The Portland Aerial Tram will close for scheduled maintenance from 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, reopening at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20. The work is scheduled for the President’s Day holiday weekend, when the tram experiences lower than normal use and also normally closes for the national holiday.
The closure will allow crews to shorten the tram’s haul rope. The haul rope, used to propel the tram cabins from one station to the other, stretches over time and must be shortened approximately every 18 months.
During the closure, shuttle buses will run between Oregon Health & Science University’s South Waterfront and Marquam Hill campuses. Passengers can catch a shuttle bus from the South Waterfront at SW Whitaker between SW Bond Ave and SW River Pkwy (see on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/WTKPdRrubzs) and on Marquam Hill at the Kohler Pavilion roundabout at 808 SW Campus Drive (see on Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/2KCANT52xzE2).
Shuttles will run during the Tram’s normal operating hours. The shuttle hours will be:
Wed. Feb. 14: Tram closes at 8:30pm; shuttles run 8:30pm to 9:30pm
Thurs. Feb. 15: Shuttles, 5:30am to 9:30pm
Fri. Feb. 16: Shuttles, 5:30am to 9:30pm
Sat. Feb. 17: Shuttles, 9am to 5pm
Sun. Feb. 18: No shuttles or Tram (normal Sunday closure)
Mon. Feb. 19: No shuttles or Tram (normal holiday closure)
Tues. Feb. 20: Tram is open, no shuttle, 5:30am to 9:30pm
More shuttles will run during peak travel times (7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.) Nonetheless, people should plan to add as much as 30 minutes to their usual trip. If possible, it is also advisable to avoid scheduling meetings and appointments on the hill and at the waterfront on the same day.
Shuttles will be accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Since the tram is normally closed on the President’s Day holiday, the shuttle service will be closed as well. See a map of the shuttle route here. Fare will not be required to board the shuttles.