TriMet will roll out a number of transit improvements starting August 25, including a new bus service that will create better connections between Clackamas County, Oregon, and communities like Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Tualatin and West Linn. The company is extending some trips on Route 76, adding a brand new weekday route and expanding the route of Route 34 to make it a better option for more people.

Extension of line 76

The 76-Hall/Greenburg line runs between Beaverton, Tigard, and Tualatin. It is one of TriMet’s most frequent routes, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or more frequently throughout most of the day.

The agency says that while gathering community feedback for Forward Together, TriMet’s equity-focused service plan designed to make it easier for more people to access services across the region, it heard riders want more direct service between communities in Washington County and Clackamas County.

On the extended trips beginning August 25, Route 76 will operate between the Oregon City Transit Center and the Beaverton Transit Center approximately once an hour for most of the day. Northbound buses serving the extended route of Route 76 will depart from the Oregon City Transit Center, making stops in West Linn, Tualatin, Tigard and Beaverton before terminating at the Beaverton Transit Center. Southbound buses on the extended route will continue from Tualatin and serve West Linn and Oregon City.

The agency points out that line 76 will remain a bus line with frequent scheduled services and not all trips will be extended.

Welcome line 153

Route 153-Stafford/Salamo is a new route between Lake Oswego and West Linn. The first day of operation is August 26.

Route 153 will run between Downtown West Linn and the Lake Oswego Transit Center. The agency notes that the line will provide a direct connection between the two communities and give people access to government services, health care, shopping and more. Route 153 will run hourly for most of the day on weekdays.

Passengers can board the 153 line in Lake Oswego and then transfer to the 76 line in West Linn, which connects them to destinations in Tigard, Tualatin and beyond.

Route 153 provides direct service from West Linn to transfers at the Lake Oswego Transit Center. Three other routes – routes 35, 37 and 68 – stop at the Lake Oswego Transit Center and continue to stops in Portland, Beaverton, Oregon City, Tigard and Tualatin.

Improvement of line 34

The 34-Linwood/River Rd line runs weekdays between Clackamas Town Center, Milwaukie and Oregon City. The agency is expanding the 34 line to serve the Clackamas Heights neighborhood in Oregon City, where more affordable housing is being developed.

TriMet notes that this improvement will make Line 34 a true community connector for Oregon City, connecting Clackamas Heights not only to downtown Oregon City, but also to other communities throughout northern Clackamas County.

The expanded Route 34 will also connect riders to the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and other destinations in Oregon City, as well as to the expanded Route 76 – among other regional bus routes – at the Oregon City Transit Center.

The extensions of lines 34 and 76 will replace service on line 154-Willamette/Clackamas Heights. TriMet is discontinuing service on line 154 due to low ridership and overlap with the new service.