We’re starting a new custom of a weekly open thread, rather than monthly.
A few news items for the week:
- September is here, which means the kids go back to school, and TriMet service changes take effect. Most of these were discussed previously; the good news is that this year brings a few modest service increases, rather than cuts. The most noticeable changes: The 47 no longer runs to Sunset TC; instead it connects Hillsboro TC, through Amberglen, past the new Kaiser Westside hospital, through Bethany, and ends at PCC Rock Creek. And in southwest, the 94 is being converted to an all-day express route between Sherwood and Portland; a new route, the 93, runs between Sherwood and Tigard TC.
- Metro recently passed out project grants, to the tune of $4 million.
- In another evidence of zombie activity, the states of Oregon and Washington have agreed to a mitigation plan for shippers upstream of the Columbia River Crossing–apparently, a lack of Washington State funding for the project is insufficient to stop it from its never-ending desire to devour
brainstax dollars. - Lane Transit District director Ron Kilcoyne with a guest post at human transit.
The blog engine and format may be different, but the rules for the open thread are the same–anything relevant to the site’s mission is welcome! (And as always, keep it civil and polite).
15 responses to “Open Thread for the week of 9/1/2013”
The TriMet Tickets app is available a day early: http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2013/09/trimets_highly_anticipated_tic.html#incart_m-rpt-2
Does anyone know if the app will allow you to convert two activated 2-Hour tickets (if both are within the same day) to an All-Day Fare so that you don’t have to pay for any more rides the rest of the day? This would be useful in situations where I might take the bus to a destination but don’t know ahead of time how I would return.
The broader concept of not having to pay more once you’ve passed a certain threshold (daily maximum at $5.00, monthly maximum at cost of monthly pass) has been discussed by TriMet as a feature of the future electronic fare system.
The risk of doing something like that in the SmartPhone app is that it is something which largely would benefit those who can’t afford monthly passes up-front, but that group also is less likely to own smartphones, so there is an equity concern.
For now, the way tickets are handled in the app more closely resembles a book of paper tickets in terms of function and limitations.
TriMet’s new e-ticketing application, officially called “TriMetTickets”, goes live today. ‘Tis available for both Apple and Android devices.
I like that ‘categories’ drop down menu u got there…..
I guess the FED’s are not bad ALL the time:
California mass-transit workers get pension reprieve
Your moderating posts now?
Sheesh…………..
You guys just keep disappointing me and yet I keep coming back……
Al, it’s no different than always. Several layers of software try to filter out spam and send the questionable cases to the moderators. Not sure why you happened to trigger it today.
“”Not sure why you happened to trigger it today.””
~~~>Cause it’s me perhaps?
Nah only kidding Chris I know I’m widely loved by all you guys here at P-Transport.
BTW, did you miss NEIL MCFARLANE’S demo of the new transit app?
US PIRG with an interesting report on the decline in driving; Oregon is #2 in the nation in fewer cars on the roads.
US PIRG with an interesting report on the decline in driving; Oregon is #2 in the nation in fewer cars on the roads.
~~~~>I really wonder about that because the traffic jams appear worse than ever to me.
I haven’t looked in detail, but I imagine these things are adjusted for population growth. The road network hasn’t expanded much (and has shrunk in a few places), but the local population has grown up.
Also, the report is for Oregon as a whole; rural miles may play a part in this as well.
OK PortlandTransporters come out from behind your computers and actually meet IN PERSON some of your favorite transit bloggers (I’m talking to you Bob Richardson but everyone is welcome)
Transit… Meet | Transit Sleuth
Shucks, looks like I’ll be at work at that time.
(BTW, I’ve been needing to post a general disclaimer here that any and all of my views, thoughts, opinions, and/or expressions over the years as “Jason Barbour” or “Jason” (which I used here in the very beginning of my participation) are 100% totally my own; unless otherwise notated they in no way reflect the views, thoughts, opinions, and/or expressions of any past/present/future employer, known and unknown, including but not limited to any ancestors or descendants, affiliates, clients, assignees, etc., any non-profit/volunteer organizations I have been associated with (or appear to have been associated with), any facilities of higher education I have attended (or appear to have attended); it is believed in good faith that the license agreement with Portland Transport (and previous policy that comments became the property of Portland Transport) do not violate/injure/etc. any nondisclosure and/or confidentiality agreements I have signed, known or unknown. I may need to repost this at a later time with specific verbiage if I have left out anything, however I believe in good faith this covers what needs to be covered. Thank you for reading; the fact I find a need to do this reflects the, IMO, sorry state of society.)
Thank you for reading; the fact I find a need to do this reflects the, IMO, sorry state of society.)
LOL!!!LOL!!
Hey how come this great new site of yours doesn’t have a preview pane and does not remember my user information?