(March 15, 2020) – With direction from Gov. Kate Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler on limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Oregon Health & Science University today announced temporary limits to service on the Portland Aerial Tram.
Pursuant to an order by Portland Transportation Director Chris Warner, the following limits are effective for one week: Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 22.
- The tram will be limited to essential travel to OHSU. Riders should be prepared for long waits.
- Starting Monday, the tram will halt all ticket sales to the public.
- Tram operators will not allow more than 20 people at a time to ride in each of the two cabins, down from a normal capacity of 79 people per cabin. This is intended to enable passengers and tram operators to implement the social distancing guidance the governor and public health officials have established.
- Shuttle buses will run from the Center for Health and Healing in South Waterfront to the Kohler Pavilion form 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
During the temporary service limits, the following fare types will be honored:
- OHSU Identification Cards
- OHSU Patient Fare Tickets
- OHSU Family Fare Tickets
- VA Employee ID
- Shriners Employee ID
- Courtesy Tickets
- Military, Retired and Veteran Identification Cards
- March Wellness Member Cards
- Tram Annual Pass
Members of the public seeking to access OHSU's Marquam Hill campus should consider other transportation alternatives, and plan for longer travel time gobytram.com/alternatives
OHSU is restricting visitors to no more than two healthy people older than 16 per day. More info here: https://www.ohsu.edu/health/coronavirus-resources
The limits will be extended and modified as needed to address the current situation we navigate this unprecedented time.
The Portland Aerial Tram is owned by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Transportation and operated by OHSU. It opened to the public on Jan. 27, 2007. The cabins, named Walt and Jean, travel 3,300 linear feet between the South Waterfront terminal adjacent to the OHSU Center for Health & Healing and the upper terminal at the Kohler Pavilion on OHSU's main campus. Traveling at 22 miles per hour, the tram cabins rise 500 feet for the three-minute trip over I-5, the Lair Hill neighborhood and the Southwest Terwilliger Parkway. The Portland Aerial Tram provides an average 45,000 rides on weekdays, with about 85 percent of riders visiting OHSU and 15 percent members of the general public and tourists. Visit gobytram.com. Find the tram on Twitter @PortlandTram and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/portlandaerialtram.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation