TRIMET HAS SOLD OUR FUTURE AWAY FOR LIGHT RAIL ADVENTURES

And even if the federal government may legally contribute up to $850 million, it is under no obligation to do so. It routinely provides a lot less. Consider the experience of Tri-Met's Portland-Milwaukie light rail project. For years, Tri-Met planners assumed that the federal government would pay 60 percent of project costs. But when funding allocations were actually made, the feds only paid 50 percent, forcing Tri-Met to come up with $150 million in additional revenue and cost savings. The agency borrowed heavily against future payroll tax revenues, a move that has worsened the very difficult financial situation that is now forcing Tri-Met to raise fares and slash bus routes.

Expert panel failed its duties with light rail funds study | The Columbian