FACT CHECKING THE TRIMET FACT CHECKS

 Whenever Trimet issues a 'fact check' readers should be aware that they are hardly 'facts'. They are statements by management expounding their point of view disguised as facts. Trimet is a master of word manipulation and propaganda

Fact: False. Given the fact that TriMet’s union pension is funded at just 59 percent, compared to an average of 75 percent for state and local governments nationwide, we are taking prudent steps to fully fund the pension over the next 15-20 years.
~~~>What they are referring to here is just the money pension, not the health care benefit. Trimet made promises to its employees about pensions and health care. They are saying now that they have the funds to cover the defined benefit pensions (which they have eliminated for all new employees) but they neglect to mention the fact that they have saved ZERO to provide the other part of the pension, which was the health care benefit. Their plan to deal with the health care benefit is to eliminate it. Conveniently left out of this wonderful fact check of theirs.

Fact: False. The region’s sixth MAX light rail line now under construction is the $1.49 billion Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project. TriMet’s share is less than 5 percent of capital costs, but will result in more cost-effective and faster travel times for riders.
~~~>5% of that huge number is still millions. What they fail to mention yet again is that Trimet will have to pay to operate this line 100%. Where exactly do they expect to get the money for that? Well, the answer so far has been to cut bus service and most likely this is the game plan yet again.

Fact: False. Fortunately, riders have seen $2.1 million in bus service improvements and no fare increases this year as we emerge from the recession and begin to reform the union contract and realign unsustainable benefit costs. TriMet is also looking to add another $3.1 million in bus service improvements in March 2014. Again, union employee wages and benefits per capita are among the most generous in the transit industry.
~~~>And how many millions in cuts did the riders suffer LAST YEAR? The year before that? And the year before that?  More than $2.1 million. At the exact same time they were cutting services Mcfaralane handed himself and his cronies nice fat raises, raises to people already making nice six figure incomes. So Trimet is adding back some chump change into bus service. Probably happening only because Mcfarlane  got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. MICHAEL ANDERSON of the PORTLAND A-FOOT blog debunked the notion that Trimet operators 'are among the best' in the transit industry. What he found is that Trimet operators are in the middle of the pack.
Trimet has not retracted its plan to CUT 70% OF SERVICE  in 12 years if they don't get their way dealing with its union workforce.

Read the Trimet full propaganda HERE