As TriMet celebrates the completion of the Division Transit Project, three separate but connected public events will occur Saturday, Sept. 17, from noon until 5 p.m. along Southeast Division from Portland to Gresham. “We’re looking forward to this fun, free and family-friendly celebration as we commemorate our newest bus line,” said Chris Finks, marketing manager at TriMet. “Each location will have a mini-festival feel that highlights the nearby neighborhoods. There will be live music, food, family entertainment and a large, interactive paint-by-numbers mural.”
Gresham Farmers’ Market is one of the largest markets in the region that features local produce, fruit, flowers, nursery stock, handcrafted food items and more. This site will feature live music performances, including the accordion quartet Paper Bellows and the Americana sounds of the JT Trawick Band. For people riding the FX bus and getting off at Gresham Central Transit Center, a special trolley and vintage bus will transport people to the farmers’ market.
FX2-Division is TriMet's new high-capacity bus service along Division Street in Southeast Portland.
TriMet’s new articulated bright-green Frequent Express buses — FX2-Division is the official line name — will offer free rides up and down the Division Street corridor from noon until 6 p.m., about every 15 minutes. There are special incentives to visit each event location, too. People who visit at least two of the three locations can earn prizes such as a Salt & Straw 2-for-1 ice cream certificate for its Southeast Division location, a one-of-a-kind FX bus LEGO set sourced by Bricks & Minifigs, or limited-edition event posters created by artist Paul Lanquist.
There will be a chance for attendees to participate in a large paint-by-numbers activity at each of the three event locations. Local artist Angelina Marino-Heidel has created three individual large panels and people can help paint the mural on Sept. 17. Following the event, the mural panels will come together as one image and eventually be installed this fall on the corner of the Cascadia Health building at Southeast 42nd and Division.