TriMet Hi, Anna! Our office move was necessary because of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project,
and we're taking advantage of the opportunity to consolidate work
groups and improve efficiency. Most of the cost of the move is covered
by the PMLR construction project (not from TriMet's operating budget), (the grandest pork feast in Trimet history)
and it's actually going to save us money in the end. Here's what's
happening: Our command center in Gresham is at capacity(these a-holes who are complaining about benefits KEEP ON HIRING, they are creating their own crisis) and cannot
expand to accommodate the new MAX line, and our office at SE 17th &
Holgate was demolished to make room for the MAX tracks. Most of our
admin staff from our office at 17th & Center have relocated to
leased space at the Harrison Square building downtown.( a secure locked down facility far from the 'troops on the ground') Later on, we will
be relocating the command center to 17th & Center, and work groups
from other leased facilities will relocate to either 17th & Center
or Harrison Square. Not only are we consolidating offices, our new
Harrison Square space has smaller workstations and we got rid of nearly
all walled offices.(so f*kn what?) In all, we will be leasing 14,760 fewer square feet
of office space. Over the 10-year life of the Harrison Square building
lease, this will save us $431,551 over our current leased space, and
avoids $2 million in 10-year lease costs had existing furniture been
reused(are they actually saying that they are saving $2 million by NOT using the existing furniture? WTF?) (which would have required more square footage). So, in case you
thought our new office was an upgrade to First Class, it's more like
switching to an even smaller seat in Coach. (right we believe you, you have been so honest with us in the past)In the end, we will be
improving efficiency, streamlining operations, and saving money.(such a culture of management liars)
They're saying that using existing furniture would require leasing more space.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't you think Neil and them should get a cubicle and not an office?
That's ridiculous that the old furniture requires more space-what insanity
ReplyDeleteAnd then the current MAX Operations Center, in owned TriMet facilities out in Gresham, will be vacant space - money that TriMet will have to pay to maintain, heat/cool and so on...but will be completely empty.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure they are going to be doing something with the space at Ruby Jct. Keep in mind that facility will be expanding to handle the trains and operators for the new line.
ReplyDeleteEven if it becomes a backup site to Center Street, it will be useful to have.
Moreover, Center Street is in a much better location vs. being out in Gresham.