The Portland State University’s Center for Public Interest Design hosted a MAX Reuse Design Challenge competition to re-envision the use of TriMet’s oldest MAX light-rail vehicles, which will begin retiring in the coming years.
The winning design concept imagined Holladay Park in Northeast Portland’s Lloyd neighborhood transformed into a MAX village, with four TriMet MAX trains stretched along a raised sidewalk next to the park. One of the vehicles would feature a community kitchen. Another would house a warming shelter. And the remaining two vehicles would contain a health clinic and a learning center.
The People’s Choice award went to The Afro-Village Movement, with moving trains that provide shelter spaces, lockers, a mini-kitchen with fresh produce shelves, dining area, showers, laundry facilities and more.
The competition was designed to get people thinking about new ways to address issues facing the community. The concepts may not necessarily be applied to trains when they are retired.
Retiring TriMet’s oldest MAX trains
The 26 Type 1s were the original trains on the MAX system and have been in service for nearly 34 years. They have stairs at every door and must be paired with other trains to provide ADA accessible MAX service. TriMet will begin to retire these vehicles in 2022 as it begins bringing in the next generation of light-rail vehicles and transitioning to an all low-floor, accessible fleet.
Designers in the contest had the option to base their designs on the Type 1 trains or Type 2 vehicles. The Type 2s were the first low-floor light-rail vehicles put into use by a transit agency in North America. They’ve been in service since 1997. The Type 2s are being renovated over the next five years, so their retirement date is undetermined.
