TriMet to fix MAX freezing problems

Officials hope heated switches will end shutdowns during snow, ice storms

By jim redden

The Portland Tribune, Dec 31, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (63 Reader comments)

A MAX train sits idle at the Gateway Transit Center, where frozen switches knocked out service to Portland International Airport.

L.E. BASKOW / TRIBUNE PHOTO

TriMet is moving to replace the rail switches that froze and shut down some of its MAX light rail lines for days during the recent winter storms.

Frozen rail switch mechanisms have shut down portions of the MAX system during previous storms. This year’s closures were more extensive and longer than before, however. During the coldest weather, they shut down the Red Line to Portland International Airport when roads to it were nearly impassable. And they prevented North and Northeast Portland residents from taking the shutdown Yellow Line along North Interstate Avenue to and from downtown and other transit connections.

Although TriMet added buses along both routes, they frequently suffered long delays and overcrowding.

Now, TriMet officials have decided to replace the mechanisms with heated ones designed to withstand cold temperatures. They were not installed when the lines were built because the agency did not think heated switches were necessary.

“This is one of those ‘lessons learned,’ ” said Steve Banta, the regional transit agency’s executive director of operations. “It was originally thought the climate was moderate enough they would not be needed.”

Each replacement switch mechanism costs about $1,200. Banta does not know how many of them need to be replaced, but it could be dozens. Some stations have multiple switches that would need to be replaced.

“We need to do it, but we have not begun processing the paperwork yet,” he said.

Banta said TriMet is also considering installing heated mechanisms along the MAX line under construction next to Interstate 205 between the Gateway Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center — an area especially hard hit by severe cold weather.

He said a final decision will be made after the agency recovers from the current storm.

One problem can quickly multiply

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