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April 2013 Open Thread
It’s tax month again… Be sure to read our feature on the new Portland Hayride project. Fares on LIFT are going up. This is a previously-announced fare increase, one that was not scheduled to take effect until this month. ODOT is looking for ways to make Mt. Hood more multimodal (H/T to Bike Portland). C-TRAN…
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Metro mulls question of TriMet takeover
The question of whether or not Metro should take over TriMet has come up again, with state Rep. Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale) sponsors HB3316, which would mandate that Metro exercise its authority to do exactly that. Metro councilors expressed a lack of interest and doing so, and have expressed an opinion that a Metro takeover of…
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TriMet responds to article on FY14 budget, pay raise controversy
The recent article on the FY14 budget and the controversy over pay raises included therein, that many feel were not adequately disclosed to the community, has prompted a response from TriMet, disputing the claim that TriMet accounting procedures are improper. Agency spokesperson Mary Fetsch writes: TriMet’s financial statements are annually audited by Moss Adams. This…
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Streetcar faces funding issues
On the heels of an analysis that Streetcar farebox revenue was only about half what is expected, the Portland Mercury publishes an article further detailing the Streetcar’s funding woes. One interesting tidbit is that much of the revenue shortfall is not due to fare evasion, but due to TriMet passholders riding the Streetcar: According to…
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Next year’s draft budget, Raisegate, and more
Today, TriMet released a draft budget for Fiscal Year 2014 (which runs from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2014). The agency wants everyone to know that this year’s budget doesn’t contain the unpleasant news that was in last year’s (no service cuts and fare hikes), albeit with the usual asterisk (a favorable…