International Student Services: Public Transportation

Portland is blessed with a good public transportation system enabling students without automobiles to easily commute throughout the Portland area.  For long distance traveling the Amtrak train station and international airport are conveniently located and accessible by bus or the Max light rail system from UP.  

Trimet Bus, Streetcar, and Max light rail

UP is served by two bus routes, the Number 35 and the Number 44.  Both of these routes provide students with direct service to downtown or to the Rose Garden transit center. You can board the No. 44 bus on Willamette Blvd just behind Shipstad Hall at the main entrance to UP. The stop for the No. 35 bus is located on Portsmouth Ave, across from the Chiles Center and near the University Village. (Campus Map) You can purchase a book of 10 tickets or you can buy a discounted monthly pass for students if you plan to take frequent trips on the bus, streetcar, or Max system. Tickets or monthly passes are available at the Information Desk in the Pilot House or at the Office of Public Safety.  Bus schedules, routes, and an on-line trip planning tool can be found at the Tri-Met website.

Greyhound Bus and Amtrak Train

If you would like to visit other cities around the United States you have the option of traveling by plane, train, or bus.  The Greyhound Bus is currently the main bus line in America, and often services smaller towns which are not accessible by train.

In comparison, trains are usually faster, more comfortable, and about the same price as buses.  However, the passenger train system is limited in the United States, and you may find at times you may need to take both the bus and train in order to reach obscure locations.  Amtrak is aware of this complication, and when planning a trip to a destination in which you must take the bus for a limited distance Amtrak will schedule and include this in your reservation.

For more information about times, routes, and student discounts, visit their websites linked above.