TriMet is proposing to add service to eight bus lines for fiscal year 2017 to help improve reliability, better match rider demand, connect people with jobs and ease crowding. The proposed changes are driven by a new stream of revenue from last year’s passage of an increase in the employer payroll tax, which will mean new or improved service twice per year — in September and March — for the next 10 years. TriMet has added service every year since 2013, with a focus to connect workers with jobs, educational opportunities and meet growing demand. TriMet’s fiscal year 2017 runs from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
Open house Feb. 25
There will be an open house Thursday, Feb. 25, to allow community members to voice their opinions about proposed bus-service changes for September 2016 and March 2017.
- 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Mount Hood Community College—Maywood Park Campus (Room 305)
- 10100 NE Prescott, Portland, OR 97220
- Line 71-60th/122nd Ave serves the Maywood Park Campus
Proposed bus service improvements: September 2016
- 4-Division/Fessenden: Add early morning and late-night weekday buses to accommodate early and late work shifts.
- 32-Oatfield: Increase weekday hours of operation.
- 36-South Shore: Run buses on Jean Road to Jean Way and Boones Ferry Road to better serve the Lake Oswego Commerce Center and other employment. Discontinue service on Pilkington Road, Childs Road, 65th Avenue and McEwan Road due to low ridership, which will improve on-time performance at other stops along the route.
- 63-Washington Park/Arlington Heights: Add Saturday and Sunday service to provide trips through Washington Park and neighboring areas.
- 71-60th Ave/122nd Ave: Split into two bus lines. One line will continue to run on its current routing and frequency along 60th Avenue between Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center. The other line will be renamed and renumbered and continue to run between Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center and SE 94th and Foster. It also will have additional weekday trips.
Proposed bus service improvements: March 2017
- 20-Burnside/Stark: More frequent buses on weekdays during peak and midday hours to better meet demand.
- 21-Sandy Blvd/223rd Ave: Add weekday trips during rush hours to better connect people to employment.
- 155-Sunnyside: Extend the line to SE 172nd Avenue to serve the Happy Valley Crossroads development. Discontinue service on 157th Avenue, Misty Road and 162nd Avenue.
Future service expansion
When looking at expanding service and the future of transit, TriMet's first priority is to maximize the benefit to riders, especially those who are connecting to jobs, educational opportunities, community services and other activities. This means service that begins earlier in the day and later into the evening.
The service expansions are based on TriMet's comprehensive Service Enhancement Plans (SEPs) the company developed with key stakeholders, businesses, residents and riders over the past four years. The 10-year phase in of the tax revenues will fund about one-third of the SEPs, as they are 20-year visions for the future of transit.
New buses
As part of an ongoing bus-replacement program, TriMet is adding 77 new diesel-powered buses, all of which will be in service by the end of May. The company plans to acquire 50 more in FY2017, 57 in FY2018 and 70 in FY2019.
