Federal Transit Administration
While other transit agencies are using the "State of Good Repair" funds for replacing buses and improving bus stops, once again TriMet shafts the good riders of its own service and gives its money to politically connected developers to build a "mixed-use development" that will include a token transit facility for the non-profit Ride Connection.
Woodburn is building six bus shelters.
Salem is replacing paratransit buses (they've got a practically new fixed-route fleet).
Pierce Transit is replacing its fare collection system.
Eugene is buying hybrid-electric buses.
3 comments:
Geez they could even do something silly with the money like repair or replace one of several Max interlockings in the downtown area that are worn out. No that wouldn't make any sense it would only increase safety on the system, why would a real estate development agency like TriMet want to do something like that!
Couldn't find that map, but when I look at the FTA's website I see this (below). Here's TriMet's press release from 5/17/2012.
OREGON
Lane Transit District
Project: Transit Vehicle Replacements (Hybrid-Electric)
Amount: $3,000,000
The Lane Transit District will replace buses in its fleet that are beyond their useful lives with hybrid-electric buses.
Rogue Valley Transportation District
Project: Transit Vehicle Replacement (Alternative Fuel)
Amount: $1,093,023
The Rogue Valley Transportation District will replace buses in its fleet that are beyond their useful lives with alternative fuel buses.
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet)
Project: Transit Vehicle Replacement (Mini-Hybrid)
Amount: $5,000,000
TriMet will use funds to replace buses in its fleet that are beyond their useful lives with mini-hybrid technology buses.
Ah, OK I think I found what you're talking about. It's probably from this table, which says that TriMet received *2* grants --
1) The one you mentioned above, which is not a SGR grant, and you did a very poor job of describing what this is --
"The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (on behalf of Ride Connection) will use funds to support the construction of Glison Commons, a five-story, mixed-use, transit-oriented development which will include offices for the Ride Connection Operations and Resource Center in East Portland. The facility will include administrative offices, rooms for driver training and support programs, a call center, scheduling and dispatch facilities, meeting rooms and parking."
2) The $5M SGR grant I mentioned above - "Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon will replace buses in its fleet that have met or exceeded their useful lives with new state-of-the-art buses, significantly reducing maintenance costs as well as emissions."
So I guess you're wrong again, Erik!
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