Bethany and Cedar Mill commuters learned this week which bus route is changing in their corridor: starting Sunday, Aug. 23, TriMet's Line 76-Hall/Greenburg will take over the stretch between Beaverton Transit Center and Sunset Transit Center currently served by Line 20-Burnside/Stark.
Line 20 will continue running between Sunset Transit Center and Gresham Transit Center, but its western leg through the corridor used by tech-corridor workers and Bethany Village shoppers is gone. Line 76 picks up that segment as a Frequent Service route, meaning the swap is not a downgrade in service classification, according to the Cedar Mill News.
After the change, buses between NW 24th Place and Sunset Transit Center will arrive every 30 to 40 minutes most of the day, TriMet said, citing lower ridership in that area.
We reported July 11 that TriMet planned to cut or change more than 30 routes but that the specific Bethany-area impact was unclear.
The Beaverton Valley Times confirmed July 30 that the Line 76/Line 20 swap is the Washington County change affecting the Sunset TC corridor.
Sunset Transit Center is the main MAX hub connecting Bethany and Cedar Mill residents to downtown Portland and employers along the westside tech corridor. The Aug. 23 restructuring is part of TriMet's effort to close a $158 million budget gap within two years.
The agency expects to make $44.4 million in additional internal spending cuts before next summer, on top of $17.7 million cut in 2025. By the end of this summer, TriMet will have eliminated roughly 570 positions, including 170 layoffs.
Systemwide, weekly bus service hours will drop about 3.1% and MAX service hours will fall nearly 9%. TriMet said the reductions preserve service in high-ridership areas while cutting duplication elsewhere.
MAX closures underway
Separately, riders are already dealing with MAX disruptions on the Blue and Red lines in Washington County. Track closures for rail-crossing repairs began Sunday, July 26, and run through Saturday, Aug. 8, in two phases:
- Sunday, July 26–Saturday, Aug. 1: No trains between Elmonica/SW 170th Ave. and Millikan Way stations. Shuttle buses replace service.
- Sunday, Aug. 2–Saturday, Aug. 8: No trains between Merlo Rd/SW 158th Ave. and Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave. stations. Shuttle buses replace service.
TriMet warns riders to budget an extra 15 to 30 minutes per trip during the closures. Regular Blue and Red Line service resumes Sunday, Aug. 9.
Motorists should note: the SW Merlo Road crossing is closed to vehicles through Saturday, Aug. 1. From Sunday, Aug. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 8, lanes on West Baseline Road near the crossing will close, and the SW 170th Avenue crossing will shut entirely. Pedestrians and cyclists can still pass.
TriMet cut service in November 2025 and March 2026, and another round of changes is expected in August 2027. If the agency's financial outlook doesn't improve, a fare increase could follow in 2028.
