Optibus, a leading provider of software solutions for planning and operating more efficient and sustainable public transportation, is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. The move emphasizes Optibus' commitment to the vibrant city of Portland and its dedication to supporting the revitalization of the downtown area following challenges posed by the pandemic.
Optibus established a presence in Portland with its acquisition of Trillium, a leader in passenger information systems, in 2022. From their downtown Portland office, Trillium has been working with public transportation agencies and departments of transportation (DoTs) across the US for fourteen years to improve real-time and digital communication about services. Local Oregon transportation operators including the Tillamook County Transportation District, Hood River County Transportation District, South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) in Wilsonville, Sandy Area Metro, as well as the Oregon Department of Transportation, are among the 350 agencies that work with Trillium.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on the redesigned office was held on Monday, October 16. The opening of the new Portland office represents Optibus' and Trillium’s continued commitment to providing cities like Portland with innovative solutions to transportation challenges. The companies’ dual commitment to sustainable mobility aligns with Portland's own efforts to reduce emissions. The Portland City Council has set a deadline to reach net-zero carbon by 2050 and in 2023, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) was awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation SMART grant to pilot a Zero Emission Delivery Zone.
A member of Business for a Better Portland, Trillium, alongside Optibus, is committed to shaping the future of sustainable, inclusive public transportation in Portland. The revamped Portland office will act as Optibus’ hub for its Trillium passenger information services. The office’s twenty-person staff includes experts in schedule and real-time transit data, web design, interactive information systems, and more, who work to ensure public transportation is accessible to all.
Featured from left to right: Estelle Keaton, Full-Stack Developer; Rodrigo Pedraza, Trillium - QA Engineer; Lisa Nguyen, Trillium Team Lead; Leslie Langley, Trillium - Senior Project Manager.
"Photo credit: Trang Nguyen."
Efficient, sustainable public transportation is just one key element of a vibrant downtown. Active and engaged community members are also a key part of the city’s fabric. The Trillium team supports the revival of downtown Portland by volunteering at local non-profits such as Kindness Farm, an immigrant, refugee, and queer-led nonprofit farm in southeast Portland that enables equitable access to healthy produce and provides food education, where they held a volunteering event to mark the office reopening.
"Our vision is to empower cities with the tools they need to create reliable, equitable, and sustainable public transportation systems. By being on the ground in the areas where we work, we commit ourselves to working hand-in-hand with operators, agencies, and cities to develop technology that addresses operational challenges and makes it easier to decarbonize transportation,” said Amos Haggiag, co-founder and CEO of Optibus.
"We are proud to recommit our role in the community and to contribute to the city's downtown resurgence with the re-opening of our Portland office. We look forward to continuing to work closely with local stakeholders and help Portland achieve its sustainability goals,” said Aaron Antrim, Trillium founder and Optibus advisor.
Optibus' new office is located in the Board of Trade building at 310 SW Fourth Street near Pioneer Courthouse Square. The location benefits from abundant public transit access and is one block away from MAX light rail.
Mural by Skinny Ships through the Portland Street Art Alliance.
