Because MAX is on rails it can and does come to a complete halt for indefinite periods of time whenever some jackass in an Escalade parks it on the track. I know this firsthand and I only lived in Portland for one month.

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QuercusMax 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Are you sure you're not thinking of the Portland streetcar? Max does not have nearly the same issues.

	▲	persona_reuse 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		MAX has dedicated right-of-way outside the city centers, but in the cities it shares city streets. Tourists drive / stop-at-lights in the dedicated lanes a lot. Streetcar is more susceptible to being stopped because someone parked over the white line, but with 20 minute headways it takes longer to cause a problem.