Fwd: TriMet service change considerations

[Peter Stark]

Ginger please forward.  TriMet consider stopping service to our neighborhood - again!  Peter.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Alison Wallisch" <ali...@nwnw.org>

Date: December 20, 2011 3:31:23 PM PST

To: "'Peter Stark'" <pts...@gmail.com>

Subject: FW: TriMet service change considerations

Can you forward this to your neighborhood?

 

Thanks!

 

From: Thompson, Clay [mailto:Thom...@trimet.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 3:09 PM
To: Alison Wallisch
Subject: TriMet service change considerations

 

As you may have heard, TriMet is facing a $12 to $17 million budget shortfall. Tough budget choices are ahead and we want to know what’s most important to you and your employees/constituents/community. We created this discussion guide trimet.org/choices because we want you to be aware of our funding issues and the  challenges they present.

 

We invite you to review the issues presented in this guide trimet.org/choices. You will see that “everything is on the table” when it comes to possible cost-saving measures. All options are being discussed. One of these options is the possible reduction of low-performing bus service.This includes lines that serve less than 15 riders per vehicle hour. Thus, I want to give you an early heads up that, these lines include 18-Hillside. We currently are researching who rides, when they ride and for what purpose. This information will assist with the decision-making process.   

 

TriMet is just beginning the outreach process and is seeking input from everyone via an online questionnaire at the back of the discussion guide, meetings, onboard bus outreach and other tools. The initial feedback we receive by January 20, 2012, will help us develop a specific proposal before our public open houses occur in February. The feedback period continues through the public hearings in March.

 

We welcome the opportunity to talk to your employees/constituents/community. Please forward this information, encourage them to consider the options presented in this guidetrimet.org/choices and provide feedback.  Again, we want to hear from everyone.  

 

I will be giving you a call soon to discuss.  Of course, please give me a call anytime at 503-962-6438. Your partnership and input are much appreciated – and necessary as we move forward towards difficult decisions.

 

Regards,

 

 

Clay Thompson

TriMet Marketing

4012 SE 17th Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97202

P: 503-962-6438

F: 503-962-6469

"See Where it Takes You"

[Barb Schwartz]

Sent from my iPad

[Randy Weisberg]

Hello Peter,

 

Attached is a brief lette I've written to Tri-Met, in a perhaps futile defense of our bus service.  If you or other Board members have any other ideas or suggestions along these lines kindly get in touch.

 

Best regards,

Randy W.   

[Peter Stark]

Randy I think it's a good letter.  I also think its worth discussion to have the board send it's own letter.  One of the strongest arguments of the reduced readership is service cut.  The more service that's cut the less likely the buses are going where and when patrons want them.  Cutting service has the potential to kill the system.

Although TriMet is well aware this could happen, losing the recent bond measure and reduced federal funding for the new light-rail project has forced them to find an alternate funding source.  The funding source was unfortunately to cut service expenditure.  Peter.

<Tri Met Letter January 2.doc>