TriMet tests the waters for route changes and increased fares

Learn more about the proposed TriMet rate hike, and what’s in store for outer East Portland’s ‘TriMet FX™’ line on SE Division Street. There’s still time for you to comment online …

Neighbors, riders, and TriMet employees check in at an open house to learn more about proposed fare increases.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

A modest rate increase is being proposed by the TriMet Board of Directors, and some routes will be changed. That’s what attendees of an East Portland open house heard – regarding the TriMet Forward Together project. It was held at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church on Wednesday evening, January 18.

“At these open houses we’re asking our riders, neighbors, and employees to give us their feedback on changes to some bus routes – and also the fare increase proposal that will go before our Board of Directors, who will vote on it in May,” TriMet Communications Director Roberta Altstadt told East Portland News.

“The information we gather at these open houses, both in-person and virtual, will be taken to our Board, to help inform their decision about impending bus route changes; and a fare increase that would go into effect in January of 2024,” Altstadt explained.

TriMet Communications Director Roberta Altstadt shows one of the many bus route changes – this one, in inner Southeast Portland.

Proposed price increases

Those at the open house learned that the current proposal would increase the adult 2 ½ hour ticket and lift para-transit single ride ticket by thirty cents. The adult day pass would increase by sixty cents. The honored citizen and youth affairs would increase for 2 ½ hour ticket would increase by fifteen cents. And honored citizen passes would increase by thirty cents.

Asked why TriMet is considering raising fares, Altstadt replied, “The TriMet board has a fiscal responsibility, and they have determined that now is the time to consider a fare increase.

Many exhibit boards at this open house explain why fares may increase, and where several routes will likely change.

“We have not had an increase to our adult fare in more than a decade,” she made clear.

“The costs of operations have all gone up, and our operating costs have gone up 37% since 2012, with no increase in our base fare – so, like everyone else, we are dealing with inflation,” affirmed Altstadt.

“Public engagement” ran through February 25. “This will give us time to gather all of the feedback, and all the comments that we are hearing into a report that will be presented to the TriMet Board in March,” Altstadt said

Excited about ‘FX Division Lines’

Soon, jumbo-sized busses like this one will again be rolling along the FX Division Lines. Courtesy TriMet

“We were very excited to launch the TriMet FX™ [stands for “Frequent Express”]

FX Division Lines last fall,’ Altstadt remarked. “This provides more frequent service than we’ve had in that area.

“And, this is big improvement, because this is an under-served area; and we’re also excited that we’re going to get our ‘big green articulated buses’ back out on that line, hopefully within the next few weeks,” revealed Altstadt. “The operators of those busses are doing some retraining, after we identified a safety defect on those buses and had to remove them from service. The manufacturer has now corrected the problem.”

TriMet’s Director of Planning and Policy, Tom Mills, listens to the concerns of a rider.

Feedback from riders on the FX Division Lines is encouraging, Altstadt remarked. Riders have expressed positive comments about:

Better service,
Increased trip speed,
Easier boarding,
Bikes-on-board,
More shelters, benches and other amenities, and
Real Time Arrival Displays

“We also put in a new generation of Transit Signal Priority on these bus lanes in key locations, and that really helped move the buses around other traffic,” Altstadt acknowledged. “Early on, ridership numbers were higher on that line than previously – and also year-to-year, from 2021 to 2022.”

Talking about the planned new fare structure is TriMet Board member Lori Bauman.

Public engagement started December 8, and it will end February 25. “This will give us time to gather all of the feedback, and all the comments that we are hearing, into a report that will be presented to the TriMet Board in March,” Altstadt concluded

You can share your own feedback on any topic involving TriMet during the public comment section of TriMet Board of Directors meetings, by phone and text at 503-238-RIDE (7433).

And, see all of the route changes suggested by Forward Together on the official TriMet webpage: CLICK HERE.

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