Trimess
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
$17 million in the hole? Let's look at the PORK OF TRIMET
And we are only $17 million in the hole? It's a miracle actually!
Click on the links below to see the breakdown
Click on the links below to see the breakdown
Thanks to ERIK HALSTEAD for providing this information!
Other stories regarding this issue:
Scenes from DT PDX on Friday
While I waited for my road relief bus,I had a chance to take a few photos.
Short line the Red Line?
TriMet has launched an online budget tool
to get input on how to address the anticipated $12-17 million
shortfall. Users are presented with different options that are under
consideration and can see how different combinations of them can be
arranged to reach the $17 million goal.
Among
the options are several affecting Red Line service: not changing it at
all, running it just between Gateway and PDX, and running it between
11th Ave and PDX. Oddly enough, that last one is how the Red Line used
to be run for the first two years before it was extended to Beaverton TC
in 2003, which helped accommodate growing ridership on the Blue Line.
Officer Crawls Under Bus to Comfort Woman Pinned Under Wheel: ‘I’ll Stay Until We Get You Out’
Story Here!
Aren’t Those New Streetcars Kind of Expensive?
Michael Neibauer reports that the District
Department of Transportation has awarded the contract for two new
streetcars to a Portland company, which offered a price of $8.7 million
for the pair. That's $3.7 million for each 144-passenger vehicle, plus
another $1.3 million for design, delivery, and insurance.
Whew!
By contrast, Metro's new buses cost $570,000 each and can fit about 80 people total. The schmancy new 7000-series rail cars cost about $2 million each (including shipping, parts, etc.), have 64 seats, and roomier aisles for more people standing. We knew the streetcar wasn't going to be cheap, but damn.
STORY HERE!
Whew!
By contrast, Metro's new buses cost $570,000 each and can fit about 80 people total. The schmancy new 7000-series rail cars cost about $2 million each (including shipping, parts, etc.), have 64 seats, and roomier aisles for more people standing. We knew the streetcar wasn't going to be cheap, but damn.
STORY HERE!
$17 million in the red-CUT OFFICE OF "GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS"
The Office of Government Affairs is responsible for managing on-going
intergovernmental relations, long-range funding, policy development and
implementation with local, regional, state and federal legislative and
administrative officials.
TRIMET policy on releasing operator names
TriMet is required by Oregon Public Records law to release the names
of employees. TriMet releases the name and years of service of employees
involved in accidents or incidents. Following a serious accident or
incident, we do not release the information for up to 12 hours in order
to support our employees during a difficult time. This limit allows time
for the individual to get assistance from our Employee Assistance
Program, as well as allow for gathering accurate and thorough
information at the scene of the incident. Under special circumstances,
TriMet will honor a request by law enforcement personnel to withhold the
employee's name.
The news media has access to police reports and can get an employee's name from that source. They have called employees at their homes following a serious incident. While the communications department will not release an employee's phone number, we may call to ask if the employee is interested in talking to the media.
The news media has access to police reports and can get an employee's name from that source. They have called employees at their homes following a serious incident. While the communications department will not release an employee's phone number, we may call to ask if the employee is interested in talking to the media.
$17 million in the red? CUT THE "IT" DEPT
The IT Department is made up of 6 groups. Each group has distinct
responsibilites in delivering IT support and functions to TriMet.
- Enterprise Systems Development
- GIS & Location Based Services
- Network Communications
- Oracle Technology
- Operations Systems
- Technical Services
$17 million in the red? CUT OUT MARKETING!
Welcome to Marketing!
The Marketing Department supports the agency's expectation to communicate, represent and achieve safety-driven service excellence with an integrated approach to creating the best possible experience for our customers. Marketing's focus will be on key initiatives that seek to enhance ridership experience and build community support in alignment with TriMet's brand position and shared values. Contributions to the overall success of agency priorities will come in the form of quantitative and qualitative outcomes.
Marketing Priorities:
* Safety Education
Encourage safe behavior and increase awareness of what we do to help keep people safe.
* Brand Management/Public Relations
Promote and protect the key principles of The TriMet Way, aligning our vision with public perception by promoting positive examples of transit benefits, and managing and strengthening our relationships with customers and the community by being proactive and interactive with information and engagement.
* Ridership
Promote new and existing amenities, tools and service to our riders and prospects, to enhance the customer experience.
* Customer Information
Deliver timely, accurate and relevant information to riders via static and dynamic content channels, providing customer what they want (and need), when they want it.
* Revenue Generation
Manage pass programs, partnerships and advertising/promotional opportunities to maximize revenue and/or leverage resources for the agency.
PORTLAND TRANSPORT SWALLOWS THE HYPE
The third and most important factor is the failure of TriMet and the
union to come to terms on a new contract. TriMet projects a $5 to $10
million shortfall due to the rising costs of health care and wage
benefits, and notes that these costs will continue to rise over time if
the union does not accept some kind of benefit reduction.
Portland Transport: TriMet Launches "Cut The Budget" On-line Tool
"Engineer Scotty" from P-tansport did point out to me that he noticed that anti union hype in the MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA so called "tool"
Portland Transport: TriMet Launches "Cut The Budget" On-line Tool
"Engineer Scotty" from P-tansport did point out to me that he noticed that anti union hype in the MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA so called "tool"
TriMet has a new web tool on how to deal with the upcoming funding crisis. Of particular interest may be this FAQ, which contains TriMet's answers to common questions like "why not cut WES" or "why not delay Milwaukie MAX"?
That said, fairness requires that I point out that the page DOES go to great lengths to wag fingers at the transit union.
That said, fairness requires that I point out that the page DOES go to great lengths to wag fingers at the transit union.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
TRIMET TRANSIT DISTRICT CONTINUES USING ITS BULLY PULPIT
In their new posting about the budget problems, we see a very obvious attempt to sway public opinion.
Is it actually legal for a non profit governmental agency to preach a point of view to the public?
More abuse of authority from our "managers".
It's obvious to me that this company has been actively engaging in a all out public relations war on its employees, blowing up the bad employees into a public spectacle, and propagandizing using its multi million dollar tax payer funded marketing department.
It's despicable.
Because of a 2007 change in the law, we cannot unilaterally implement our final offer to the union. Instead we must engage in all-or-nothing interest arbitration, a forum in which it is extremely difficult to make significant changes no matter how out-of-line union wages and benefits are.
TriMet: Why is there a budget shortfall?
Does Trimet ignore relevant information with the intent of embarrassing its employees?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)