Trimess

Saturday, December 31, 2011

6000 MOTORCYCLES AT CENTER STREET FOR SHRINERS TOY RUN


Happy New Years

What/where is this?

Live MAX train broadcast here

Supervisors in Pow Wow in preparation of new years eve


Happy New Year

Steve Fung no longer the face of Trimet

Happy new year-be happy we don't drive buses here

VIDEO - Gunmen shooting into a Philadelphia Septa Bus | 2 Video Newscasts FoxPhillyNews - YouTube

Crazy rider alerts

6:26 AM:
#52 #67 #76 #78 52nd, 67th, 78th, 76th. PCC buses, the gates are closed for
the holiday. Will be open again on Tuesday. Use your gate closure reroutes.
6:41 AM:
#52 #67 Lines 52 & 67. The gates to PCC are open. Regular route into
College.
#76 #78 78th, 76th. PCC buses, the gates are closed for the holiday. Will be
open again on Tuesday. Use your gate closure reroutes.
7:21 AM:
#76 #78 UPDATE. Line 76, 78. PCC Sylvania gates are open Today. Please
follow regular route. thank you.
Also note that Line 44, which serves the Sylvania campus, is not included
but Line 76, which doesn't serve any campus, is (but may have been included
due to interlining).

The joys of being a bus driver.....

TRIMET SHOPLIFTER IN THE NEWS BEFORE

Catching up with TriMet's hit-and-run bus driver | OregonLive.com

FRIDAY


12 Most Innovative Bus Stop Concepts

http://www.webdesigncore.com/2011/12/15/12-most-innovative-bus-stop-concepts/

Friday, December 30, 2011

Nope-It was no rumor

 Yet another bus driver with superior intelligence. Good job HR!

TriMet bus driver suspected of shoplifting | kgw.com Portland

Happy New Year

MAX FAQ's

TRIMET MAKES THE WASHINGTON POST-FOR BAD SCHEDULING+CAUSING A DRIVERS DEATH

Hanley, who started his career driving a bus in Brooklyn in the 1970s, cited a case in 2004 where a driver in Oregon was killed when her bus rolled over her after she didn’t properly set her brake. She was running behind schedule and was racing to get to a bathroom, according to news reports. 

 Metrobus drivers say tight schedules don’t leave enough room for bathroom breaks - The Washington Post

UNFOUNDED RUMORS

A driver was arrested for shop lifting while on duty at Clackamas Town Center.
The bus was left running while the driver was taken to jail.

Lionel Rampant for Grand Poobah of the Local Union of Water Buffalos

CLICK HERE!

Joe Rose top 10

Read it here!

Hell on wheels

It's Virtually impossible to communicate to the world exactly what some TriMet drivers have to put up with during heavy downpours at night driving a TriMet antique.

These old buses, with windshield wipers that can drive you insane. They are so noisy and clunky that when you hit a red light you have to turn them off, or you have to keep adjusting the speed. 

And the noise, the bus is rattling like a something you would see in a horror movie.

The rain is leaking through the body. 

The mirrors and windows are so full of water that forms into tiny little balls, you make turns 'blind" because you can't see anything out there!

The windows are fogged because the defrosters are useless.


You can't even see where you are going never mind actually attempt to call the stops!
(watch out though, a TriMet spy may be on board)

The seat so uncomfortable, your back is hurting you.


It really is hell on wheels. 

(Wait till they make us put chains on without any snow)

YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL SATURDAY DECEMBER 31ST TO ACT


Attention all Oregon state taxpayers

Through our tax system, the State of Oregon gives each tax-paying Oregonian a $50 gift. But you can't keep it. Instead, you must either pay it back in state taxes -- or donate it to a qualified political campaign or cause.

To put it another way: By donating $50 to a political campaign of your choice, you can reduce your taxes or increase your refund by that same $50 (assuming you pay at least $50 in taxes). That's right: it's a full 100% credit, not a deduction. Better yet, if you are married, the state allows a $100 credit. I know that's small change for the Koch brothers, but it's an opportunity for the rest of us to have our say too.

For more information, check out the Oregon Department of Revenue web site: http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/2009_piti/credits_political_contributions.shtml

For your information, Suzanne Bonamici for Congress, Jobs With Justice, Move to Amend, and The Other 98% gets my donations this year.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Thursday


Stuck!


Very strange Trimet rider alert

#53 Line 53 is detoured: Regular route to blah bhal bhal bhalblah...

Where is the MAX train that crashed at Expo?

It appears that it is still out of service!

INTERSTING TRIMET COURT CASE

Deason v. TriMet :: March, 2011 :: Oregon Court of Appeals Decisions :: Oregon Case Law :: US Case Law :: US Law :: Justia

REMEMBER AUSTIN MILLER?

Miller v. Tri-Met :: February, 2011 :: Oregon Court of Appeals Decisions :: Oregon Case Law :: US Case Law :: US Law :: Justia

Did you know..............

267.130 Additional compensation prohibited. No officer or employee of the
district shall offer, solicit or accept money or any other thing of value as
a consideration, in addition to the salary paid the officer or employee by
the district, for services performed within the scope of the official duties
of the officer or employee. [1969 c.643 §13; 1971 c.23 §8]
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/267.html

Finalists for the world wide sustainable transit award

ITDP | Institute for Transportation and Development Policy : Get Involved : Sustainable Transport Award : Finalists

The police state presence on Trimet

TriMet: News Release - TriMet reports increase in citations and fare revenue since move to fare enforcement

Scene from the movie "The Hunted" featuring a bus made up to look like a MAX train


Local Funding for Public Transportation Operations: Producing Inequitable Results?

The Transport Politic

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU

Maryland Bus Crash Kills 1, Hurts Several

Portland Transport on the LO streetcar

The Non-intuitive Math of the Lake Oswego Streetcar

Argument to keep the free rail zone

Downtown's economy thrives on rails

Stalking Trimet

Suspect accused of sex abuse followed PSU student off MAX train and into university restroom, court records say | OregonLive.com

Director of Operations for TriMet’s WES

Click Here!
Commuter Rail Operations 1125|Director II Jeffrey S Lowe $151,801.47 $13,062.48 See note 1 $164,863.95

Wednesday


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Jack Bogdanski commentary

The O says, "Kill the Lake O. streetcar"

They said it the day after Christmas, when nobody would notice, but still -- they said it.
When even the O is against something shiny and Goldschmidtty, you know it's a screaming waste of money. The nattering nabobs on the Lake O. City Council can keep pushing this for Homer Williams if they like -- they may soon be rewarded by getting to spend a lot more time with their families.

JackPortlandia got the right idea

JackinPDX

Cut 10 percent off the salaries of your top 100 paid employees, you save over $1M. $5M in cuts can be done
JackinPDX

With that amount of admin, why not set an "internal efficiencies" goal of cutting $5 million?
JackinPDX

You have over 70 people with salaries over $100K, and 200 people getting more than $100K in total compensation
JackinPDX

I am a bus rider. Fares keep going up and your service keeps going down. Please don't cut any more buses, cut management/admin jobs.

Remember the driver that collapsed after driving?

Passengers noticed something strange smelling in the bus so dispatch had the driver take the bus back to the garage. The smell turned out to be a battery problem. The driver collapsed when he walked into the garage. The Trimet "safety team" told Joe Rose that his collapsing had nothing to do with the "battery problem.
Apparently that driver is still away from work.

Watch Kim Jong-il’s Can’t-Look-Away Bizarre Funeral

GAWKER
 Kim Jong-il funeral: Hysteria as cortege moves through Pyongyang snow - YouTube
 Funeral for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il begins on streets of Pyongyang 28-12-11 - YouTube

Portland A-Foot

Our December podcast: The Money Episode | Portland Afoot

Transit Commuter Tax Benefit Will Be Slashed Almost In Half January 1

HUFFINGTON POST

REDDIT

Do you think public transportation should be free? Would this help the city be 'progressive'? : Portland

PASSENGERS SUE TRANSIT DISTICT

Stranded passengers sue NYC transit agency - UPI.com

How does the cost of a car compare to the cost of Trimet?

http://pdxtransport2.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/how-does-the-cost-of-a-car-compare-to-the-cost-of-trimet/

Employee complaints

Ok so sick of some of the white shirts here at this fuckin company do they not remember what it is like to be a driver aparently not because they regulary and consistantly treat us like we are just scumbags and all we want to do is get out of work and nreak all the rules. Mabye remember what it was like when you were in these sboes with mngt regulary fucking us ebery which way come on people you people will suffer every which way we xo when it all comes down too it you people are no better tban us so its about time you start acting like it fuck just fucking disgusted by all the bullshit at this company (name removed)

Red Lines and Ticking Clocks: U.S. War Plans Against Iran

Here we go again.

Wars don’t just happen.
Before the first bomb falls disinformation specialists prepare the ground.
Leading media outlets, foreign policy journals and a plethora of think tanks funded by elite foundations, energy and weapons’ conglomerates, “right,” “left” or “center” take your pick, churn out war propaganda disguised as “analysis.”
From the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to the neoliberal Center for American Progress (CAP), rhetorical skirmishes aside, the line is remarkably similar.
Indeed, for “conservative” and “liberal” elite bloviators alike, Iran poses an “existential threat” to Israel and America’s regional “allies,” a disparate crew of land-grabbing colonizers, murderous princes and profligate potentates

http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/12/red-lines-and-ticking-clocks-u-s-war-plans-against-iran/#more-40626

A Christmas card wish list

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZw4Xh4Cj68&feature=related

Monday VLOG

Vimeo

Monday, December 26, 2011

Trimet good deeds


Steve Fung's movie of the week

Christmas week in Portland - YouTube

Pull the plug on the Lake Oswego Streetcar |

EDITORIAL HERE

Dan Christensen hits the campaign trail

End Of A Long Day - BusDriverDan - busdriverdan.org

Trimet=Phillipines?


Ms Tan said: "This is especially so for bus captains, upon whom the core of our business depends on."
Ms Tan reiterated that "special measures have been put in place" to ensure the bus drivers are not overworked. On average, its bus drivers work about nine hours each day, she said.
In recent weeks, there have been accidents involving public buses as well as news reports about bus drivers who lost their way. A female passenger is also in a coma after a bus captain allegedly hit the brakes abruptly, causing her to fall and hit her head. 

Full story is here!

More information on board member Sweitzer and her illegal parking lot

Updated post is here!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Executive bus driver restroom at Washington Square 

Christmas Card Wish at Gresham Transit Center

Take a ride on Jenkis road during christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ0GQ8pgCwU

When bus driver's strike

York transit strike goes nowhere fast

Readership this week


Friday-Monday Leave Act

Transit Manager: FMLA Abuse and Transit Operations

Why I Quit the Union – Part 1: The Last Straw

Puget Sound Operators Blog

A couple of good articles via Jeff Welch

Transit Manager blog
Human Transit: on unacceptable behavior
Day in the Life - Transit Operator - YouTube

Lane County bus santa

Does Santa drive a city bus? Sometimes

Confusing riders

#52 Due to gate closure, buses will not serve PCC Rock Creek until December 27. Transfer to line 67 for service north of 185th.  (huh?)

I wonder if anybody in management actually is aware that the gates are indeed open at PCC rock Creek.
The innner gate is closed but not the outer gate which allows access to our bus stop.


Trimet rider

A TriMet Rider: Hahaha! TriMet, you liars! I read that news articl...: Hahaha! TriMet, you liars! I read that news article and it said PORTLAND was #1 for transit, not TriMet alone!

Preferring Of Charges Facts and Questions:

Fact #1 – On November 30, 2011 a Preferring of Charges towards President Jonathan Hunt was signed by more than ten (10) members in good standing and submitted to ATU757 office. The charges were in writing and were specific. This was submitted at least thirty eight (38) days before the scheduled January 8, 2012 Union Meeting.
Fact #2 – On December 4, 2011 a Preferring of Charges towards President Jonathan Hunt was presented to President Jonathan Hunt and Financial Secretary Evette Farra (received a copy for the office) at the schedule Meeting. These charges were in writing; they were specific and were signed by more than ten (10) members in good standing in the L.U. or J.C. This was submitted at least thirty five (35) days before the scheduled January 8th, 2012 Union Meeting.
Fact #3 – As of December 24, 2011 at 3:00pm there was no postings of either charges at Center Street Garage Transportation Drivers Room Union Board or on ATU757’s website.
Fact #4 – On page 114 and 115 of Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws and located online at http://www.atu757.net/22_3.html is section 22.3 The Preferring of Charges.

Question #1 – If all the components of section 22.3 is not met can the charges be presented at the January 8, 2012 Union Meeting?
Question #2 – What stops two Preferring of Charges towards an officer that was in writing; that was specific; each was signed by more than ten (10) members in good stand of a L.U. or J.C. and was submitted with more than thirty (30) days before the January 8, 2012?
Question #3 – Is it not the duty of all officers to assure contemporaneously notice is provide to all members? (It was not done. Why?)
Question #4 – Is this not a clear example of how our officers are not assuring that our constitutional rights are being followed and protected?

Friday, December 23, 2011

OCCUPY BEDFORD FALLS


Post card from the Edge


This was my view on my way home on the train tonight.

Last time I looked I didn't go on 'Hildago'

 #44 #52 #67 #78 Buses will not serve the PCC Sylvania Main Campus through Tuesday, December 27. Board buses on SW 49th at Hildalgo.

Peacock Lane tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4RVBTV-WI

New fare box busted? Don't call us!

They have installed "refurbished" but the supervisors cannot fix them so don't call in, write a work card.  Unbelievable!
Stay off W Burnside!

Larry Hanley

A Holiday Message from International President Larry Hanley

Like all of you, I will be gathering with my family and friends during the holiday season.  During times like these I have the greatest appreciation for the work we do as a Union. I don’t have to look any further than the people that I love and care for to find the inspiration I need to do what I do.
I know it’s the same for you. They are the reason we put up with the long hours and inevitable frustrations of union work. They are the ones we fight for. They are the ones to whom we hope to give a better life. And because of them, I think there is no better work that we could do on the face of this earth.
I want to thank each and every one of you for all that you do for your members and for the Union. And I look forward to continuing to fight the good fight with you in the coming New Year.
Larry Hanley
International President

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Jason Mchuff gives his point of view on the TriMet budget

My thoughts on TriMet: the budget and more

Thursday VLOG

http://vimeo.com/34116853

It looks like route 84 will be gone sooner than Boring

TriMet: Public hearing to obtain comment on petition for withdrawal of the Boring, Oregon, area from the TriMet District

Mary Festch with Christmas scarf


Building shit that citizens don't really need

New TriMet bridge begins to take shape | kgw.com Portland

Who decked this bus out?


TRIMET MAX ON TIME PERFORMANCE TAKES A HUGE DUMP


Ridership drops?

According to the latest chart it does
But the press release shows bus riders and max riders up?
Oh yea, they use statistics from A YEAR AGO!


Watch out!

The signal timing at Hillsboro Transit Center (HTC) has raised concerns about potential conflicts between TriMet buses exiting the HTC and westbound MAX trains approaching the platform.

Transit maintenance hub planned for Wilsonville

http://djcoregon.com/news/2011/12/20/transit-maintenance-hub-planned-for-wilsonville/

Trimet celebrates its first year of its latest boondoggle

TriMet: News Release - Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge – 1 year milestone

BOB FOSTER IS SANTA BOB!


NEWS ARTICLE HERE!
KGW STORY HERE 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

More stuff that Trimet management can't do

TriMet UIC and Stormwater Program Support, Merlo Garage Stormwater Management Plan, TRI-MET

WES advertising

TriMet: Ride WES | Funnelbox Production Studios

Wednesday Vlog

Part 1
Part 2

Safety is a value (equipment excluded)

The lift got stuck today, I had to get out of the bus and push it in while a passenger pushed the power button. I strained my back.

False advertising still on buses


BUS DRIVER LOSES HIS COOL THEN HIS JOB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWXyqaR01TI

OPAL STARTS "BUS STOP POP"

BRU-Logo-HD-color
Join us at our 1st Bus Stop POP!
TODAY Wednesday Dec 21st | 4:00-6:30 PM
SE corner of 82nd and Powell (Carl Jr's parking lot)


Bus Stop POP! Is a form of community education and reclamation that turns neglected bus stops into the center of community celebration. At least once per month EPBS Project will POP up at a bus stop in East Portland that needs some community love. We’ll offer riders hot beverages, snacks, information about the project and OPAL and an opportunity to reclaim the bus stop as community space through active participation. Bus Stop POP is about having fun and building community!
Meet at 4pm at the SE corner of 82nd and Powell (Carl’s Jr. parking lot) today!
 
snowflakeOPAL Community Holiday Party Tonight!
Wednesday Dec 21st | 7:00-9:00 PM

MAX FAQS TACKLES THE 'BUDGET CHOICES'

There is an anticipated $12-17 million shortfall in TriMet’s operating budget for next year. In response, we’re given a false dilemma of a survey (as OPAL put it, “big fare hikes or really big fare hikes!”) where we’re presented with the illusion of choice on “some of the options” being considered – you’re not given all the options, just a few of them. Then after you’re done deciding how much service you want to cut and how high fares should increase (since you absolutely have to pick those to meet the $17 million mark), you can submit your answers to TriMet.
Funny, for it being our core business and what we are striving to preserve, it seems to be the first place we’re looking to cut.
But okay, YOU said it. Now I’m going to hold you to it
.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
HERE! 

HOUSE SPEAKER BOEHNER CUTTING UNEMPLOYMENT

Please call Speaker Boehner at 202-225-0600. Tell the person who picks up the phone: “Speaker Boehner should be ashamed of himself. He needs to get his House in order, stop the partisan games and extend unemployment aid immediately.”

Ron Heinzman vs ATU international

Court decision here!

TUESDAY VLOG


PART 1
PART 2

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Alan Eisenberg makes TriMet bus shelters!

Click Here!

TRIMET'S SMOKE AND MIRRORS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEES


People that know me understand that over the past years I have spent quite a bit of time studying Trimet management and the intricacies of their operation.

I associate with others that also have spent a great deal of time studying the operations of Trimet, we have together sort of a “Trimet club” so to speak.

The blog that I am associated with is not just my material; the things you see on that blog are actually supplied by quite a few other people besides me.
Any subject matter that you study over a period of time gives that person an unique insight into that particular topic.

So I consider myself somewhat of a “authority” at evaluating Trimet policies and public statements.
That is why I think it’s a fairly safe bet that the new “budget crisis” is just another smoke and mirrors campaign dreamed up by the executives of this organization then foisted on the public and the employees.

Think back to the first round of “crisis”, remember, the threatened “lay offs”, the “furloughs”, the “demotions”. 

There was no new bus drivers hired for two years. (Alas the management continued growing however)
Remember all the gnashing of teeth during that time, I sure do.
Then not too long ago “everything was ok again”.
All the demoted personnel were once again promoted back to their original ‘white shirted’ positions, a whole slew of ‘top executives’ were hired, and bus operators were once again being hired in mass.
Now here we are again, back to the ‘we are going to be in a budget crunch’.

Either the management is completely incompetent, or they are intentionally manipulating public opinion.
I pick the latter. I said after the first round of cuts that this would not be the end of the cuts, meaning the bus cuts, and it appears that I was correct.

The unemployment picture is supposedly better than it had been, but now they are facing another ‘crisis’.
I think they are facing a crisis alright, a crisis of ‘expansion management’.

Fred Hansen came in here and along with Neil MacFarlane decided this transit agency was now going to be a method of “economic development” and social engineering. Getting people to where they needed to go became secondary.

The planners also miscalculated when considering available tax revenue. Apparently they thought that tax revenue would continue growing each and every year to god knows when.

The fact that all of a sudden tax revenue missed projections hit them by surprise.
In 1991 Trimet received $82,549,119 in employment taxes
In 2010 that figure was $236,022,862.
That’s about a 300% increase in revenue in ten years.

With three times the amount of revenue available  10 years ago, they now are preaching “we are in trouble” to the public and the employees.
So who’s really to blame in the current crisis?
Obviously management bungling has created the crisis, the more money they get the more money they spend.
The lame attempt to blame it all on union health benefits is pathetic.

This latest public relations ‘tool’ that was developed by the Trimet ministry of propaganda is nothing but more bullshit coming from an agency that has become expert in slinging the bullshit.
Who knows what the truth really is.

No more savings bonds

 As you may have heard, the US government has decided to stop selling paper savings bonds, effective January 1, 2012. TriMet therefore has to change the NSC Safe Driving Award and Operator of the Year programs, which have in the past awarded paper savings bonds. A team of Finance and Operations staff determined that the best approach was to put the money in the employee’s paycheck. That way, employees get the money sooner and can spend or invest it as they choose—including by buying electronic savings bonds from treasurydirect.gov.
Here’s the bottom line: The value of financial awards through these two programs will not change, but the format will, effective January 1, 2012.

Jason Barbur appears at Beaverton Transit Center

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzcrKr8gnOU

Contract side letters

It's more than interesting that our current union contract contains numerous 'side letters' that are not available for members to inspect. The contract is available to us, so why aren't the side letters available?

Interesting



BUS DRIVERS IN MUMBAI FACING PERSECUTION (sound familiar?)

More than 3000 school buses, catering to around 400 schools in the city, will stay off the roads on Tuesday to protest the stringent rules drawn up by the Regional Transport Authority and the subsequent harassment they have been facing from both authorities and political parties.

FULL STORY HERE 

NY MTA's board shaken up by two board members revolutionary proposal

The proposal by Pally and fellow board member Allen Capelli represents less than a quarter of the $93 million in service cuts the MTA made in June 2010, when it killed two subway lines and 36 bus routes. The pair say the MTA can still cut hundreds of non-transportation positions to help fund much-needed service.

FULL STORY IS HERE!

TriMet management should check into this

Public transport ‘should emulate the Apple approach’ | TXNews | Transport News

Last years momumental transit foul ups during NE blizzard

Boy this sure sounds somewhat familiar doesn't it, those of us that were here in 2008:

Assistant general managers at three southern Brooklyn depots said they knew many of the buses sent out into the storm were getting stuck. But they kept dispatching buses because they lacked authority to change service schedules. When the bus division’s radio system crashed, some bus drivers who got stuck in the storm didn’t use their personal cell phones to call supervisors. They told investigators they believe NYC Transit rules prohibiting drivers from using cell phones remained in effect under any conditions.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/transit-foulups-worse-thought-2010-blizzard-storm-article-1.994196#ixzz1h5pflpf6

Bear-bearing bikers take new path to Shriners’ Hospital

A full-sized TriMet bus was packed, front to back, with new toys, destined for the Portland Shriners’ Hospital for Children. Story is Here!

Could You Live With The Guilt of Knowing You Caused an Accident?

Lars Larson

Help Jack raise money for charity

Click here-each click will raise $1 for charity

Monday, December 19, 2011

VLOG-Monday

Part 1
Part 2

Teen flashes gun at 2 MAX riders in Gresham

STORY HERE!

North Koreans lose their minds

Watch the Unnerving Mass Hysteria of 'Mourning' North Koreans

ATU 757 responds to TRIMET budget issues

As we have seen and heard for the past couple years now, TriMet has claimed financial impairment. Even though TriMet’s ridership has increased significantly by recent reports, TriMet’s General Manager Neil McFarlane recently made a plea to the public, asking for ideas and suggestions as to how TriMet can save taxpayer dollars. TriMet claims it is facing a 2013 budget shortfall of 12 to 17 million dollars. One thing TriMet and General Manager McFarlane didn’t tell the public, is that they could save multi-millions of taxpayer dollars annually, right now, on their own.

New Bus Dispatch System Coming in 2012

Back in 1997, TriMet was one of the first transit agencies to deploy an advanced CAD/AVL (computer aided dispatch/automatic vehicle locator) system. As it approaches its fifteenth year of service, this system—which we call BDS (bus dispatch system)-is far from “state of the art.” In fact, the BDS is incapable of complying with a pending Federal Communication Commission (FCC) mandate. So beyond old age, the BDS needs to be replaced to meet FCC requirements. The new equipment on board the bus will be different but the basic function—sending and receiving voice calls and text message to/from Dispatch—will be the same as the current BDS; and the menu is designed to be intuitive and similar to the existing system. Like the existing BDS, the new system will also provide Dispatch with information on the location of your bus and its status (e.g. late, early, on/off route, etc.). The new BDS will be rolled out on TriMet buses in 2012. Operator training will begin in February 2012. Merlo garage operators will be the first to be trained and the first to operate the new BDS. By the end of April, initial training of all operators should be completed.

Merlo Garage Employee party

CLICK HERE!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

THE MARY FESTCH SHOW

OPAL weighs in

OPAL Oregon
TriMet wants to know what you prefer: big fare hikes or really big fare hikes? You decide!

COOL BUS CHANNEL 18

Part 1
Part 2

$155K-Where's Harry?

He shows up for a little while at the board meetings, slinks out the back door, and he's produced one useless piece of bureaucratic bullshit. What a waste of money.
We have a 'culture' problem at Trimet, let's hire the same guy who
created the unsafe culture!
BRILLIANT!

Heart warming story not transit related

CLICK HERE!

This company is SICK

We have all heard of the poor passenger WHO WAS HURT riding bus 9 when a bicyclist cut off the bus.
Trimet says they are "not responsible" to pay for damages when its not a case of negligence.
SO WHAT? Reach into that pot of gold and DO THE RIGHT THING FOR ONCE and pay the guys (and whoever else) medical expenses!
I have very little doubt that a good lawyer could easily beat them in court on this.
Maybe David Sale's lawyer for example.


Punkrawkers year in review!

Alas no Trimet stuff but some familiar faces and another great visual production!

India says animals have rights of compensation in road accidents

The Hindu : News / National : Animals also entitled to accident compensation, says Supreme Court

Risks of being a bus driver-JAIL-do you really want this job?

Bus Driver Charged Over Bus Injury | Stuff.co.nz

Punkrawker

punkrawker blogs on: West Coast Express

Readership this week

United States-3,388
United Kingdom-362
Russia-149
Germany-106
Switzerland-66
India-43
China-34
France-26
Ukraine-21
Netherlands-20

If this software is so great why do they spend millions on Capital Projects managers

Click Here!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Miscellaneous

Robertson Tunnel - YouTube
 Tri Met Scam - YouTube
 “Working With TriMet” Coffee Klatch | Neighbors West-Northwest
 Form TM-V, TriMet Self-Employment Tax Payment Voucher ...

42,000+ people

Have watched the Associated Press version of the Claudine video!

Santa is my follower on the #12 all week


My buddy,Roger Adams, was lookin' good today.

C-Tran hears of flawed layout at bus stop site

STORY HERE!

TRIMET BOARD MEMBER TIFFANY SWIETZER RUNNING ILLEGAL PARKING LOT

The TRIBUNE has published a story which implicates one of our BOARD MEMBERS in the operation of an illegal parking lot.


What's wrong with Tiffany Sweitzer?
 For the last four meetings she has left the meetings as soon as the public testimony begins. We are sure she is a very busy woman, but never hanging around to hear the public comments shows a complete lack of empathy for the transit riding population. If she feels she is too busy to actually attend the meetings to the end then maybe she should resign or be replaced.


http://www.portlandmaps.com/detail.cfm?folder=2754670&propertyid=R541382&action=

Permits I'm not sure it's known why it wasn't pursued back in 2008. There's some other complaints for overgrowth and weeds, too. Overall, I think the real problem may be that properties with no buildings on them get charged at a low rate. This means that owners can be discouraged from building, and that the carrying cost is low. Specifically, taxes on the lot are only about $12,000. Even if that is for only a quarter of the block, it just requires 10 cars @ $100 a month (which is what I think the rate was) to pay for them. http://www.portlandmaps.com/detail.cfm?propertyid=R541382&action=Assessor

Portland's smallest park now Occupied


Mills End Park. Peaceful so far, though one protester was arrested.

RTD PUBLISHES ITS PRIORITIES FOR ITS TRANSIT SYSTEM

RTD | Our Priorities
Safe service Your safety is our top priority.
On-time scheduled service RTD riders expect and deserve on-time service. If your service is delayed more than 30 minutes and the delay was not caused by inclement weather, unplanned traffic or an event beyond RTD’s control, we’ll compensate you with a free ride coupon.
Exceptional customer service We want you to be satisfied with every trip you take on RTD, plain and simple.
Clean vehicles We promise that all of our vehicles will be clean and ready to take you to your destination.
Clear communication We promise to listen to you and respond to all of your inquiries.

Ross Wrede said... TriMet's List of Priorities 1) Create corporate welfare for construction companies, real estate developers, and multinational transit companies. 2) Build rail lines where no one wants to go. 3) Create a bloated multi-layered administrative staff at inflated six figure salaries. 1001) Provide bus service with old, dirty, unreliable equipment for those poor slobs that aren't lucky enough to be near rail service. Saturday, December 17, 2011 5:17:00 PM

What did I do to deserve the historic (old) plastic seats on the bus today? What did I ever do to you, #TriMet?

http://twitpic.com/7t72af

The pattern on the seats on TriMet busses

CLICK THIS!

Haha!

Eric Wittlake
Irony: Lady drove her car right into caution tape roping off a section of the Trimet parking lot.

TRIMET director of MARKETING


(Steve Fung should have this job)

Should we have camera's with audio pointed at us?

There is a discussion going on at a Facebook group regarding audio/visual recording of operators. I for one SUPPORT the use of audio/video in our buses. I did it voluntarily for about a year before the country got hysterical about things like that. It will be much more useful to us than harmful against us. As long as operators have access to files and the rules are clearly defined then I support audio/video on operators.

Trimet appoints new General Manager and Communications executive

Bob Foster as General Manager/Steve Fung as communications exec

24 Common-Sense Ways TriMet can Reduce it's budget - WITHOUT NEW TAXES

In light of the budget crapola that TriMet is rolling out it's time to revisit THIS.

Merlo Garage Christmas party