Category: General News

  • TriMet Launches “Cut The Budget” On-line Tool

    As TriMet prepares for a projected budget shortfall of $12 million to $17 million for the next fiscal year, the agency has launched an excellent on-line tool where people can see the budgetary choices involved. This is a great way to force people to think about the real tradeoffs inherent in any budget-cutting exercise, getting…

  • Jarrett Walker interview in WW

    In case anyone missed it, Willamette Week published a short interview with transit planning consultant Jarrett Walker of Human Transit fame. He makes some great comments about the value of mobility and addresses the need for TriMet to restore their frequent service network, which was devastated in the last round of cuts. Mr. Walker has…

  • APTA list ranks Portland #11 in nation for transit savings

    The American Public Transit Association (APTA) just released their Transit Savings Report, which estimates how much people save monthly and annually from taking transit instead of driving. Portland is ranked #11 among US cities, with monthly savings of $856 and annual savings of $10,269. The report uses the cost of a monthly transit pass to…

  • Chinatown bus operator attempts to evade USDOT ban by changing names

    For those who promote privatization über alles, consider the developing story in the East Coast. A wreck involving a so-called “Chinatown” bus (a private long-distance bus company which provides curbside service between major city’s downtowns; often focused in Chinatowns and marketed towards Chinese communities) in Virginia resulted from driver fatigue, and the DOT ordered the…

  • Introducing your Oregon Transportation Commission

    A few months ago, Portland Transport did an article on the TriMet board of directors, the not-very-conspicuous septet which oversee Oregon’s largest transit agency, and to whom GM Neil McFarlane reports. Today, we turn to arguably five of the most powerful transportation officials in the state, the Oregon Transportation Commission. Bike Portland did a similar…