"Working with TriMet" Coffee Klatch Follow up

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