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Volume 10, Issue 1
NEWS HOME
January 2012

Line 50 endangered by TriMet budget shortfall

The regional transit agency, TriMet, is facing a $12 to $17 million budget shortfall. They have created a website application to explain the budget problems and discuss possible changes to address it. They invite the public to read the information and make choices.

Causes of the shortfall include decreased revenue from payroll taxes due to the recession; potentially decreased federal funding; and the costs of providing union benefits to employees.

Potential areas for cost-cutting include increased efficiency; fare increases; and service cuts. They say they're already running at just about the highest level of efficiency possible for non-union staff. An impasse over labor negotiations is a big factor in their ongoing budget uncertainty.

They have raised fares several times since 2008, and realize that any fare increases create a hardship for those who depend on TriMet as their only transportation.

Service cuts have also been made over the last couple of years. Further cuts will inevitably focus on some lower-ridership lines including the potential to reduce frequency, reduce hours of operation or eliminate the line altogether. They will also consider eliminating parts of routes that are relatively close to other routes.

Line 50 is one of the lowest-ridership lines in the region. It is on the list for consideration for cutting.

If you want to learn more and provide your input at this stage, visit the "choices" site, and plan to attend one of the Open House sessions are that are scheduled, including one on Saturday, February 11, from 1–3 pm in the Beaverton Library Conference Room, 12375 SW 5th St., Beaverton.

CPO 1 has scheduled a visit from TriMet representativesfor the February 7 meeting so that local residents can have a chance to discuss this further. If you haven't already, sign up to get the CPO 1 Newsletter for updates. extension.oregonstate.edu/washington/cpo/news-signup.

 

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Publisher/Editor:Virginia Bruce
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