The Portland metropolitan area has the typical transportation services common to major U.S. cities, though Oregon's emphasis on proactive land-use planning and transit-oriented development within the urban growth boundary means that commuters have multiple well-developed options. In fact, Portland is well-known for its comprehensive public transportation system. TriMet operates most of the region's buses and the Metropolitan Area Express, or MAX, light rail system, which connects the city and suburbs. 5th and 6th avenues are the Portland Transit Mall, an exclusive bus-only right of way running north/south through downtown. Try using PortlandMaps to find transportation options located near an address you enter.
How Long is the Commute?
Use the Mapquest map below to see where your property of interest is in relation to city center Portland. You will instantly be able to see driving directions, estimated travel time and a highlighted map from your destination to downtown. Simply enter the address you wish to locate and click on "Get Directions".
I-5 (Interstate Hwy) connects Portland with the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, and California to the South and with Washington to the North. I-405 forms a loop with I-5 around the central downtown area of the city and I-205 is a beltway on the East side which connects to the airport. US Hwy. 26 supports commuting within the metro area and continues to the Pacific Ocean Westward and Mount Hood and Central Oregon Eastward. US Hwy. 30 has a main, bypass and business route throuth the city extending to Astoria, Oregon to the West; through Gresham, Oregon, and the Eastern suburbs, and connects to I-84, traveling towards Boise, Idaho.
Portland's main airport is Portland International Airport, located about 20 minutes by car (40 minutes by MAX) Northeast of downtown.
For the most part, Portland's streets are arranged in a traditional grid-like pattern, with a few diagonal streets connecting various sections of the city and suburbs, and numerous bridges across the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Car sharing through Flexcar is also available to residents of downtown and nearby neighborhoods. Carpooling is encouraged with designated lanes.
Portlanders have other transportation alternatives. The Portland Streetcar operates from the southern waterfront, through Portland State University north to nearby homes and shopping districts.
The city is particularly supportive of urban bicycling and has been recognized and praised by the League of American Bicyclists among others for its network of paths and other bicycle-friendly services. Commuter rail planning is being finalized, and a planned aerial tram connecting the Southwest waterfront and Oregon Health Science University (OHSU).
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Ted Harris • Realtor® • NWsold.com • NWsold@gmail.com • Cell: 503-936-4468 Real Estate Agent Serving the Greater Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area
