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Brand new Chevrolet Colorado heads up this line of nice TriMet fleet vehicles in a rented TriMet office building.
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| A few Rangers, plus an Escape and another brand new Colorado. |
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| Another view of this brand new Colorado. Surely, TriMet didn't use "Capital Projects" money for a truck that has a lifespan longer than three years...so who paid for this truck? |
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| One bus stop...for all those TriMet managers. Guess they need those pickup trucks because the walk to that pathetic bus stop is too long. |
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| Look, this bus stop is even closer! And it's got an actual schedule sign, unlike any of the bus stops on Barbur Boulevard! (And two more TriMet pickups, along with a Stacy & Witbeck truck.) |
So between the huge number of gas-guzzling pickup trucks which I'm not sure why TriMet needs at all (considering there are MULTIPLE bus routes that directly parallel this rail project)...and the fact TriMet is leasing this building at likely commercial rates, instead of the ODOT office building across the street that is unused and TriMet could likely rent for next to nothing (it could be considered a "contribution in-kind" since ODOT is an official project partner)...
But, hey, there's always no shortage of money for light rail. Buses? Oh, we better penny-pinch...heck, just look at those awesome bus stops that these TriMet employees REFUSE to use.
2 comments:
1. Isn't it true that rail funding comes from sources other than the TriMet general fund? (While TriMet is paying for some of it, their portion is supposed to be coming from the increase in the payroll tax rate meant for new things)
2. What if employees have to haul gear, etc that is not practical on a bus?
unlike any of the bus stops on Barbur Boulevard!
Any? Are you sure about that?
1. Isn't it true that rail funding comes from sources other than the TriMet general fund?
Sorry Jason, it's been proven that TriMet has repeatedly used general funds dollars transferred to capital projects - money that was accumulated through the depreciation expense line item. You can read TriMet's budget and see it for yourself. TriMet also continues to charge depreciation expense against buses 10 years past their fully depreciated lives. Want to prove me wrong - show me on TriMet's budget. Put up or shut up.
2. What if employees have to haul gear, etc that is not practical on a bus?
What gear? And TriMet needs to step up and demonstrate that it is practical to use its own service (including buses) for business purposes...if TriMet's own staff can't use TriMet, why should I? It would be like Apple using PCs because their own computers aren't good enough. Or Fred Meyer telling its managers to buy stuff from Safeway. Or the City of Portland telling people to live in Beaverton.
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