TriMet to host open houses on Forward Together service improvements and proposed fare increase

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Public invited to in-person and virtual events between Jan. 17 and Feb. 4, to give feedback on Forward Together service improvements for 2023-24 and fare increase proposal for Jan. 2024

TriMet’s public engagement for major service improvements planned for the coming year and a proposed 2024 fare increase continues, with 12 in-person and virtual open house events, beginning this month. The open houses start on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and run through Saturday, Feb. 4. TriMet staff will share information and answer questions about the first major bus improvements that we plan to roll out from our Revised Forward Together Service Concept. We’ll also gather feedback about a possible January 2024 fare increase to share with our Board of Directors before its vote on the proposal in the spring.

TriMet first launched our public outreach and engagement about the proposed fare increase in December, with an online fare proposal survey. The first Forward Together service changes being considered come after months of public engagement and feedback in late February and March in early 2022 and four weeks in the fall.

Forward Together 

Our Revised Forward Together Service Concept grew out of the comprehensive service analysis conducted in 2022. It helps us understand how people use transit to get around our region as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down. Forward Together provides a roadmap for growing our service by more than 30% in the coming years. It helps us get there by focusing on priorities defined by our community: increasing ridership and improving connections to destinations for people with low and limited incomes. 

We will begin adapting ideas from Forward Together into our service improvement plans later this year. The first package includes adjustments to 21 lines, including:

  • 5 lines upgraded to Frequent Service, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or better, most of the day, every day
  • 5 routes with buses running more often and earlier and/or later in the day
  • 11 lines with route adjustments for faster, more direct trips and transfers
  • 7 current lines discontinued 

Members of our outreach team will also gather feedback on a proposal to adjust Line 70-12th/NE 33rd Ave. We’d like to bring service closer to Cleveland High School, to make it safer and easier for students to access the bus. While some of the proposed changes to Line 70 were included in the draft Forward Together service concept, further adjustments have been made based on feedback, and the changes are now proposed for May 2023 due to renewed safety concerns around the Southeast Portland high school.

Find detailed descriptions of the proposals at trimet.org/plan.

Fare increase proposal

In May, TriMet’s Board of Directors is expected to vote on a fare increase proposal that would increase the cost of Adult fare for a 2 ½ hour ride by 30 cents and 60 cents for an all-day pass, and increase the cost of Honored Citizen and Youth fare by 15 cents for a 2 ½ hour ticket and 30 cents for a day pass. The proposal also calls for a 30 cent increase in fare for single rides on LIFT paratransit. The current proposal does not change the cost of monthly or annual fares. If approved, the increase would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. TriMet last increased our Adult fare in 2012. That’s despite inflation and increases for other basic services over the past decade, as well as a 37% increase in the cost of running and maintaining our transit system.

Open house schedule

We have scheduled 12 open houses, starting Tuesday, Jan. 17 through Saturday, Feb. 4, for people to get more information and share their feedback. The events will be held in person and virtually via Zoom, where participants will have the option to join online or by phone. Handouts and materials will be available in English and 10 additional languages, at each open house. Where specified, events will have accommodations available for people who prefer languages other than English:

  • Jan. 17, 4 – 6 p.m.: University of Oregon, 70 NW Couch St., Portland (Spanish)
  • Jan. 18, 8 – 9 a.m.: Via Zoom (Spanish interpretation available by request)
  • Jan. 18, 5 – 7 p.m.: St. Philip Neri, 2408 SE 16th Ave., Portland (Vietnamese)
  • Jan. 19, Noon – 4 p.m.: Rosewood Initiative, 14127 SE Stark St., Portland (Spanish, Napali, Rohingya, Burmese)
  • Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Via Zoom (Spanish interpretation available by request)
  • Jan. 24, 5 – 7 p.m.: Clackamas Community College, 7738 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie (Russian, Ukrainian) 
  • Jan. 25, 5 – 7 p.m.: Washington Street Conference Center, 102 SW Washington St., Hillsboro (Spanish)
  • Jan. 26, 5 – 7 p.m.: Fairview City Hall, 1300 NE Village St., Fairview (Spanish)
  • Jan. 28, 9 – 10 a.m.: Via Zoom (Spanish interpretation available by request)
  • Jan. 28, 1:30 – 3 p.m.: Via Zoom (Spanish language only)
  • Feb. 1, 5 – 7 p.m. Muslim Educational Trust, 10330 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Tigard (Arabic, Farsi)
  • Feb. 4, 9 – 10 a.m.: Via Zoom (Spanish interpretation available by request)

TriMet’s online survey is a quick and easy way to provide feedback on the fare increase proposal. The survey went live on Dec. 8, 2022. We’ve already received 2,539 responses, and you can leave open-ended comments. 

People can also share 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), via Twitter @trimethelp and online at trimet.org/help.