TRIMET EXECUTIVES HAVE THE ETHICS OF A SQUID

More from the Western Front

2012-02-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

80 degrees,slight nw tradewind,sunny and very little people.Hmmm...a great vacation spot!

Haha!

2012-02-01T18:46:00.001-08:00

This is to confirm that TriMet has received your request and it will be reviewed by our General Counsel. She was out of the office last week and returned yesterday. We expect to have a response for you early next week.

$17 million short? GOD THEY GOT NERVE

2012-02-01T14:49:00.001-08:00

Job Title:	Director, Business Programs
Closing Date/Time:	Fri. 02/10/12 5:00 PM Pacific Time
Salary:	$7,442.08 - $9,302.58 Monthly $89,305.00 - $111,631.00 Annually
Job Type:	Non-Union Regular Full-Time
Location:	4012 SE 17th Avenue, Portland, Oregon

CLIPS FROM AROUND THE TRIMET SYSTEM

2012-02-01T14:34:00.001-08:00

HOW TO RIDE METRO BUS FREE-JEFF WELCH

2012-02-01T14:04:00.000-08:00

: *How to Ride Metro Buses for Free « PSTO News; Metro’s Ride Free Area

Ride Free Area Not Limited to Downtown Seattle
While King County Metro has maintained a “ride free area” (RFA) in the Central Business District (CBD) since 1973, the RFA is slated to come to an end later this year and Metro will begin a universal “pay as you enter” system. No more will passengers be permitted to board Metro coaches without paying.
So called “fare evasion” is the practice of riding a bus where fares or valid passes are required – without presenting a valid pass or fare. In some cases the passenger has realized that they left their pass at home, or makes an honest error. In many more cases however fare evasion is the deliberate act of a passenger wishing to make use of public transportation without paying the fare – either due to inconvenience (I don’t have change right now), entitlement (I pay taxes already), or outright disregard for the law (I just don’t feel like it).

Regardless of the reason given – Metro drivers are instructed (appropriately) to not engage in “fare disputes” with those who fail to present a valid pass or transfer or to pay the correct fare. A majority of assaults on bus Operators begin as arguments over a passenger not paying the correct fare. Unfortunately, Metro provides little guidance on how to deal with deliberate fare evaders beyond “state the correct fare – once – and only if you’re comfortable doing so”. Metro does not instruct Operators (in official policy anyway) on how to deal with passengers who continue to engage verbally, such as insisting that the driver “give permission to ride for free”, or who otherwise demand positive verbal acknowledgement that they may ride for free .
Policy vs. Function
Given that bus drivers are there to monitor fare collection rather than enforce it, and Metro Transit Security has few resources to do system-wide fare collection (as opposed to Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail where fare enforcement is a regular feature and rail Operators are out of the equation entirely), fare evasion is a daily occurrence on all routes throughout King County Metro. In other words, the net effect is that the RFA isn’t limited to the CBD – it’s County-wide. It’s 24 hours per day. And unlike the official policy of ending the RFA in the CBD in October of 2012 – the RFA will continue County-wide indefinitely unless and until the practice of treating fare payment as “optional” is addressed through public education and fare enforcement.
How to Evade – The Verbal Pass
The “verbal pass” is the explanation given to the driver for not having fare, pass, or transfer. If you wish to board without paying a fare and don’t want to go to the trouble of using a physical “prop” (see following sections), simply tell the driver one of the following:

“Sorry – I don’t have change.”
Don’t worry. The fact that you are in the retail core and there is a Bartell’s, a McDonald’s, a Starbucks – even a number of banks nearby has no bearing on your ability to ride with this excuse. Heck – it doesn’t even matter if you wave a big pile of bills in the driver’s face. It’s clear that you are a poor unfortunate individual who is a victim of a society without proper outlets for breaking large bills into small bills; or the ability to buy an Orca pass thus eliminating the need for change altogether.

“I forgot my pass.”
Probably one of the verbal passes used more legitimately than others. However – there really is no way to distinguish between someone who lost their pass and someone who just said they lost their pass. The only legal way to ride a bus is by presenting a valid pass, fare or transfer. If you went to the store without your debit card – would they let you take the groceries anyway? Nevertheless, “no fare disputes” applies.

“I just had my wallet stolen.”
The driver won’t let the fact that he/she just saw the customer put their wallet away as they stood at the bus stop; or took it out to dig for a phone number after they take their free seat impact your ability to get to their destination. No fare disputes. If the driver forgets – remind him or her. Use those three words exactly.

“I’m on my way to customer service to buy a pass.”
Even if the customer is headed to Federal Way, or they got off nowhere near any Metro customer service location, this verbal pass works. Even though “I’m on my way to the bank” would unlikely fly with a cab driver, this verbal pass is effectively legal tender on board King County Metro.

“Sorry, that’s all I’ve got,” or “sorry, don’t have it”
This “verbal pass” involves dropping a few token coins in the fare box to demonstrate an effort, or to simply shrug off the responsibility of paying at all. Most common form of fare evasion.

The key here is that if a driver – any driver – refuses boarding or in any way gives you a problem beyond “stating the fare once”, simply remind them that Metro policy requires them not to engage in fare disputes. If the driver refuses to give you a transfer for boarding when you don’t pay or show a pass or transfer – just use the same tactics on your next ride. Remember – METRO IS (effectively) FREE!!
Props: The Orca Card
The Orca card is a great tool that has streamlined fare collection, decreased boarding times, and radically enhanced data collection regarding revenue and ridership patterns. Savvy deliberate fare evaders have also figured out that some flaws in the Orca system – both technological and policy related – can turn an Orca card into a free pass that never expires.

“Broken Card”
As Orca cards are vulnerable to bending and other physical trauma that can damage the RFID chip and/or its fragile antenna inside, Orca cards often wear out due to rough use, or even normal use over time. Metro Operators are instructed to accept non-functioning Orca cards as “flash passes” – i.e. show it visually to the driver and it will be accepted as a valid fare. The passenger is then to be referred to Customer Service for a replacement card. The down side is that these cards can be deliberately disabled or shielded by foil or other metal to cause them to refuse to register on the reader. The really savvy deliberate fare evader will simply hold their wallet up to the Orca reader several times, tell the driver that their card must be broken (turning the “prop” into a “verbal pass” and ride that way. Some may display the top quarter-inch of a pass poking out of their credit car holder as evidence that they indeed have a card.

“Insufficient Funds”
This message comes up when the pass on a customer’s card is expired or their e-purse is empty. It will also come up if not enough time has passed between the customer adding funds or a pass to their card and their connecting to the most current database update on the bus they are boarding (database updates for onboard ORCA systems only occur when the bus returns to base, which may be many hours after the customer added funds online or via phone). Drivers are instructed to accept “Insufficient funds” cards as “flash passes”, not to demand cash payment if a card scans that way.

Note: newer Reduced Fare Permits (for elderly and disabled customers) and UW ID cards now have RFID chips in them and function in the same mannger as ORCA. They can also be similarly abused.
Props: The Agency Pass
These paper passes are distributed by homeless shelters and other community human service agencies to their clients and are intended for one-day use. While easy to counterfeit with a color printer, such efforts are often unnecessary (although it has been reported that such counterfeiting has occurred by those wishing to sell such passes). The pass is supposed to be rejected if the “date valid” does not match the date presented. Many such passes are given out without any date written on them at all, or the deliberate fare evader simply places their thumb over the date. Most often, they’re just flashed quickly and the driver never notices – or notices but is following “no fare dispute” protocol and not making an issue of the invalid pass.
I found this pass on board my bus just last week. It appears to have been in use for over a year, and was left behind on the floor by its user (whom I allowed on without a second glance at the expired pass earlier).
Props: Tricks with Transfers
Paper transfers are easily the most abused form of deliberate fare evasion. Many frequent riders (and frequent deliberate fare evaders) save, collect, and even trade transfers with others who have paid their fare or been given a transfer despite not paying a fare.
Transfers change daily, identified mainly by a corresponding letter and color of the day. The number of colors (and letters obviously) are finite, and the most visible characteristic of any transfer is the color. Given the speed at which people board and show their transfers, it’s fairly easy to use an expired transfer, a transfer from a different day (same color, different letter) or to put transfers together from two different days for a more sophisticated act of deliberate fraud. The deliberate fare evader who pefers transfers as props may also simply crumple their pass to the point where it is barely recognizable, or flash the back of the transfer rather than the front:

: Each day’s transfer has a different color and letter

: The large letter can be concealed by a thumb

: Or all letters by a thumb or finger

: Expired transfers from 2 different days. . .

: Can be combined to make one (apparently) valid one.

: Pass crumpled to conceal status of transfer

: Or just show the back instead.

Avoiding Hassle. . .for Fare Evaders

The 100% guaranteed way for passengers to avoid problems related to fare payment are to have a valid pass or transfer or pay the correct fare. Remember – while fare enforcement on board Metro is extraordinarily rare (fare evasion accounts for over $3 million a year in lost revenue to King County), fare evasion remains – at least technically – a crminal misdemeanor If you are a passenger who prefers not to pay a fare or for a valid pass, it’s unlikely you’ll be penalized for doing so. Regardless of your technique, if challenged by a bus driver for not paying the proper fare or presenting an invalid pass, be sure and remind them that Metro policy is for them to state the correct fare – ONLY ONCE – and not to engage in fare disputes. Then have a seat and enjoy your ride! With any luck (the odds are certainly on your side), you will see absolutely no legal penalty for doing so.

Keep in mind – that we drivers almost always are aware of exactly what you’re doing. When we don’t stop and challenge you because we’re stupid or inattentive or untrained. We simply don’t care enough about your insistence on dishonesty to put ourselves in the position of possbily being physically attacked for challenging it.

Avoiding Hassle. . .for Drivers

The (mostly) guaranteed way for bus Operators to avoid conflict with underpaying, non-paying, or openly scamming passengers is to follow Metro policy. If the customer continues to engage verbally – to try and squeeze permission for a free ride from you, either deviate from official policy and tell them openly that they may ride for free, tell them that if they choose to ride without payment it is their choice, or simply ignore them. At any rate, arguing with, browbeating, etc. passengers who don’t present the proper fare – those wonderful folk (of all racial and economic backgrounds) who treat fare payment as optional – will get you nowhere. It might even get you hurt, or in trouble.

So don’t.
-jw

*Despite the title, this article is not intended as a “how to”. Failure to present a valid pass or transfer is a violation of law, albeit a law that is seldom enforced aboard Metro buses. It is presented as satire, based on daily observations by bus drivers of passengers who intentionally do not present a valid pass or transfer, or pay the correct fare.

King County policy and County Ordinance provide for both civil and criminal penalties for failing to present a valid pass or transfer; or for refusing to pay the correct fare for rides aboard Metro buses.
As noted in the piece, Metro drivers are directed not to engage in fare disputes with passengers, and are charged at best with monitoring fare collection rather than enforcing it.

KATU ON FARE CRACKDOWN

2012-02-01T13:26:00.001-08:00

http://www.katu.com/news/local/TriMet-fare-crackdown-leads-to-more-citations-138495389.html?tab=video&c=y

ADA FOLLIES

2012-02-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

Our mad managers, the hysterics that run this place, so quick to jump on its front line employees all the while hiding the gross incompetence of themselves, make such a big deal out of the stop's being called.

Management abrogated its promised upgrades to its bus system, now in their attempt to cover their own asses are finding ways of pointing fingers at operators, which has been the technique used by management for some time now.

One of the glaring flaws in the ADA is the complete ignoring of the needs of the DEAF!

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THE ADA TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR DEAF PEOPLE TO HELP USE TRANSIT!

Interesting isn't it?

A PRIVATE TRANSIT COMPANY WITH ETHICS

2012-02-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

PM - Bus boss's $15 million surprise 01/02/2012

TRIMET VS BELL-CASE DISMISSED

2012-02-01T10:51:00.001-08:00

Court Upholds Two Year Statute of Limitations for Survival Actions against Oregon Public Bodies — Government Litigation Blog

ROUTE 52 ALERT!

2012-02-01T10:47:00.001-08:00

Paving on Northwest 185th Avenue expected to delay Bethany traffic | OregonLive.com

STEVE FUNGS MOVIE OF THE WEEK!

2012-02-01T10:40:00.001-08:00

TUESDAY

2012-02-01T00:19:00.001-08:00

L.O. to lose bus service?

2012-02-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

Jake Oswego | Lake Oswego News and Views

Look at this Trimet facebook post

2012-01-31T23:28:00.000-08:00

Click here!

DRIVING TRIMET EQUIPMENT IS DANGEROUS TO OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY

2012-01-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS-DAVE HAS TO TELL ME WHEN THE LIGHT IS GREEN!

WARNING! CALLING STOPS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY

2012-01-31T23:11:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg61saArHhU

ABOUT THE FARES

2012-01-31T23:10:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlR93vxI340

JOE ROSE

2012-01-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

TriMet report shows major crackdown on fare cheats in December | OregonLive.com

About the Trimet board meetings

2012-01-31T13:56:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE!

ANOTHER GREAT QUOTE FROM PORTLAND MERCURY BLOGGERS

2012-01-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

""This city is run by children, for children. And not real children, because then our schools might be good. No, it's run for 30-year-old children. ""
Portland Mercury | Blabby

SKATEBOARDER ATTACKS BUS

2012-01-31T12:42:00.001-08:00

Raw video: Skateboarder rage caught on tape - The Globe and Mail

BUS DRIVER SHOT

2012-01-31T12:28:00.001-08:00

Metro bus driver shot - YouTube

TRIMET BRAGS ABOUT ITS U-TURN ON FARES

2012-01-31T12:12:00.000-08:00

Fare enforcement has never been high on the list of priorities for Trimet, now in business for 42 years.

For 40 years they have had this laissez-faire attitude about fares and fare enforcement.

Then all of a sudden the power elite of TRIMET decide that fares are important and must be collected and enforced.

They sprung this change on an unwitting and uneducated population and now brag at the "great job" they are doing.

The power elite have done nothing to simplify the fare system, or secure the MAX stations, or even make sure the ticket machines are 100% reliable.

Nope, they are just proud that they have been able to sik the cops and fare inspectors on a mostly poor and unsuspecting population.

Personally, I think its pathetic that citizens are not even given a first time warning, its just another example of government preying on the citizens to sustain itself.

TriMet: News Release - December fare enforcement report shows continued increase in citations, exclusions

Does Trimet meet basic standards of Timetables, shift schedules and break periods

2012-01-31T11:11:00.000-08:00

There is a common myth that drivers are the "boss of the bus". In reality bus drivers often feel themselves to be prisoners of the timetable and unpredictable or unsocial shift times. They often feel helpless in the face of conflicting demands on them to stick to the timetable, drive safely, and provide a friendly service to passengers.

This powerlessness, or "low autonomy" as the experts call it, is in itself a cause of stress. Working-time practice should include

The working week should not be more than 40 hours, and the normal working day not more than eight hours.
No driver should be allowed to drive continuously for more than four hours without a break. Ideally a twenty minute break should be provided after two hours of continuous work.(not recovery time but break time) Drivers should be able to use their breaks to refresh and replenish themselves.
There should be enough time in the working day to reduce the conflict between the demand to stick to the timetable and the need to drive safely. This conflict is the underlying cause of a great deal of stress for drivers, resulting in them either driving too fast or being continually behind schedule.
The daily rest of drivers should be at least 11 consecutive hours, and split shifts should be avoided.
Assignments (routes, times, etc) should be regular and predictable, not day-to-day.
Days off should be guaranteed and should be at least two days at a time.

LIFE OF A BUS DRIVER-CAN YOU SURVIVE THIS JOB?

2012-01-31T10:42:00.000-08:00

International Transport Workers' Federation: Bus Drivers Alert

DOES TRIMET MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS OF ERGONOMICS?

2012-01-31T10:15:00.001-08:00

Bus compartments are often uncomfortable, inflexible, and exposed to the elements which makes them too hot or too cold. No allowance is made in the design for drivers of different height or weight. The ideal cabin design should include the following:

The driver’s seat should be vertically and horizontally adjustable and have adjustable lower back support and adjustable springs. The controls for adjusting the seat must be easy to operate.
The steering wheel should be no more than 460 mm in diameter and be adjustable along the axis of the steering column. Its angle of inclination should also be adjustable.
The pedals should be within easy reach for small and tall drivers alike. They should have equal angles.
The dashboard should have easy to read displays which are arranged according to functions and frequency of use. It should be easy and safe to operate all manual controls, especially emergency controls.
Big and small drivers must be able to enter and leave the working space easily, and effective heating and cooling systems should be provided for the cab.

Interesting comment from the Mercury Blog

2012-01-31T08:35:00.000-08:00

Oh the cuts! The only people who are truly affected by these cuts don't read this blog. It's just so, so, fucking tiresome to read about and hear absolute retards say that this city has such wonderful, amazing public transportation.

It doesn't.

Sure it does, compared to like second rate, nationally unimportant cities that have none.

If you're downtown and need to get to the airport, like the average NYT writer, it's amazing! Oh the Max! So useful! Unbelievable!

But, if you're the average schlub who needs to get around, especially on the outer east side, fuck 'em! A trip that would take at most 15 minutes by car and takes 2 hours if you rely on the buses (that any city has!!), well, fuck you! Your time is unimportant. Don't you know--Portland has the most amazing public transit system in the country. No matter that you may wait 20-30 minutes for a bus on a busy Friday night, and that bus will not adequately hook up with its transfer. No worries here! We have time to kill! '

To complain woud be un-Portland---why do you need to be somewhere? Just chill man! Don't you know---Portland has the most amazing public transport in the country! (Mind you, I always take it---unlike the majority of the insanely deluded fuckos who spout such ridiculous bullshit and never have to rely on it). But it's just so great!

For fuck's sake, in Boston, I used to see Michael Dukasis on the bus almost every day taking the bus downtown to his job. Does Sam Adams, who lives in Kenton, and could easily take the Max to work take it downtown on a regular basis? Fuck no! He takes his car to work or has someone drive him.

But, whatever. Doesn't matter. It's so much easier for the dupes in this city to parrot the idiots who exclaim that Portland has "the most amazing public transportation on the planet" to feel smug when they never have to rely on it to get to work. And why would they? When you can get in your Prius and silently glide wherever you need to go, avoiding the hoi polloi who who need to ride the buses, it's an easy choice. And, really, who can blame them. An hour and a half ride on the bus vs. a 10 minute car trip with no parking issues, who would choose the bus? Only those who have no choice---and the smug bastards who want to feel good about themselves for taking the bus and riding with the "real people."

Fuck you, fuck Trimet, and fuck anyone who has the idiocy to think that the public transportation in this city is "amazing." Sure, it's good if compared to a podunk city that has nothing, which is what I imagine people who love it compare it to. But compared to any real city-- Boston, NYC, SF, Chicago---Tokyo, London, Paris----fuck, Amsterdam, which actually has a real bike culture, it's a joke.

And that's the point. Portland is a second-tier, nationally irrelevant city that has a bus system somewhat better than other burgs in its category and a feel-good light rail that is useful for tourists getting from the airport to the center of the city and for those who live in the suburbs and work for the gov't or for some other really important concern dontown and want to feel good about not driving and can make sure to tell their co-workers that they commute by public transport. Big fucking deal. So very, very useful to the majority here who need to get around the city,

It wouldn't bother me if people just owned up to it. I mean, why take Trimet when you can drive? This city is so easy to drive and park in, and only those who have no choice, or are trying to make a smug, personal statement take the bus. It's just when I hear people go on and on about the public transportation in this city, and how it's just so great it makes me crazy. I wonder if they just lap up whatever PR the city pumps out and just buy into it, or if they've just never lived in a city that really has great public transport. I guess if one's moved here from a small town in the midwest, it's fascinating. But the idiotic boosterism is hard to understand

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2012/01/30/city-transportation-workers-protest-cuts

MONDAY

2012-01-31T00:33:00.001-08:00

MARY FETSCH QUOTES

2012-01-31T00:11:00.000-08:00

"I think it's disturbing," said TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch, "When you think about transit as a reflection of the community, and what happens in the community well, at times will happen on transit. An 11-year-old. Wow. You think, 'What has our community come to?'"
Boy, 11, arrested with gun on MAX ordered to wear GPS bracelet | NWCN.com Washington - Oregon - Idaho

Another crash picture

2012-01-31T00:08:00.001-08:00

TriMet rider taken to hospital after SUV collides with bus | OregonLive.com

THE TRANSFER PRINTERS

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Cash register

I had a very interesting conversation with an operator that saw a demonstration of those 'transfer printers'.

He said it reminded him of the McDonald's computer screen.

You know, when you buy a burger!

He then described how it worked, and that's when I got worried!

Do they actually expect us to work a 'cash register' and print a receipt every time someone pays a fare?

Because if they do, IT AIN'T GONNA WORK!

THEY HIDING SOMETHING?

2012-01-30T23:33:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I sent a request for public records to Trimet for the pension amounts for Fred Hansen, Brian Playfair, Carolyn Young.

They acknowledged it and that was the end of it.

I tweeted Portland A-Foot's Michael Anderson asking if they had any sort of time limits to respond.

Here is his answer:

@PortlandAfoot: @APMARGULIES They have to give you a timeline "as soon as practicable" but don't have a set time to respond. http://t.co/ZEuygmHZ

City Transportation Workers Protest Cuts

2012-01-30T23:27:00.001-08:00

PORTLAND MERCURY

LISTS

2012-01-30T22:50:00.000-08:00

List of U.S. cities with high transit ridership - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of U.S. cities with most pedestrian commuters
List of U.S. cities with most bicycle commuters

Snacks at PCC

2012-01-30T19:44:00.001-08:00

Dispatch

2012-01-30T18:44:00.001-08:00

Operator upset she had her picture taken by person who was in their truck in front of a bus stop

Tri-Met's new ATM for trains: you

2012-01-30T16:04:00.000-08:00

A couple of readers have alerted us to this one: The not-so-clever people who have been running Tri-Met have come up with a proposal to pile up tons of tax dollars for future rail projects. And apparently the plan will mean new taxes for all of us. As one reader put it --

2 NOTABLE TESTIMONIES TO THE TRIMET BOARD

2012-01-30T15:23:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UWWLTp9MNs

MORE TESTIMONY FROM PORTLAND DISABLED COMMUNITY

2012-01-30T15:11:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbpn5ETyXTw

JEREMY CHASE NOT HAPPY WITH TRIMET AT ALL

2012-01-30T15:10:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvfKqtanI0o

"Working with TriMet" Coffee Klatch Follow up

2012-01-30T14:34:00.001-08:00

Greetings,

We discussed several items with the TriMet representatives last night at the “Working with TriMet” Coffee Klatch. For those of you who couldn’t make it, please find a general summary below regarding the budget cut process and advocating tips.

Budget Cut Process

· Stage 1: Initial Public Input Online – Ends Today!

The first stage of the public input process ends today. Initial comments will be considered when TriMet staff creates the initial cut proposal that will be presented to the TriMet board on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Today is the last day of this initial comment period. The public comment link from the TriMet home page was removed. To comment, visit: http://trimet.org/choices/why-is-there-a-budget-shortfall.htm. The first part of this guide provides information, and then there is a comment form at the end.

· Stage 2: Public Input at Feb. Open Houses

After the initial proposal is presented to the TriMet board, TriMet staff will hold some open houses in the first half of February. These events will provide information about the proposal submitted and take additional feedback from the public. Four open houses are scheduled: Beaverton (Feb 11), Gresham (Feb 13), Portland (Feb 15) and Clackamas (Feb 16). Open house details can be found at http://trimet.org/pdfs/publications/TriMet-Budget-Discussion-Guide-2012.pdf.

Portland’s Open House

Date: Monday, February 15, 2012

Time: 4:30 – 6:30 PM

Location: Portland Building Room C, 1120 SW 5^th Avenue

· Stage 3: Legally Required Public Hearings

An updated proposal will be taken to the TriMet board in March. The public will have another option to provide input at the public hearings in March. The hearings have not been scheduled yet.

Advocating Tips

·         The sooner you provide your comments, the better..
·         Are there ways the proposed cuts will impact your community that TriMet has not considered? Think about who lives or works in your community, especially on routes directly served by the bus line that may be impacted. TriMet first considers cuts based on the total number of riders, but considers modifications based populations that may have high ridership because of the group they fall within (high school students, elderly & disabled, low-income residents, etc). Consider a strategy that informs TriMet about the type of rider that will be significantly impacted in your community – especially if TriMet does not show they have considered this group in their proposal. Though TriMet works with data to inform their proposal, the local residents and business owners often know their community best.
·         For long-term strategies to benefit your community (when funding is better), start with reviewing the Transportation Investment Plan (http://trimet.org/tip/index.htm). Consider how your community’s needs might refine this annually reviewed plan. (Annual open houses focus on this plan in years when TriMet is not dealing with budget cuts.)

If you have specific issues with bus shelters, stops, routes etc. please contact Clay Thompson (503 962-6438, thompsoc@trimet.org). He can help direct you to the right department.

Sincerely,

Angela Southwick

Community Resources Program Manager

Neighbors West-Northwest

angela@nwnw.org

503-823-4211

2257 NW Raleigh St.

Portland, OR 97210

Find neighborhood events and meetings online at www.nwnw.org/calendar

BUS DRIVERS UNDER MICROSCOPE WORLDWIDE

2012-01-30T14:33:00.001-08:00

Spotted: Kid sitting on steps of moving bus

HALIFAX METRO INVOLVED IN 663 COLLISIONS

2012-01-30T14:30:00.001-08:00

Metro Transit buses were involved in 663 collisions over a one-year period, CBC News has learned.
CBC reporter Bob Murphy filed a freedom-of-information request with Metro Transit and received a database of the crashes involving its buses between November 2010 and November 2011.
It works out to be almost two incidents per day. Collisions range from minor bumps to more serious incidents involving pedestrians, which happened three times, according to the data from Metro Transit.

Metro buses involved in hundreds of crashes a year - Nova Scotia - CBC News

MAN TAKES OVER BUS AND THEN GOES ON RAMPAGE

2012-01-30T14:28:00.001-08:00

Pune rampage - DNA

BUS DRIVER SUES CHICKEN STORE

2012-01-30T14:22:00.000-08:00

Chicken delight it wasn’t! Lajzer Grynsztajn's lawsuit says ‘wired’ food put him in hospital - NY Daily News

1 hurt in collision involving TriMet bus

2012-01-30T12:50:00.001-08:00

http://www.kgw.com/news/1-hurt-in-Portland-collision-involving-TriMet-bus-138347619.html

Federal Way mulling ways to leave Sound Transit

2012-01-30T12:38:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE FOR STORY

FEDERAL BULLSHIT

2012-01-30T12:30:00.001-08:00

Building BART cars overseas adds insult to cost

DEATH BY LIGHT RAIL

2012-01-30T12:27:00.001-08:00

Sacramento light-rail crash devastates family - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Report: 98 Percent Of U.S. Commuters Favor Public Transportation For Others

2012-01-30T12:22:00.000-08:00

READ THE ONION HERE!

Transportation chief says oil supply ‘unlimited’

2012-01-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

In remarks that raised some eyebrows in the audience, the nation’s top transportation official said this week that there is an “unlimited supply of oil” in parts of the world.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made that statement Wednesday at Virginia Commonwealth University at the end of a town hall meeting attended by about 75 students, staff, and faculty members.

READ HERE!

POLICE STATE ON TRIMET TOO

2012-01-30T12:17:00.001-08:00

TSA rail, subway spot-checks raise privacy issues - CNN.com

C-Tran leaders weigh other options for paying for light rail | The Columbian

2012-01-30T12:16:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE!

THE BEST OF TWITTER

2012-01-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

I WONDER

2012-01-30T11:57:00.001-08:00

Twitter / @bkerensa: I wonder if Liberty Tax pa ...

Gresham, 1995

2012-01-30T11:51:00.001-08:00

MAX FAQ's

Michael Levines letter to the board

2012-01-29T22:54:00.000-08:00

TriMet Board of Directors
Via E-mail
℅ Kelly Runnion

Re: There must be more options than just pricing people with disabilities off of needed due mandated LIFT Paratransit service. Before you consider the fare increase proposal on the table, more below...

Dear Board Members:

I know there can be other options besides huge unfair fare increases focused on the backs of people with disabilities in order to balance TriMet's budget shortfall. That due to TriMet managements' errors causing the budgetary issues using proposed/unfair fare increases as the method of balancing TriMet's budget is ludicrous. That overall public transit needs to be managed in a proper manner keeping transit affordable encouraging people to use public transit as intended for a healthier environment etc. And, one example of poor judgment by TriMet management is the labor dispute with the union which to date outcomes have not been what management thought outcomes would be. That shortfall due to managements' wrong presumption has impacted the budget horribly and pricing people with disabilities off of LIFT Paratransit service because of managements' errors in judgment etc is clearly wrong. Additionally the ADA is clear paratransit service must be affordable and the proposal on the table makes LIFT unaffordable in direct conflict with the ADA as pointed out by TriMet management. (Management pointing out found in the ADA guidance for paratransit service: paratransit service must be affordable.)

Additionally TriMet management through the fare increase proposal process clearly blaming people with disabilities for cuts to fixed-route service. Clearly this unfounded blame is disrespectful attacking people with disabilities.

Responsibilities: TriMet managements' legal obligation to provide affordable due paratransit service. In addition, in accordance with federal law TriMet accepting federal funds, TriMet must be in compliance with the ADA, not portions of the ADA but the ADA in its entirety in regards to "civil rights" and transit which we all know is not the case. Again the proposal on the table as pointed out by TriMet management makes LIFT unaffordable for many ADA qualified TriMet LIFT customers, thus in this area too, out of compliance with the ADA.

That mismanagement including poor spending practices during the financial calamity, management exhaustively adding to budgetary issue by unnecessary spending, e.g., most recently as shared via e-mail and facebook by TriMet new bus shelters, barcodes on shelters installed and more being added in the near future, 75-million-dollars that could have been spent for service delivery and maintaining service delivery and needed upkeep for buses etc being spent on additional MAX service while TriMet cannot afford to keep up what they already are obligated to maintain, vehicles and service delivery. In addition the wasted time, time costing money, multiple times daily posting on facebook etc trying to create good public relations and reality adding more negativity towards TriMet, proof, just read the comments posted which are mostly negative against TriMet service and practices etc thus backfiring and TriMet continues trying and keeps receiving more negative feedback, I do not get it; does TriMet management like continued negative feedback? Doesn't TriMet management understand that action speaks the loudest, i.e., actually delivering good affordable and safe customer service is more important than postings that are again mostly answered with negative impact by TriMet's customers. That with better service etc word of mouth would meet all the needed public relations to share good service etc, wouldn't it be nice if this was the case?

Reality: removing excuses, better planning, smarter budgeting and truly understanding union/employee obligations and budget for obligations while negotiating could have reduced the financial disaster TriMet has been facing for a long time and now a monumental fiasco. Again people with disabilities needing and ADA qualified for due LIFT paratransit service are not the ones causing fixed-route service cuts, management only needs to look in a mirror to see who is at fault! Who is responsible and where is the accountability?

Board members please remember that the people TriMet Management would have you disenfranchise from TriMet service are people with disabilities, TriMet's most vulnerable customers, i.e., people with disabilities that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) criteria to receive mandated due paratransit service. Additionally confusing, seemingly a misunderstanding by TriMet management the meaning of "Honored"; TriMet term to identify people with disabilities "Honored Citizens", well we do not feel very honored at this time!

Using TriMet's term, "Honored Citizens", people with disabilities meeting the ADA criteria for due mandated TriMet LIFT paratransit service many face:
• No other options -- people with disabilities, meeting the ADA criteria for LIFT paratransit service, must receive affordable paratransit service or they have no transportation
• living on fixed incomes
• many living with incomes below the poverty level
• Many people with disabilities living with, if you want to call what they have discretionary income, the amount of funds they have to purchase toothpaste, clothes, medications, go to a movie, and yes pay for LIFT paratransit service etc is inadequate and more to often funds at or below $150 a month to cover all of these and more expenses. (We, people with disabilities having to prioritize what you would not give a second thought about)
• And, yes there are others without disabilities that too live on low income but, they do not have the same additional costs for healthcare, medicines, doctors, etc that people with disabilities have to deal with
• The fare proposal on the table for LIFT Paratransit service will put TriMet's "Honored Citizens", TriMet's most vulnerable customers in further negative financial positions forced to choose, set priorities, giving up food, doctors or transit, how can you morally with good conscience allow this to happen?
• TriMet management does not have the right to turn the United States of America into a third world country hiding people with disabilities. That pricing people with disabilities off of due mandated LIFT service turns people with disabilities into disabled people stuck at home the same as the car disabled on the side of the road: the car going nowhere and people with disabilities forced to stay home going nowhere...

Additionally, Board members, truly face reality, TriMet's fixed-route service is not totally in compliance with the ADA: that adding/forcing more people with disabilities onto fixed-route service, if they can actually ride fixed-route service due to their disabilities, clearly this forcing otherwise ADA qualified paratransit customers onto fixed-route you will be directly causing further additional discrimination against people with disabilities forcing them onto a system not totally in compliance with the ADA. (e.g., and not truly an exhaustive list of issues of ongoing noncompliance the huge lack of mandated stop announcements, mandated announcements not being made way too often, internal, external, and requested stops mandated needed to be called -- not called, and TriMet management if they are willing to be truthful are very aware of this discrimination, and yes, it is noncompliance thus discrimination when service is delivered not meeting mandated ADA minimum guidance, and in addition there are so many other issues of noncompliance that for years TriMet management has been in denial while continued noncompliance is real, and thus, still many ongoing issues with fixed-route lacking reaching the scope and spirit of the ADA. (Remember federal funds have many conditions and to receive the federal funds one obligation being in compliance with the ADA and TriMet in many cases not in compliance; what would the TriMet budget look like without federal funds. Board members you need to take a hard look at what management is doing, or rather what management isn't accomplishing!)

Before you consider the fare increase proposal on the table:
• Have you looked at and compared other options?
• How much income will the 30-cent per LIFT ride generate per year?
• How much income would another 10-cent per ride on fixed-route generate per year?
• How much income would 15-cents a ride increase for LIFT along with a 10-cent increase for a fixed-route ride - what would the combined income of the two increases be?
• There must be a compromise equally raising fares between fixed-route and LIFT services and with better management hopefully next year and so on there will not be need for further huge increases
• That only a 5-cent increase the last increase for fixed-route, and a 30-cent proposed increase now for LIFT is a disproportionate financial hardship on people with disabilities versus people using fixed-route service without disabilities
• That the highest ridership on fixed-route is Monday - Friday a.m. and p.m. prime time, i.e., people using TriMet fixed-route service to get to and from work, people with jobs, people with monthly incomes, not people living on fixed incomes like SSI or SSDI. People that can better afford fare increases; again needed at a minimum, fairness, a proportionate increase for all, just one thought: increases of 15-cents for fixed-route customers and 15-cents for LIFT customers, again, not 5-cents for fixed-route and 30-cents for LIFT customers
• And, why vote in future fare increases at this time. Suggested is other cost saving proposals, e.g., free fixed-route service for LIFT eligible customers, which we have spoke about and I have not heard anything back, and what about further investigation into propane as an alternate fuel source as they experts are claiming will save TriMet one-dollar per gallon; how much savings would a dollar a gallon equate to per year for TriMet? Let us look at cutting cost before approving future fare increases! (The last fixed-route increase was for just one-year)

I hope the January 25 board meeting will generate some needed good questions of staff and thus discussion. Reminder, you the TriMet Board sent a message to TriMet management in July that the LIFT fare increases were not acceptable. That you the TriMet Board wanted to see another proposal, and truly you have not received one. I hope you as our representative body will not accept the smoke and mirrors, the deception, and the hiding through the smoke and mirror/deception the same proposal as you would not approve in July. That TriMet management still wants an unfair disproportionate fare increase for people with disabilities, still the same 30-cents in 2012 and still 3-dollars per ride by 2015 as management wanted in July and you would not approve. I urge you not to approve the proposal on the table. That you take a hard look at all options including the options and questions proposed in this letter. I urge you to do the morally and responsible think, NOT ACCEPTING THE CURRENT FARE PROPOSAL FOR INCREASED FARES FOR LIFT SERVICE AS PROPOSED BY TRIMET MANAGEMENT!!!

I am offering once again my willingness to participate in discussion further detailing the concerns and rights of people with disabilities. I will be at the board meeting on the 25th and willing to answer any questions you might have...

Sincerely,
Michael Levine, APD
Chair, PDA

Re:Willamette Shore

2012-01-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

Claim: The value of the Willamette Shore/Jefferson Street right-of-way is $0 since at least some of it is only an agreement to allow a rail line, and no railroad would be interested in purchasing it

Reality: I don't know if Erik (partially) owns his home or not, but he should understand that the value of it isn't what he could get for it today, but in the shelter it provides. Likewise, the value of the right-of-way is the ability to use it for a rail transit line.

(The value matters since the Federal government is willing to use that as match in a project funding agreement. Also, to be clear, I haven't been gung-ho for the streetcar project that was proposed.)

"VIPR" teams...sheeesh

2012-01-29T19:43:00.001-08:00

Transit Police Officers (TPD) teamed up with federal security partners this week on a 4-day mission on MAX. The VIPR teams (Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response) are Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) federal agents. TriMet and our federal security partners conduct these types of deployments regularly at random times throughout the year. The missions are designed to enhance security by working in mass transit, aviation, maritime, rail and other transportation modes alongside local law enforcement agencies. The exact makeup of the VIPR teams is determined jointly with local authorities and DHS.

This particular deployment was not in response to any specific or recent activity or threat. The deployment started last Sunday, January 22^nd, with teams riding the trains looking for any suspicious activity. They walked through trains and deboarded, allowing trains to continue revenue service. The missions were successful but reported back no higher-than-usual rates of arrest or exclusions.

People know "stay off Trimet" when it snows (or when it chains)

2012-01-29T19:40:00.001-08:00

Overall ridership was down about 10 percent during last week’s two snow days. Ridership typically drops during winter weather events and last week’s snow days were no exception. TriMet sees many new riders during winter weather events, but a lot of people stay home or do not make as many trips as usual. Here are the ridership numbers for last week’s snow days:

Tuesday, January 17

· Bus - 208,700 (compared with Tuesday, Jan 10 - 216,400)

· MAX - 126,500 (compared with Tuesday, Jan 10 - 133,700)

Wednesday, January 18

· Bus - 198,800 (compared with Wednesday, Jan 11 - 219,500)

· MAX - 117,900 (compared with Wednesday, Jan 11 - 135,800)

His Holiness

2012-01-29T19:37:00.001-08:00

There is going to be a lot of conversation in the coming weeks and months about fares. Should we re-structure them, how much should we raise them, how do we make them easier to collect, how much more should we be investing in enforcement, and how does it affect particular communities or particular stakeholders. It is an important topic - after all, about 1/4 of our operating budget comes from fares. When I talk to operators, no topic gets more attention. For example, we are getting pretty positive feedback on the transfer printer being showcased during this week's sign-up.

Most operators also tell me - get rid of the zones! One of my objectives, embedded in our five year plan - is making sure whatever we do in the short-term lines up with the trajectory we want to be on in the long term. More specifically, I think we need to modernize our fare system, and move to the next generation of electronic fares - that will take a few years - but one thing we've heard from other transit agencies who have already implemented electronic fares: "...the first thing you need to do is simplify your fare policy and structure as much as possible." Electrons don't make a complex fare system simple all by themselves.

Between now and February 8th, I will be working to put together the budget plan based on the work of the budget task force, the nearly 5,000 survey responses we got, stakeholders, and what I've heard over time from our operators and other staff. A fare proposal will be part of that - and then the whole community of transit riders will have a chance to engage on the topic. Much more to come.

Best
Neil

Disabled rider's dog keeps getting shocked by MAX train

2012-01-29T18:16:00.001-08:00

Michael Levine says "CAT" committee does NOT represent the disabled

2012-01-29T17:24:00.001-08:00

GUT WRENCHING TESTIMONY FROM PORTLAND DISABLED RIDERS

2012-01-29T16:53:00.001-08:00

CHANGE THE RULES!

2012-01-29T16:41:00.001-08:00

Rick Van Beveran used to tell us occasionally that the TRIMET CHARTER does not require that the TRIMET BOARD listen to any testimony from the public.

That's a truly telling statement about the governance of our transit system.

They have been allowing testimony however, but its limited to 3 minutes.

They need to allow at LEAST FIVE MINUTES for members of the public to speak.

AND THEY NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, NOT JUST SIT THERE AND LISTEN POLITELY!

LYN LERBACH PLEADS FOR THE DISABLED

2012-01-29T16:32:00.001-08:00

IS THIS GUY FOR REAL? OR COULD HE BE A PLANT?

2012-01-29T16:16:00.003-08:00

LES POOL SAYS TRIMET'S HORSE CAN'T CATCH UP TO THE CART

2012-01-29T16:16:00.001-08:00

The Italian Cruise ship captain Francesco Schettino began his new job as a bus driver yesterday....

2012-01-29T15:48:00.001-08:00

VISTA BRIDGE-1930

2012-01-29T15:31:00.001-08:00

Vista Bridge, 1930s « Vintage Portland

They do have a clue at least

2012-01-29T14:27:00.001-08:00

Though TriMet strives to balance simplicity and ease of use for the customer vs. offering different products to address specific markets, it is apparent that over time the fare system has become too complicated, with too many different products. It is very difficult
17
for new and infrequent riders to figure out, primarily due to a zone system that can be complicated even for frequent riders. This can be a barrier to new riders, and for existing riders, the complex fare structure can lead to disputes at the farebox. Another source of customer concern is that transfer times are different on bus and rail. TriMet will review changes to both fare policy and technology to address these concerns.

New riders and visitors in particular complain that it is difficult to determine the correct fare to buy. TriMet’s own research on how riders buy fares shows that new and infrequent riders often buy the wrong fare because they have difficulty figuring out zones.
In addition to the zones, the fare structure is complicated by the fact that TriMet has more than 35 different fare instruments, including a variety of tickets and passes, for customers to choose. For example, there are 5 different monthly passes: adult all zone, adult zone 1 and 2, adult zone 2 and 3 zone, honored citizen, and youth. In addition, TriMet issues an annual pass, a half monthly pass, a 30 day rolling pass, a 14 day rolling pass, a 7 day rolling pass, a packet of ten ride tickets, a seven day scratch-off pass, an upgrade, and employer passes.

TriMet does operate commuter rail service. Most transit properties charge a premium fare for commuter rail service. When the WES commuter rail service began, an interagency agreement specified that the fare would not be higher than TriMet’s fares. The cost to ride WES is an all zone fare with a free transfer to other TriMet service. Because WES provides premium commuter service, a premium fare could be considered as part of the fare review. However, a premium fare would need to be balanced against the potential negative effect on ridership.

Bus transfers are made of flimsy paper, are extremely difficult for riders to decipher and difficult for operators to issue because they must be ripped individually.

AND IMPOSSIBLE FOR OPERATORS TO READ I ADD!

About the fare boxes

2012-01-29T14:24:00.001-08:00

Interesting stats from the fare report

2012-01-29T14:22:00.001-08:00

FARE SYSTEM WHITE PAPER COMMISSIONED BY TRIMET

2012-01-29T14:04:00.001-08:00

READ HERE!

A Peak at the Future of TriMet Fare Collection?

2012-01-29T14:02:00.000-08:00

Read the article at PORTLAND TRANSPORT HERE!

For TriMet, image is everything

2012-01-29T13:59:00.000-08:00

I don't know whether TriMet is equally resigned to its inability to police the mess, but the agency's public perception and commitment to the task both took dramatic hits at week's end. On the morning following another celebrated brush with violence aboard MAX, TriMet was lobbying for another obnoxious fare increase

STEVE DUIN ESSAY HERE!

BUSINESS MAN TO REPLACE LERBACH?

2012-01-29T11:30:00.000-08:00

Lyn Lerbach is asking too many questions apparently and the rumor is he is being replaced by THIS GUY!

It used to be pretty predictable that a man/woman from the minority race would be fairly progressive and be a good watch dog for those less fortunate, but those days are gone.

Kitzhaber turned out to be a Judas, won his office via labor now is turning his back on labor. Of course its not really surprising.

DIRECTOR CLARK WANTS TRIMET EXECUTIVES TO EXPLAIN PROCESS

2012-01-29T00:08:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChRpEHP6mas

Director Lerbach uncomfortable with handing out money

2012-01-28T21:00:00.001-08:00

PORTLAND POLICE BRUTALIZE PROTESTERS

2012-01-28T20:02:00.000-08:00

Portland Police Continue To Brutalize Peaceful Occupy Protesters! "One Officer Got A Scratch!!!" - YouTube

In "suicide by cop," collateral damage (Jack Bog's Blog)

Slow moving TriMet bus

2012-01-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

VIDEO

OHSU tram tour

2012-01-28T17:57:00.000-08:00

The OSHU tram turned 5 yesterday, so today they had a birthday party for it in the Center for Health & Healing which is OHSU's South Waterfront location & the bottom terminus for the tram. Inside was tram artwork & photography, a couple of tram operators with some of the tools & tram parts & segments of the cables to see up close, and also cupcakes. Every half hour or so they ran tours of the engine room and control room.

More pictures....

Inside the Center for Health & Healing

In the engine room (very loud in there when the trams were in motion)

In the control room

DIRECTOR LERBACH SAYS TRIMET MANAGMENT IS NOT MONITORING CONTRACTORS PROPERLY!

2012-01-28T17:23:00.000-08:00

2012-01-28T16:41:00.001-08:00

Remember this?

2012-01-28T16:30:00.001-08:00

This was a microphone that was plugged into the main bus speaker so you could call stops without losing your teeth. It turned out to be another failure.

DR BETHEL WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT COST OVER RUNS

2012-01-28T15:15:00.001-08:00

TRIMET UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS $832,000,000

2012-01-28T14:42:00.001-08:00

STEVE CLARK REPORTS ON THE ARBITRATION

2012-01-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hearing will be Mid March, decision mid April, but the contract expires THIS COMING NOVEMBER!

STEVE SHOOP PULLS NO PUNCHES!

2012-01-28T14:24:00.001-08:00

2012-01-28T13:59:00.001-08:00

BETH DEHAMMEL SAYS TRIMET AHEAD $10,000,000

2012-01-28T13:35:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY80w4aMJLY

OK MARY FETSCH-LETS SEE YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS

2012-01-28T11:19:00.001-08:00

Toronto transit boss steers image 'undercover' | CTV News

TRANSPARENT TRIMET (hehe)?

2012-01-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Well I guess they do have transparency when it comes to their bus GPS data. Not that that actually means much in terms of what the word TRANSPARENCY is supposed to mean. They are the leader in this sort of technology, but the lagger in the technology that helps secure stations and pay/enforce fares. Which is more important? I say the latter.
Transit transparency: Open data in action ~ Policy by the Numbers

IS MACFARLANE ABOUT TO USE THE TWINKEE DEFENSE?

2012-01-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Hostess Brands asks to shed union obligations

Associated Press

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Updated yesterday at 8:04 AM

NEW YORK (AP) — Hostess Brands Inc., the bankrupt maker of Wonder Bread and Twinkies, has asked a judge to slash some of its commitments to union employees, saying it's the only way it can emerge from bankruptcy as a viable company.

The Teamsters union issued a swift rebuke on Thursday, saying Hostess was trying to "bully" its way out of obligations to its employees.

Hostess filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month, hobbled by Americans' preference for healthier snacks, and stiff competition from other sweets makers like Entenmann's. The announcement came just three years after Hostess emerged from a previous bankruptcy restructuring.

Unions represent more than three-quarters of Hostess' 19,000 employees, the company said.

Hostess is based in Irving, Texas.

LYING&CHEATING YOUR WAY OUT THE THE MESS YOU MADE

2012-01-28T10:28:00.001-08:00

TriMet: Moving Forward while Cutting Back | City Club of Portland

I GOT MY OWN PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN!

2012-01-28T01:13:00.000-08:00

My new blog title "Trimet Executives have the ethics of a Squid" is circulating very well around the net.
You see it numerous times in numerous places:

IF PEOPLE SEE IT OVER AND OVER THEY JUST MIGHT START REPEATING IT THEMSELVES!

FRIDAY

2012-01-28T00:31:00.001-08:00

JACK GETS IT

2012-01-28T00:18:00.000-08:00

Tri-Met collapsing under its own train madness

Making it much more expensive for honest passengers to ride, all the while cutting bus service, is just going to accelerate the death spiral. Goldschmidt crony Fred Hansen parachuted out just before the plunge became obvious. Why his hapless successor took the gig is anybody's guess.
Tri-Met's allowed itself to be Blumenauered into oblivion. You'll have to ride a bike, because there won't be a bus, and the streets will be pretty much blocked to cars.
And now we're up to a five buck minimum entry fee every time we go downtown? The phrase "ghost town" comes immediately to mind.

TRIMET CREATED THEIR OWN FAILURE

2012-01-27T23:57:00.000-08:00

Trimet's transfer system is and has been a miserable failure for a long long time. I have never seen another Transit district allow a ride to and from a destination on the same transfer.

There are very few places that have such unreadable and unenforceable transfers in use. Can drivers actually read the day code? The zone code? The classification code?

Some not too bright drivers actually do attempt to read all of the above and try to enforce what is actually a completely unenforceable methodology.

Passengers can use the same transfer for days, and many do, as a driver I gave up years ago trying to deal with the stupidity of the transfer process.

Trimet created a completely unsecured light rail system. The "honor system". It was all part of the 60's and feel good 70's mantra.

It was a different world back then don't forget for those of you who were actually alive and old enough to remember.

The system was meant to be "friendly" and easy to use.

A fare-less square gave riders easy access to buses and trains and allowed for very simple fare evasion.

When you think about it, it seems the planners INTENTIONALLY created a system that was destined to have problems.

Why would they do that?

I think they did it because they wanted to BRAG ABOUT PORTLAND HAVING THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA RIDERSHIP IN THE COUNTRY.

They achieved that goal by creating a unworkable transfer product and a 'fare FREE' zone where people could easily get on the system without having to pay.

AND THEN THE BEAN COUNTERS GOT TO DO THEIR MAGIC.

Abracadabra, LOADS OF BOARDING RIDES, LOADS OF THEM.

And then the planners started using those numbers to show PAPA FED that PORTLAND IS THE PLACE TO PLUNK DOWN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS for silly little projects that basically served people of wealth.

And the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FELL IN LOVE WITH PORTLAND because we HAD THE MOST RIDES PER CAPITA!

And even more money flowed into PORTLANDIA!

Then one day PAPA FED SAID, sorry Portlandia, we can't give you any more money.

And all those 'fake' boarding rides became somewhat irrelevant, because the PORTLAND BIG SHOTS couldn't turn boarding rides into cold hard cash.

AND THEN THEY WERE IN TROUBLE;

HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY PAY TO USE OUR SERVICE wondered the big shots?

AND NOW THEY ARE IN BIG BIG TROUBLE, THEY SEE THE FUTURE, AND IT IS BLEAK.

Women Use Public Transit More than Men

2012-01-27T22:53:00.001-08:00

PORTLAND MERCURY