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Would single-payer healthcare help resolve the TriMet labor impasse?
Apologies for going off topic somewhat–healthcare is not a primary topic of this blog. However, the big issue in the dispute between the union and TriMet isn’t pay, but healthcare benefits. Costs for have been growing without bound, and are expected to grow. Health care costs for public employees are taking an ever bigger share…
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Your Questions for Neil — The Trilogy
It’s that time of the year again–time for Portland Transport’s annual sit-down with TriMet general manager Neil McFarlane, We hosted previous interviews with Neil last spring, as well as in July 2010, right after he took office. (The results of those interviews can be seen here and here). And now, it is time for Round…
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Employee Relations Board paddles TriMet’s bottom–again
Things don’t appear to going well for TriMet in its ongoing labor dispute–at all. In a blistering 8-page order, the state Employee Relations Board (ERB) once again ruled that TriMet’s recent offer in the ongoing contract negotiations constitutes an attempt to introduce a new issue into the bargaining process at the last minute, and as…
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Could TriMet become a “free” (or nominally-priced) service, Part 2
Last fall, Portland Transport considered the question of whether or not TriMet could become a free (or nominally-priced) service. Right now, the Farebox Recovery Ratio of the TriMet system in aggregate is about 25%, and last fiscal year fares provided nearly $100 million of TriMet’s overall operating budget. This discussion occurred right after TriMet first…
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Honored Citizen and youth fares: Are they fair?
A discussion of honored citizen and youth fares, and potential alternatives.