“The Green Line construction is progressing quite nicely”,
I think as I wait for the light – so untimely
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a fancy new MAX train and not a single reindeer!
Anyone know when TriMet aquired the new MAX train I saw this morning? I tried to snap a picture but it was gone before I could manage. It was all high-tech Euro Bullet train looking, far more streamlined then the current MAX trains. It had “Not In Service: Testing” on it.
Thought number 1: Cool!!!
Thought number 2: Why?
Thought number 3: Ok, do we really need it? And can we afford it?
{ 8 comments }
The trains were purchased last June for the Green line: http://ourpdx.com/2008/07/new-max-trains-coming-this-fall/. Guess they’re using them on the other lines to test them out.
Awesome!!
Was it downtown, or along I-205? 205 looks pretty uncomplete in most spots, so I’m guessing downtown.
I think that line is going to make a pretty huge (positive) impact on East Portland. Not quite close enough to me to be much use, but giving mobility to those in outer SE, many of whom are very poor and not too mobile, will be a great thing in many intangible ways. IMHO we can’t afford NOT to (and those $$ were all allocated long before the current econ. collapse anyway.) Plus, the jobs provided by stuff like that are the best way to stimulate an economy, from all I’ve heard.
Anyway..if you see it again, snap a pic!!
More than likely the purchase of new trains was part of the overall budget which is funded in part by Federal funds. I would venture a guess that we don’t have enough trains right now to support 3 full lines, so new cars were inevitable. Also, trains age. I also saw some brand spankin’ new buses on the mall doing test dries too. Prety much the same, just more curves and not as dirty (yet.)
I’m excited for newness. The streetcars still have the new streetcar smell imho.
Pics or it didn’t happen! Coincidentially (or not?) I saw a brand new bus for the first time on Scholls Ferry this morning. Much sleeker looking.
I’m pretty much an unapologetic supporter of mass transit so of course I’m going to say it’s worth it; both for long term usefulness and for making our city that much cooler.
I saw one of those a few weeks ago downtown. I think I tweeted about it, but maybe not. It was a couple days before the WES line opened, and I thought maybe they were running those on WES. I should do a WES ride sometime just for the experience.
@A. L. Venable – Sweet! I’ll be a green line rider when it’s done.
@Pete Forsyth – It was at the Lloyd Center MAX stop. So, neither.
The new trains & buses were purchased several years ago by Federal dollars mostly. TriMet put in a little, but not much.
i.e. The funds where allocated back during the heady days of financial invincibility of 2005 or 2006.
So the actual purchases most likely took place near that time.
Comments on this entry are closed.