TriMet timeline

from the 1994 TriMet calendar

December 1, 1969: TriMet officially begins operations after Rose City Transit turns over its property to the City of Portland at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 1969 and the city immediately transferred it to TriMet. Local 757 approves a new 19-month labor contract. Fares were 35 cents.
May 12, 1970: Gave free rides to senior citizens for one week
September 6, 1970: TriMet acquired the suburban Blue Bus systems
September 15, 1970: Thomas S. King becomes TriMet\'s first General Manager
June 15, 1971: New uniforms for operators introduced
January 12, 1975: Implemented Fareless Square and eliminated zone fares
October 1, 1976: TriMet awarded the Administrator\'s Award for Outstanding Public Service by UTMA
December 6, 1976: TriMet begins its demand-response service, the LIFT program
December 15, 1976: Beards and mustaches are acceptable for operators
January 16, 1977: Powell Garage opens as TriMet\'s first satellite garage
December 11, 1977: Portland Transit Mall opens
May 15, 1978: New administrative offices open at 17th and Center
January 16, 1978: E. R. Peter Cass becomes TriMet\'s General Manager
September 15, 1978: "Tri-It" promotion launched to increase ridership
April 12, 1979: First Annual Bus Roadeo held
June 17, 1979: Timed transfers inaugurated at Beaverton Transit Center
March 31, 1980: Merlo Garage opens using an existing house until the current facility was built
March 1, 1981: James E. Cowan becomes TriMet\'s General Manager
January 6, 1982: President Ronald Reagan signs the Surface Transportation Assistance Act
January 31, 1982: First articulated buses go into regular service on lines 44 and 57
February 1982: Current bus stop sign design introduced
March 26, 1982: Official groundbreaking day for Banfield Light Rail Project (MAX)
September 5, 1982: Self-service fare implemented
May 6, 1983: Merlo Transportation employees move from the little house into the new building
July 1, 1983: C-TRAN in Vancouver, WA, integrates fares with TriMet
August 1, 1983: Vandalism "hotline" begins
January 29, 1984: Began 2,000 hours per week reduction in on-street service
April 6, 1984: Customer Assistance Office opens in Pioneer Courthouse Square
April 18, 1984: Ruby Junction officially opens for business
September 27, 1985: Last Rose City Transit buses run
July 25, 1986: Banfield Light Rail Line is officially named MAX, for Metropolitan Area Express. Typographer Designer Jeff Frane won the public contest to name the light rail line
September 5, 1986: TriMet opens its eastside MAX line
May 10, 1988: Hillsboro Transit Center and Park&Ride opens
January 1, 1989: Wilsonville, Molalla and Demascus effectively withdraw from the TriMet service District
August 1989: new electronic fare boxes introduced
August 1989: APTA names TriMet America\'s Best Transit Agency
November 6, 1990: Ballot Measure 26-1, authorizing $125 million in general obligation bonds build Westside MAX, passes by 73%
November 23, 1990: Vintage Trolley opens
June 1, 1991: Tom Walsh becomes General Manager
June 29, 1992: Bikes on TriMet introduced
October 6, 1992: TriMet signs $516-million contract with Federal Transit Administration
August 12, 1993: Westside MAX groundbreaking: "First Blast"