Keeping our buses clean and ready to roll into service helps create a comfortable and consistent experience for our riders. Before our buses even hit the road, there’s a team working hard to help keep them looking good, in top shape and fueled for service. From deep cleaning to fueling vehicles, TriMet’s Bus Maintenance service workers are the behind-the-scenes heroes doing this important work every single day.
Though they number just under 100, our Bus Maintenance service workers move their way through a cleaning checklist for every bus they work on, every day, from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. at our Center, Merlo and Powell garages. It’s demanding work on a tight schedule that requires consistency and dedication. Here’s what our Bus Maintenance service workers do daily to ensure every bus is clean and ready for service.
Step one: the arrival
When the operator finishes their route, or what we refer to as a run, they return to the garage and pull into the bus “yard.” The operator will submit a report if they noticed any issues with the bus during their shift. Before the bus is cleaned and fueled, we check a database to see if the bus is due for maintenance. If it needs maintenance, we do that after it’s cleaned, fueled and washed.
Step two: cleaning
Next, service workers don protective gear as buses are refueled and their coolant and oil levels are checked. Then, the workers shift into a clean sweep, walking the interior of the bus, looking for and removing trash, and folding up the seats in the priority seating area. They use brooms, vacuums and other tools to remove dust and debris. Seats get wiped down and treated with a disinfectant. Finally, they clean up spills, mop the floor and wipe down the dashboard of the bus as well as the operator safety panel doors and glass.
Separate from that, buses are deep cleaned every few weeks. Like detailing your car, this is a very detail-oriented process where every surface, nook and cranny is inspected and wiped down, seats are disinfected, window frames are cleaned, the floor is scrubbed and surfaces are polished. It takes our service workers about three hours to complete this top-to-bottom deep cleaning for each bus.
Step three: the bus gets a bath
After being cleaned, the bus rolls into what we call a “wash rack,” which is like a car wash but much larger. In the wash rack, there is no track that moves the vehicle forward, so our service workers manually drive the buses through the wash rack as the exterior is thoroughly washed. This takes about three minutes.
Once the bus is sparkling clean, it gets any required maintenance. If it doesn’t need any, it’s ready for service.
Cleanliness matters
At the end of the day, having clean buses and a clean system matters, and it doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of hard work and dedication from our Bus Maintenance service workers to keep our buses clean and welcoming. They’re helping to give riders a consistent experience of riding on clean buses, and we’re extremely grateful for their dedication.
See something? Say something!
If you see something on a bus, MAX train or anywhere on our system that needs our attention, call or text us at 503-231-7433 (RIDE). You can text us photos if you like. Also, providing details including the vehicle number and line number are also helpful. Let us know, we’ll check it out!
Rider tip: Be sure to add 503-231-7433 (RIDE) to your contacts so you can reach out to us about cleanliness or safety on board.