PORTLAND, Ore. — MAX lines and buses are running smoothly with minimal delays Friday evening amid cold winter weather, according to TriMet. The agency said it will decide Saturday morning if higher elevation bus routes will be canceled.
As of Friday evening, TriMet said it has recovered the last bus that was stuck during Wednesday's storm. At the peak a total of 150 buses were stranded since the snow event began.
"Severe gridlock throughout the region is hindering just about everything, including our employees who are trying to report to work, attempts to rescue stuck buses and restore MAX service," Tia York, a spokesperson with TriMet said on Friday.
"It’s also making it more difficult for our contractors, who perform tasks such as laying down ice melt and plowing areas to help buses and trains keep moving."
Friday morning, there were six buses still stuck and unable to move until road conditions improve.
"All buses that are in service are using heavy duty traction chains, which limit their speed, along with the very icy conditions on the road," TriMet said in a statement.
LIFT paratransit service were providing life-sustaining services only for trips such as dialysis or chemotherapy through Friday, according to TriMet.
A few MAX trains ran overnight Thursday to help with removing accumulated snow on the train rails.
"Running the trains overnight will help prevent snow from building up on the rails, and it can provide just enough warmth to the overheard wires to prevent them from refreezing as temperatures drop tonight," York said.
The TriMet Customer Support Center at Pioneer Courthouse Square will be closed Friday.
Due to a state of emergency issued by Multnomah County, TriMet said it would not turn away anyone from traveling to or from a warming shelter who would be otherwise unable to pay fare, lasting from 6 p.m. Wednesday evening through 10 a.m. Saturday.