2007 TRIMET

Time for action on MAX safety Newspaper December 19, 2007 Clackamas Review (OR) TriMet has recently been taking a beating for security issues along its MAX lines. The timing is bad for the agency, which is constructing a new line in Clackamas County and seeking to expand into Milwaukie.

 While the coverage has been unrelenting, it has been warranted. There is a perception, fueled largely by the transit agency's past actions, that its leadership generally likes to talk about safety issues just long enough for an issue to blow over. 

The result: a lot of discussions over the years, but no real action, and a transit system growing more dangerous. But these issues are real, and Milwaukie City Councilors and members of the city's Light Rail Security Task Force witnessed some of them first hand. The task force took a bus ride along the Yellow Line in October. Each member was given a ticket before hand to validate for a ride back along the MAX.

 The ticket machine was, as usual, broken. Last week, Milwaukie City Council took a similar tour. Same result at two ticket validation machines at two stations. There is overwhelming consensus that to improve safety, TriMet must do a better job of enforcing ticket purchases. Before that can happen, the agency needs to ensure riders can get a ticket. 

 Closing fareless square not the answer TriMet general manager Fred Hansen told a recent gathering of the Portland City Club that the agency would consider limiting fareless square in downtown Portland. The agency suggested the same thing after safety concerns arose before. This is an entirely insufficient way to address safety concerns. 

Right now, the problem isn't that criminals can ride for free for a few stops. The problem is that they can ride for free for miles, often without the threat of a security guard ever coming near. It's not just serious criminals that can make a ride unpleasant. The free pass often leads to crowds of kids hopping aboard for a few stops, just long enough to swear and harass passengers. Perhaps there's no real harm done, but it's enough of a deterrent to keep potential paying riders away from the transit system. Changes TriMet is holding meetings and safety summits at every turn to try to address the safety situation. 

The time to talk is over. And quite frankly, talking about the problem is unnecessary when the answer is clear: TriMet needs more real security officers. They need officers that have the authority to check tickets and to remove passengers from trains. The difference in size between TriMet's security force and security on similarly sized light rail lines is staggering. With 45 miles of track and 60,000 boardings each day, Dallas has 200 police officers. With 46 miles of track and 80,000 boardings per day, St. Louis has 47 police officers and 120 private security officers. 

With 44 miles of track and counting, and 100,000 daily boardings, the MAX has 36 police officers and 44 Wackenhut security officers. These numbers are horribly inadequate to begin with, but they're made worse by the fact that TriMet's Wackenhut guards are virtually powerless, as evidenced by an episode on Milwaukie City Council's recent trip. After admitting that he had limited authority - Wackenhut's guards can't even force riders to show their tickets - a guard said that he would radio for help if he saw a fight or serious situation unfolding. 

There was one problem. There weren't enough radios to go around at the command center, so he was riding without one. To make light rail safer immediately - and keep from punting away its chance to expand into Milwaukie and eventually Vancouver, Wash. - TriMet must increase the number of real officers on the trains. That surely means adding more police. But the agency might also consider giving increased authority to Wackenhut guards on a trial basis. While this seems like a more cost-effective move, it's important to see if private contractors can handle the increased responsibility. TriMet can and should keep talking to residents - a scheduled safety meeting on Monday in Milwaukie happened after the Review and Oregon City News went to press - but it should also take action. Its expansion into Clackamas County could depend on it. To comment on editorials or send editorial letters or submissions, e-mail Editor Anthony Roberts atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; write to 6605 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, OR, 97222; or fax to 503-546-0724. Copyright © 2007 Clackamas Review, All rights reserved. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F14BCA1B1D89A1C68