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TriMet Confirms That Orange Line Will Go Through Downtown After All, But Details Still Unclear
Several months ago I raised my concerns about TriMet’s decision to give the upcoming Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail line its own color (the Orange Line) rather than simply extending the Yellow Line south through downtown, allowing riders to travel from one end of the region to the other on a single train. Even with the Orange…
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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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Fare Relief
TriMet has a new program for distributing fares to low-income system users via non-profit providers. So for example if you were going to a non-profit medical clinic and were income-qualified, the clinic could provide with you with free tickets for your visit. TriMet is putting about $300K into this program, with up to $25K in…
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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…