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October 25, 2010
A Recommendation That Should Not Be Overlooked
Scotty has already reported on the release of the TriMet Safety Task Force report.
I'd like to highlight one of the recommendations that has not gotten a lot of coverage:
4. Community advisory committeeTriMet cannot achieve the highest levels of safety performance without engaging the entire community. The task force heard from operators that the rules of the road and the physical environment in which they operate don't always accommodate a conflict-free environment.Members of the public have described their need for more collaboration between TriMet and its customers and partners both in decision-making processes and in response to identified issues.
Community conversations will be required to harness the knowledge of all constituents and thereby improve the safety of the region's public transportation for everyone. TriMet should consider a community advisory committee that would allow TriMet's customers and partner stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in as TriMet makes decisions. It would also provide an opportunity for customer engagement on the agency level beyond the limitations of current public testimony to the board. Engagement with the community should also include an improved process for collecting and responding to safety issues that are identified by the public.
I've always found it odd that TriMet had no general purpose citizen or riders advisory committee (they do have a Committee on Accessible Transportation and a Budget Advisory Committee). I hope the recommendation will be followed and some kind of CAC will be created. I think it would help on a number of fronts, not just safety. If nothing else, some of the more tone-deaf things that TriMet has managed to do in recent years might get headed off with some honest CAC feedback.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:55 AM
Comments
October 24, 2010 10:37 PM
Bob R. Says:
Indeed, and I hope for everyone's sake that such a (potential) committee includes a significant (majority) representation of riders (not just bus, not just rail).
Back during the Transit Mall redevelopment discussions, when I was known by some as the "shelter guy", it was clear that there was no (alert to the goings-on) ridership constituency. There is a constituency of _some_ important rider subsets (accessibility advocates, for example), but not a representative cross-section of those who ride regularly, regardless of transit mode.
October 24, 2010 11:14 PM
Jason McHuff Says:
I'm not against the idea of a "rider's council", though I see differing functions to possibly do: overseeing the agency (e.g. regarding safety) and acting as the voice of riders (e.g. people who want service).
As for the mall, the problem is that it was seen as a street/neighborhood improvement plan, which would be fine for many places where most traffic is local, but not for main (transit) arteries that are used by many who are passing through and have nothing to do with the area.
