blocks and street-level attractions make the city a pedestrian's delight. Voted one of "America's Best Walking Towns" by Walking Magazine, the downtown area is full of architectural landmarks both old and new.

The Visitor Information and Services Center, located in the heart of downtown Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square, offers brochures, maps, itinerary-planning assistance and advice on restaurants and lodging, and perusing the calendar of local events. In addition to purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster, Fastixx and Artistix here, you can also purchase day-of-show half-price tickets to cultural events, or watch the film Perfectly Portland.

For a perfectly lovely stroll - or ride - along Portland's downtown waterfront, follow the promenade in Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park to the historic Steel Bridge. On the lower deck of the bridge, visitors will discover a bicycle/pedestrian crossing that links the downtown side of the Willamette River to Portland's new Eastbank Esplanade. This 1.5-mile pedestrian/cycling trail offers a great view of the city skyline and features a 1,200 foot floating walkway as well as easy access to four of the bridges that cross the Willamette River.

DOWNTOWN SMARTMETER PARKING

New to areas of downtown Portland are the solar-powered SmartMeters. At one meter you are able to pay for multiple parking spaces within a set area (usually one side of a street block is covered by one meter). You can pay by using coins, credit/debit card or smart card. Click here for more information about SmartMeters and how to use one of these state-of-the-art parking meters.

PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Just 20 minutes from downtown, Portland International Airport (PDX) has earned awards for demonstrating that large-scale airports can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Currently, 17 passenger airlines, including regularly scheduled and chartered passenger carriers, serve PDX with direct or nonstop service to more than 120 cities worldwide.

PORTLAND UNION STATION - PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE

Portland Union Station is served by four scheduled Amtrak intercity passenger trains.

With three daily departures between Seattle and Portland, as well as daily service to Vancouver, B.C., the Amtrak Cascades is a convenient link to the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Amtrak Cascades' European-style trains offer laptop computer outlets; bicycle, ski and snowboard racks; and regional food and drink. With service between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C., Amtrak Cascades is perfect for both business travel and weekend getaways.

Amtrak's Coast Starlight operates daily, connecting the West Coast's most popular destination cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

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