Comments on: TriMet to cut service to fill budget gap

By: nativePDX

nativePDX — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:56:31 +0000

Jayson L says:
It cost almost twice as much per passenger on a bus versus a light rail vehicle because operators account for so much of the operating costs and MAX vehicles hold five times more passengers than a bus.
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One reason bus lines become more expensive than Light rail is Tri Met usually takes a very successful self supporting bus lines and turns them into feeder buses for Light rail so the ridership drops for the bus lines.

The Lombard / Interstate line was self supporting before Interstate line was changed to light rail. Also Tri Met rarely add in the construction costs and intersection upgrades needed for light rail line and add that to the auto expenses for road repairs.

Max may be able to carry 5 times the people of a bus, but it rarely does outside of rush hour and often runs empty . That brings down the average considerably.

Transit users only pay 20% of operating costs and none of the capital construction.

Most of the federal money coming for Light rail, comes from auto and truck user fees!

By: nativePDX

nativePDX — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:46:14 +0000

The market share for auto use, is growing as fast as Max use!

Portland, Oregon (3-County) Transit
Urban Travel Market Share
Compared to Before Light Rail

Roadway or auto use
1985–97.9%
2007–97.9%

Transit
1985—2.1%
2007—2.1%

Transit Share: Change from 1985 = 0%

Motorized travel
Data from US Department of Transportation & Texas Transportation Institute
Assumes national automobile occupancy rate of 1.6

By: Jayson L

Jayson L — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:59:47 +0000

Here’s another perspective… TriMet ridership has grown faster than population growth, while vehicle miles traveled per capita has declined in the region. Obviously, TriMet was doing something right before the recession. As far as operating costs go, TriMet couldn’t afford to carry nearly as many people on buses alone with the operating funds that are available for the region through the payroll tax. It cost almost twice as much per passenger on a bus versus a light rail vehicle because operators account for so much of the operating costs and MAX vehicles hold five times more passengers than a bus.

In the same way that businesses are cutting employees, TriMet is cutting service. It’s a business-like response to the situation and they are being criticized as if they are producing some sort of typical public agency response.. It sounds like nothing short of anarchy (no government) will satisfy some people’s conservative cantankerous perspectives.

By: Old Town

Old Town — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:37:34 +0000

And why is there a $27 million budget gap? Could it be the result of light rail and WES expansion? Isn’t there something ironic to this expansionary spending requiring service cuts to fund it? Shouldn’t service be the priority?

Public agencies like TriMet don’t realize or don’t care that available resource dollars ought to act as a regulator on spending. Projects should not be items on a todo whatever the consequences list.

A Perspective