that allows MAX riders to view real-time train arrival times last week at the Rose Quarter was going 80 mph and flipped end over end, the agency said Tuesday morning.

Informed that they will be riding without the help of real-time trip planning for three weeks or longer, the Portland area’s light-rail commuters have asked why TriMet didn’t do a better job of protecting crucial communication gear.

The TransitTracker equipment was housed in a dark blue metal box on the sidewalk near the corner of Northeast First Avenue and Holladay Street.

Here’s a sampling of what they’re saying on Twitter:

@lyspeth, @pdxcommute still trying to understand how the car ended up beyond max tracks here. Need bollards maybe? — Steve 💨 (@Intersection911) October 9, 2012

Meanwhile, Matt Seeman tweeted:

Based on bent and dislodged metal railing in a photo of the crash scene, TriMet spokeswoman Roberta Altstadt speculated that there was some sort of barrier.

However, images of the street corner taken by Google Maps a year ago show the railing was actually on the edge of the MAX platform at the Rose Quarter station. From all appearances, it was part of what TriMet workers call “the corral,” designating where riders are required to have paid fare and helping to funnel them safely to trains after concerts and sporting events.

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The

equipment box, meanwhile, is completely exposed to vehicles jumping the curb.

Altstadt said it’s not clear why engineers left crucial (and aging) communications equipment exposed near a heavily travelled intersection.

The crash took place Thursday and repair crews had hoped to replace the equipment right away to get TransitTracker for MAX back online. But in trying to do so, they found out that replacement parts for the device that was damaged are no longer available.

Now, Oregon’s largest transit agency is scrambling to find new equipment that will work with the system and then integrate it with the system.

Even then, Alstadt said, it's impossible to say exactly when the system will be back on line "because we've got to get it to talk to our equipment" once the new technology is installed.

In the meantime, TriMet's online trip planner will display scheduled arrival times for all the stops in the system. It will not, however, adjust for variations, as does TransitTracker.

Not surprisingly,

@mkurfis @pdxcommute what with the new Streetcar line also not giving real-time arrivals, at least the busses work! — PDX Bus iPhone app (@pdxbus) October 9, 2012

The crash has not effected TransitTracker for buses.

Portland police say the driver of the car suffered from a “medical situation” that caused him to lose control of his vehicle. He was reportedly transported with minor injured to a local hospital. “There are no citations or reports,” said Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson.

In other headlines:

From the ever-vigilant bike-helmet cam of Southwest Portland commuter Andrew Holtz, an SUV driver suffers some instant karma for trying an illegal U-turn at the Sylvan interchange:

Bike Portland:

Ars Technica:

How We Roll:

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