Portland Tram: Celebrating 10 Years

The recent snow and ice storms, which shut down much of Portland, showed just how essential the Portland Aerial Tram has become. With OHSU difficult to reach because of road conditions, the tram ran 24 hours to make sure doctors, nurses, and staff could get to work.

The tram, which opened January 28, 2007, will mark 10 years with a Community Day Celebration on Saturday with family activities, historical displays, and presentations on the construction of the tram and the future of the South Waterfront community.

"The tram has been essential to the transformation of South Waterfront into a vibrant, livable community where people can live without a car because they can walk, bike, or go by streetcar or tram," Representative Earl Blumenauer said Friday at a press conference to mark the anniversary.

Officials said the tram has been an essential element in the ability of OHSU to expand on the South Waterfront.

"Since the Tram opened 10 years ago, OHSU has added more than 4,000 jobs and invested more than $1 billion in new buildings in the South Waterfront," said OHSU Vice President for Campus Development and Administration Brian Newman.Without the rapid and reliable transportation provided by the Tram,: OHSU’s expansion to the South Waterfront would not have been possible."

Mayor Ted Wheeler said that expansion and OHSU has helped the city grow.

“It has made our economy stronger by helping us grow the downtown area and grow the bioscience jobs and talent of the future," Wheeler said.

Since opening, the tram, which goes about 22 miles per hour as it makes its 3,300-foot long trip, has provided 16 million rides - 2.1 million in 2016. The tram has an average of nearly 10,000 rides Monday to Friday.

"The tram has become vital to Portland’s transportation system," said Portland Transportation Commissioner Dan Saltzman.

Photo Brian Armada/Portland Bureau of Transportation