OPAL PRESENTATION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEPT 11, 2013 from al m on Vimeo.
On Wednesday, OPAL and Bus Riders Unite presented a comprehensive report to the TriMet Board of Directors on the efficacy and affordability of extending transfer times. The report was well-received and the board commended OPAL and BRU for their thoroughness. The goal of the Campaign for a Fair Transfer is to restore value to our region’s transit system and demand that our transit agency put the needs of riders first. While we are hopeful of TriMet’s latest news of restoring frequent service to select lines, the CFT report shows that there is no reason why we cannot regain the FULL value of our bus fares. Extending transfer times benefits all transit riders, regardless of what lines they may live closest to, making CFT an effective strategy to better managing our transit system. 
Stopping at restoring frequent service on some lines brings us full circle to TriMet’s old arguments: that adjusting service is the first budget strategy. With this type of stale thinking, cutting service and raising fares would again be the solution the next time the agency claims to have a fiscal crisis. You can read the CFT Report and view thepresentation yourself to see how it makes much more sense to encourage ridership rather than price us out of this vital service.
Bus Riders Unite will be hosting a community briefing on Campaign for a Fair Transfer at the upcoming membership meeting on Tuesday. Copies of the full report and presentation will be available, and BRU leaders are looking forward to answering any questions you may have.
BRU meeting – Tuesday, Sept 17, 6-8PM at OPAL (TriMet lines 4, 14, 71)
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