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Directions to PSU
Light Rail Construction
Light Rail construction on 5th and 6th avenues is a shifting scene of disruption, making access by car to PSU even more problematic than usual. The project website has up to date information on how to get around the construction and where the current blockages are.
Access by Public TransportationFrom anywhere in downtown, the best way to get to PSU is by the Tri-Met bus. Parking on the campus is limited. Within the downtown area bounded by Burnside on the North, I-405 on the West and South and the Willamette River on the East, the busses are free. 5th and 6th Aves. are major bus routes. Any bus on 6th Ave. will be going downtown. On 5th Ave., bus numbers 1, 8, 9, 12, 17, 19, 40, 45 and 55 go to PSU. (The number 8 crosses over to Broadway and stops at Broadway and Montgomery in front of the PSU Student Union, the Smith Center.) The MAX light rail serves Eastern Portland (with stops at the convention center) and intersects both the 5th and 6th Ave. routes. Most bus routes in the Portland area operate through downtown. Fares are moderate, in the neighborhood of two dollars for three zones. Drivers do not make change. Discounted tickets are available at many locations. Tickets are good on busses and on the MAX with unlimited transfers within a time period from first boarding. The MAX light rail goes between the airport and downtown (2 zones) and runs every 15 minutes or so during the day on weekdays and at least every half hour on weekday evenings and weekends. From the MAX stop the busses listed above go to PSU.
PSU by CarParking is at a premium. Street parking is metered and unavailable during much of the day. Parking is available in a garage attached to our building. The garage entrance is on Fourth Avenue south of the City's tower at 1900 SW 4th Ave. The department will stamp the parking slip for invited guests; otherwise the fee is $10. PSU has limited visitor parking in its other parking garages. Some public parking is available at meters, or you can arrange in advance with the department for a guest permit. The garage between 12th, 13th, Market, and Montgomery is usually the last to fill up. There is also a pay lot across the street from our building. With this warning, directions are:
From the EastTake I-84 into Portland. Keep to the left and follow signs for I-5 South to Salem when I-84 ends. This will take you over the river on an elevated bridge structure, the Marquam Bridge. Keep to the left on the bridge and take the left exit to I-405. Signs will also say US-26, City Center, and Beaverton. As soon as you have exited from I-5, move right and take the 4th Ave. exit. The parking garage entrance will be on your right soon after you get onto 4th Ave.
From the WestTake US-26, the sunset highway, in from Beaverton, Aloha, and points west. Get in the center lane as you enter the tunnel. Just after the tunnel, take the Market street exit. If you are parking in the 12th Ave. garage, take the first right (13th Ave) and turn left into the garage. If you are going to Fourth Avenue, follow Market across campus to 5th Ave. Turn right on 5th, cross Mill and Montgomery and continue to College. Go left on College; the parking garage will be almost directly in front of you.
From the SouthTake I-5 North to Portland. Exit at exit #299B which is the City Center / Beaverton exit. This puts you on I-405. You enter I-405 from the left. Move right as quickly as possible and take the 4th Ave. exit. Follow the directions for the East approach above.
From the NorthYou have two choices. The first is to follow I-5 south towards Salem past its junction with I-84 and proceed as if coming from the East. The second is to take I-405 South across the Fremont Bridge and around the West side of the campus. If you do this, take exit #1C. Cross Broadway and take an acute left onto 6th Ave., cross over I-405 and follow the directions as though coming from the East. This approach also works if you are coming into the city on US-30 from the West, i.e. from Astoria, OR or Longview, WA. Get on I-405 from US-30 and follow the above.
To and from the AirportFollow the airport exit signs to the freeways. Take I-205 South towards Salem. Exit on I-84 west, the second I-84 exit. Proceed to PSU as from the east.
Getting out of PSU is somewhat more difficult. Plan 1 is to go up 5th Ave., bear left off 5th onto I-405 north, merge onto I-5 north, cross the river and exit onto I-84 east. Plan 2 is to get on Broadway, cross over I-405, go left for a block then acutely left on 6th Ave, staying in the left lane to enter I-405 north. Follow I-405 north across the river, getting into the far left lane on the bridge. Take the left exit that will be identified variously as US-30 east, I-84 east, and I-5 south. Merge onto I-5 southbound. Take the I-84 east exit from I-5. Once on I-84, proceed to I-205 and take I-205 north (second I-205 exit). Follow signs to the Portland Airport. Plan 1 is generally the best unless there is bridge construction.