New four-year Working and Wage Agreement gives union employees a more than 13% wage hike and adds other benefits aimed at increasing retention and drawing new employees to TriMet to support service and customer experience improvements
TriMet’s new Working and Wage Agreement with union employees represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757 takes effect Dec. 1, 2024. This after the TriMet Board of Directors approved the new contract at its business meeting on Sept. 25. TriMet’s ATU Local 757 members ratified the new agreement in August. The ATU represents the vast majority of TriMet employees — more than 2,700 people, including bus and MAX operators, dispatchers, mechanics, maintenance service workers and others.
TriMet and ATU leadership negotiated a four-year term for the new contract, instead of the usual three, to provide greater stability for everyone involved. That includes riders, as well as people who may be considering a career with TriMet.
The agreement boosts union employees’ wages by 4% in December 2024, followed by a 3% increase each year after that. That comes out to a 13.64% wage increase over four years. Hourly pay will also increase for maintenance shifts between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
TriMet will also increase the employer contribution to union employees’ 401(a) retirement plan by 1% now and another 1% in the final year of the contract. This will bring TriMet’s contribution for union employees to 10%.
The agreement includes several other benefits for new and existing TriMet union employees, including:
A new tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year, intended to support employees who are taking higher and continuing education courses.
A new child care subsidy of up to $150 per month, helping to allay the increased cost of child care.
Two additional floating holidays, plus more vacation time for employees who have spent at least 15 years with TriMet.
Under the agreement, TriMet will also rework some schedules and add new cleaning positions. Riders will see the benefits! These changes should mean more regular cleaning at TriMet facilities and fewer canceled trips.
TriMet is hiring!
Reaching a negotiated four-year agreement with the ATU Local 757 supports TriMet’s efforts to attract and retain employees in key positions, including operators, maintenance and other union staff.
Filling these jobs is vital to our plans, as we look to further increase service, bolster safety and security, and improve the cleanliness and reliability of our system. That means a better experience for riders — including those who rely on transit to access services and opportunities, including jobs, schools and health care.
TriMet is currently offering a $7,500 hiring bonus for new operators and a $2,500 hiring bonus for several other positions, including diesel mechanics and maintainers. Visit trimet.org/careers to learn more and apply.
The Working and Wage Agreement applies to current and future union employees. Some provisions depend on seniority, rewarding longtime employees with additional benefits.
Tentative 4-year agreement includes a more than 13% wage increase, 401a contribution increase, new childcare subsidy, tuition reimbursement and other changes that bolster TriMet’s ability to expand service and improve the customer experience
*Information on union vote has been updated.
TriMet and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757 leadership have reached a tentative agreement on a proposed new Working and Wage Agreement. The new contract includes compromises and improvements that benefit TriMet’s union employees, the agency and TriMet riders. If ratified by TriMet union members and approved by the TriMet Board of Directors, the new, four-year contract will take effect on Dec. 1, 2024, though an increase in the agency contribution to union employees’ 401a plan would go into effect after Board approval.
Proposed Working & Wage Agreement – by the numbers:
2,664 – TriMet employees who are members of ATU Local 757
13.64% – Wage increase over four years, with 4.0% coming in December 2024
2% – Increase in TriMet’s contribution to union employee 401a plan (10% total employer contribution with increases included in contract)
Up to $5,250 – New yearly tuition reimbursement for continuing education for ATU members
$150 – New monthly childcare subsidy for ATU members
2 – Additional floating holidays
$0.70 – annual increase in hourly ‘longevity’ pay for Transportation employees, the first in 25 years (Longevity pay is a retention tool that increases the pay for longer-term union employees in certain work classifications who have reached the top of the scheduled, step pay increases.)
4 years – Longer contract term to provide greater stability for all parties involved
“This tentative contract agreement underscores our unwavering commitment to attract and retain people who want to work for TriMet, support their families, better themselves and make a meaningful contribution to our region’s economic vitality,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “I appreciate the bargaining team, which conducted negotiations in record time and with a collaborative approach focused on improving working conditions for our union staff while improving TriMet’s ability to provide the service our riders need.”
“This truly is a landmark agreement proposal that will greatly benefit ATU 757 members in a variety of ways, including personally and financially,” said ATU 757 President Shirley Block. “As my tenure with TriMet and leading the ATU Local 757 comes to a close, I know this contract leaves my union brethren in a much better situation and sets them up for a prosperous future.”
TriMet must continue to improve staffing and retention levels, especially among operators, maintenance and other union staff. That is critical to agency plans for increasing service, expanding safety and security, and enhancing cleanliness for a better customer experience.
* ATU requires Transportation employees, Maintenance employees and salary employees to all separately approve the agreement. All work groups, except for Transportation employees, approved the agreement in a vote held on Aug. 3. Transportation employees ratified the agreement on Wednesday, Aug. 14. It now goes to the TriMet Board of Directors for approval at the Board’s Sept. 25 business meeting.
Construction has begun on two additional stories of parking at the SE Park Avenue Park & Ride
TriMet kicked off a year-long project that will free-up more parking at an historically busy Park & Ride in North Clackamas County, giving commuters southeast of Portland more access to transit. The project will also fully realize the original plans for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project, which brought federal funds to the region for the MAX Orange Line, completed in 2015.
The expanded SE Park Ave Par & Ride viewed from the north.
Construction will expand the three-story structure at the south end of the MAX Orange Line by two additional floors, adding 334 new spaces, including six accessible parking spaces. The project will also add wiring and equipment to support 40 additional electric vehicle charging stalls. The new parking will open in spring 2025, and the electric vehicle charging stalls will open at a later date. With the exception of the third floor, the Park & Ride will remain open during the majority of construction.
A five-story parking facility was originally planned for SE Park Ave, but TriMet deferred construction until we could ensure federal funding remained in the project budget to build it. Development of the MAX Orange Line itself came in under budget, allowing us to tap federal money for the Park & Ride expansion.
When the three-story Park & Ride opened in 2015, with 401 spaces, it quickly became one of TriMet’s most popular, often filling to capacity on weekdays or during events. TriMet had planned for this possibility, building the structure to allow for its future growth. As a short-term measure, TriMet entered into an agreement with the adjacent Milwaukie-Portland Elks Lodge #142 to lease spaces in its parking lot to manage overflow.
While demand is less today due to travel changes following the COVID-19 pandemic, adding the two new floors of parking now allows us to build for the future to match the growing transit needs in North Clackamas County—without inconveniencing riders.
Short-term construction, long-term benefits
Expanding the garage will make it easier and more convenient for people to reach jobs, services or other important destinations. The SE Park Avenue Park & Ride is served by the MAX Orange Line and bus lines 33-McLoughlin/King Rd and 99-Macadam/McLoughlin. The Line 291-Orange Night Bus also serves the station from Downtown Portland, replacing MAX Orange Line trains after midnight.
While both the garage and the onsite Bike & Ride will remain open during construction, the entrance from McLoughlin Boulevard will be closed through the project’s completion. Drivers will enter and exit from the driveway off Southeast Park Avenue. The sidewalk on McLoughlin Boulevard will remain open, however. The Park & Ride elevator will also be closed during construction.
TriMet’s goal is for roughly 20% of the construction contract be set aside for certified disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms. DBEs are businesses owned by minorities or women at a level of at least 51%, with these contracts used to build a diverse and skilled workforce while at the same time making critical improvements to our region’s transportation system.
Design and site features
In addition to increasing the garage’s capacity, the project will add decorative panels that vines will climb. The landscaping surrounding the garage will be temporarily removed during construction. It will be replaced when the project is completed. We’re also temporarily removing the garage’s rooftop solar panels to accommodate construction.
Construction activities to make way for hollywoodHUB, a community-centered, mixed-use, transit-oriented development with affordable housing, neighborhood-gathering space and modernized transit facilities
Big changes are coming to TriMet’s Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center in Northeast Portland. Construction has begun on a series of projects that will transform the transit center into affordable homes, bustling retail and community-gathering spaces – all just feet from TriMet buses and trains.
Turning underused land into homes, community space
In the coming years, what had been nearly 35,000 square feet of underutilized land will become the site of hollywoodHUB, a mixed-use building and community space, with some 224 permanently affordable apartments. The former dead-end portion of Northeast 42nd Avenue will become a new public walkway, featuring a redesigned connection to the Hollywood MAX station.
For TriMet, the project represents an opportunity to fully realize the potential of an underutilized site. The Hollywood Transit Center opened in 1986 as part of the original 15-mile MAX line between Gresham and Downtown Portland. Changes over the past 37 years, including the city’s need for more affordable housing, spurred a closer look at the site as a new home for transit-oriented development and modernized transit facilities.
Temporary tribute mural being removed
To make way for the hollywoodHUB, TriMet’s must first demolish the existing ramp and stairs. A temporary, accessible structure will be installed to maintain access to and from the MAX station before TriMet creates a new, permanent ramp later in the construction. This does mean removing the tribute mural that has graced the walls of the ramp structure since 2018.
The “We Choose Love” mural, designed by artist Sa’rah Farahat, was commissioned as a temporary tribute following the devastating attack on a MAX train pulling into the Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017. Ricky Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche were killed and Micah Fletcher was seriously hurt after coming to the defense of two teenagers targeted by an individual spewing hate.
A spontaneous outpouring of emotion, support and community filled the walls of the ramp structure in the weeks after. People shared expressions of grief and gratitude in colorful chalk. That was inspiration for the design of Farahat’s temporary mural that weaved together color, text and images across nearly 2,000 feet of wall space at the Hollywood Transit Center.
“I remain committed to the words that were written, spoken and made into action by citizens of Portland who demand safety and love for all,” artist Sar’ah Farahat said. “To you who visited We Choose Love as a way to mourn and spread care, may the words sprout like seeds in your heart. Now is your time to bloom.”
While the memorial was intended to be temporary, it will be reflected in the design of the final development. The vivid colors and calls for peace will be incorporated into the permanent ramp and walkway area as a long-lasting remembrance of that tragic day and the outpouring of love and community.
Bringing permanently affordable homes to the heart of Hollywood
The entire hollywoodHUB development project is a partnership between TriMet, developer BRIDGE Housing, and resident services provider Impact NW*. Service provider has been updated.
Funding for the affordable housing element comes from many sources, reflecting the building’s size and its large number of units. Most notably, Portland Housing Bureau and Metro pooled resources to provide $31.95 million of affordable housing bond funding, sourced from the Portland Housing Bureau’s 2016 and Metro’s 2018 bond programs. With the combined resources of both bond programs supporting it, hollywoodHUB has received the largest funding award ever issued for an affordable housing project in Portland, an indication of the scale and impact of this project and the urgent need for affordable housing across the region.
TriMet and friends officially break ground on the Hollywood Transit Center Project and hollywoodHUB development. From left to right: Maura White, Hollywood Boosters Business Association; General Manager Sam Desue Jr., TriMet; Commissioner Carmen Rubio, City of Portland; Councilor Mary Nolan, Metro; Jo Schaefer, Hollywood Neighborhood Association; Ex. Vice President Kurt Creager, BRIDGE Housing; Rep. Thuy Tran, Oregon Dist. 45
On Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, TriMet and partners took part in an official groundbreaking to begin TriMet’s ramp demolition and construction work. That will be followed, in the summer of 2024, by the first phases of constructing the hollywoodHUB development.
“This project extends beyond mere transit infrastructure. It encompasses TriMet’s commitment to making our region one of the world’s most inclusive, sustainable and livable places,” TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. said. “We’re revitalizing this transit center into homes and community space seamlessly linked to TriMet’s bus and MAX service and other shared mobility options.”
“BRIDGE Housing congratulates our partners at TriMet on reaching this important milestone for the hollywoodHub, laying the foundation for an inclusive, equitable, transit-oriented community in alignment with our commitment to fostering vibrant and accessible neighborhoods,” President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing Ken Lombard said. “Today’s celebration reflects the power of our collective will to meaningfully address the housing crisis. While much work lies ahead, we’re proud to partner with this stellar team to help meet the needs of working families in the City of Portland.”
“We believe transit and housing are key elements to maintaining a healthy society,” Metro Councilor Mary Nolan said. “This project is an example of all of us working together to take care of one another. Providing families with a stable place to live, grow and thrive is essential in building stronger communities.”
“We are thrilled to be working closely with TriMet on this development,” Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio said. “In just a few short years, hundreds of low-income Portlanders will call the hollywoodHUB home and will be able to take advantage of fantastic transit access to get to work, school and play. Thank you to the voters of Portland for supporting the Housing Bond measures that made this project possible.”
The hollywoodHUB will bring 224 new units of affordable housing within steps of TriMet’s buses and trains. Overall, 151 of the homes will be at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), while 71 units will be at or below 30% AMI, including 55 homes with rental assistance vouchers ensuring residents only pay 30% of their income on rent and utilities. Impact NW will serve as the resident services provider, ensuring inclusive supportive services to building residents.
According to data from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the region is about 90,000 housing units short of meeting the needs of people living at or below poverty. In 2018, voters approved Metro’s $652.7 million bond program, which earmarks money for permanent affordable housing projects across Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.
Housing solutions through transit-oriented development
Once completed in 2026, the project will serve as another example of transit-oriented development in action. Such projects maximize density while creating walkable neighborhoods near transit, relieving congestion, increasing the supply of affordable housing and community resources. TriMet is not a developer, but we work with local partners or third parties to create better purposes for our underutilized properties, such as the Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center. Other recent examples include the new East County Library, under construction on the old site of TriMet’s Gresham City Hall Park & Ride, and the Fuller Station Apartments. Completed and opened for residents at the end of 2021, the Fuller Station development features 100 apartments for families and individuals who earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income.
For more information about TriMet’s Transit-Oriented Development program, visit trimet.org/tod.
Inclusive collaboration in Hollywood Transit Center transformation
TriMet and BRIDGE Housing share ambitious goals for disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), minority-owned, women-owned, service disabled veterans business enterprises and emerging small businesses (ESB) participation in project design and construction. TriMet’s prime contractor for the Hollywood Transit Center Project is Raimore Construction, a federal and Oregon certified MBE & ESB, with minorities comprising more than 80% of its staff, including all supervisory and management personnel. BRIDGE Housing has brought on O’Neill-Walsh Community Builders to construct the hollywoodHUB. The general contractor is 49% minority owned.
From Capitol Hill to Oregon, Tyler Frisbee has helped shape equitable transportation throughout region
The TriMet Board of Directors welcomes Tyler Frisbee as its newest member as of June 1, 2023. Frisbee was nominated to serve on the Board by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and the Oregon Senate approved the appointment in April.
Frisbee brings background in active transportation, policy, coalition building
TriMet District 4 Director Tyler Frisbee
Tyler Frisbee is well-versed in active transportation and has a range of experience in coalition building, two vital skills that will help steer TriMet as we rebound from lost ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic and add back new and improved transit service.
“I’m an avid user of TriMet, and I will use that perspective and experience advocating for safe, reliable transit service,” Frisbee said. “I believe transit should make everyone’s lives better, regardless of race, disability or economic status, or whether or not you even use it. I want to make taking the bus or the MAX the best part of everyone’s day. TriMet has the power to uplift communities while helping our region reach its climate goals.”
Frisbee will represent TriMet District 4, which spans from Southeast Portland to Milwaukie and covers portions of northern Clackamas County.
Frisbee most recently worked in Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s office as a strategic advisor with a focus on transportation, environmental policy and agricultural policy. Frisbee also spent more than six years with Metro, the regional government for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. During her time there, Frisbee worked primarily with Metro’s Government Affairs and Policy Development team, collaborating with local government partners to deliver on Metro’s goals of creating affordable housing, implementing efficient land-use policies and curbing carbon emissions. Frisbee also served as the Policy Director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and has experience consulting on transportation issues for the firm WSP Parsons and Brinckerhoff.
Frisbee began her professional career working for Congressman Blumenauer on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. During this initial stint with Congressman Blumenauer, from 2008 to 2014, Frisbee worked as a senior legislative assistant on issues surrounding transportation policy and finance, land use planning and environmental policy.
Frisbee was born and raised in Oregon. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Frisbee left the New Hampshire campus with a dual degree in government and human geography. While studying there, Frisbee led a non-partisan program that worked to engage young voters in the political process and increase turnout ahead of the state’s highly-contested 2008 presidential primaries.
Frisbee is multimodal, commuting by bus, bike and on foot. Her favorite bus line is the new FX2-Division, which runs between Downtown Portland and Gresham. While not advocating for transportation projects, Frisbee loves staying active. She spends her weekends outside, running and hiking through the beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
Frisbee joins President Dr. Linda Simmons and directors Keith Edwards, Ozzie Gonzalez, Thomas Kim, Dr. LaVerne Lewis, Dr. Linda Simmons and Kathy Wai on the Board.
Thank you to outgoing District 4 Director Bauman
TriMet would like to thank outgoing Board Vice President Lori Irish Bauman for her 8 years of service on the Board. Bauman represented TriMet District 4 and served as the chair of TriMet’s Finance & Audit Committee.
Bauman has been a frequent TriMet rider and helped guide our agency through the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has been instrumental in many TriMet initiatives, including the start of our journey on our goal to a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040, our switch to renewable energy and renewable diesel, our expansion of reduced fare to those who qualify based on a low income, our Division Transit Project and the launch of our first TriMet FX® — Frequent Express — high-capacity bus line, our current Better Red project to improve and expand our MAX Red Line, and much more.
About the TriMet Board of Directors
TriMet’s Board consists of seven Directors, who are appointed by the governor. They set policy for the agency, as well as appoint the general manager, implement legislation pertaining to transit operations and review and approve certain contracts.
Board members are volunteers and can serve up to two, four-year terms; however, they serve at the pleasure of the governor and can continue to serve until a successor is appointed. For more information about the TriMet Board, visit trimet.org/board.
Pedestrians, cyclists and others should plan for minor route changes across the bridge starting Monday, June 5
It’s inspection time for Portland’s transit and pedestrian bridge. TriMet’s biennial inspection of Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, begins Monday, June 5, and will last until Friday, June 9.Due to the work, pedestrians, cyclists and people using other modes, like e-scooters, will need to use a single pathway between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. for each day of the inspection. TriMet bus and MAX service, as well as Portland Streetcar service, will not be affected.
We ask that you follow the posted detour signs, and we urge cyclists to walk their bikes and yield to those on foot to help keep everyone safe.
We’re working to keep the Tilikum Crossing in tip-top shape and apologize for any inconvenience the temporary path closures may cause. During the inspection, you may notice workers on top of, beside and even underneath the bridge.
Construction closures/detours – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day
Most of the inspection work can take place with minimal impacts to pedestrians. One side of the bridge will always be open to pedestrians and one-way bicycle traffic. If you are cycling against the flow, we do ask that you either walk your bike across or use an alternate route, such as the Hawthorne Bridge.
Use marked crosswalks near the South Waterfront/SW Moody MAX Station on the west end or the OMSI/SE Water MAX Station on the east end of the bridge.
Safety inspections are required on Tilikum Crossing and the adjacent Harbor Way structure every two years. Since the bridge opened in 2015, inspections have taken place in June 2017, 2019 and 2021. Learn more about Tilikum Crossing.
A look at five ways TriMet is taking climate action
TriMet’s middle name might as well be “climate-friendly.” Being green is part of our culture, but with the effects of climate change being felt every year, we know we can do more in reducing our pollution while providing a low-carbon travel option for people all across our corner of Oregon.
In the long term, we’ve set the goal of cutting our emissions to net zero by 2050. In the Portland metro area, the entire transportation sector is the largest contributor to the region’s carbon emissions. Every time someone gets on a bus or taps their Hop card before boarding a MAX or WES train, a potential single-occupancy car trip is avoided, congestion on our roads lessens, and our air quality improves. For more than fifty years, TriMet’s service has allowed Portlanders to seek alternatives to driving, or even owning a vehicle in the first place.
We want to encourage more people to use TriMet in navigating our region. The key to this is providing better service to more of the places people need to go. Here are five ways we’re reducing the carbon footprint for the Portland region.
Forward Together towards lower emissions
TriMet is working to expand our bus service by more than 30% in the next few years, which would bring service to 50,000 more people on weekdays and expand weekend service to 100,000 more people as well. We’re moving some of our bus routes, adding lines, and changing our schedules to increase ridership and better meet the needs of people with lower incomes who rely on transit. This year, we start to roll out the first of our Forward Together service improvements.
We’ll be adding buses on some routes to bring them into our Frequent Service network, providing customers with a ride every 15 minutes throughout the day. That will make it more convenient for people to ride. Our Forward Together plan also includes some minor route changes to help people better access large employment centers and our MAX system.
Powered by clean energy
TriMet’s “Type 1” MAX trains have been through it all, and just last year MAX Train 120 hit the 2 million mile mark. What’s powered it these past two years, and all our MAX trains, is renewable electricity. All TriMet-owned facilities run on renewable electricity as well.
By switching to renewable electricity in 2021, we reduced our carbon emissions by more than 25%. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 5,200 cars off the road and means 53 million fewer pounds of greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere every year.
As we look forward, buses that are part of our first bulk purchase of electric buses will begin arriving late this year – and they too will run on renewable electricity! Those 24 electric buses will help our transition from a diesel bus fleet to a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.
These buses run on what? How food waste keeps TriMet rolling
If you boarded a bus after eating French fries, you and your bus are kind of being powered by the same fuel source. TriMet buses run on renewable diesel, which is made up of sustainable organic matter such as natural fats, vegetable oil and greases, which are things you might find at the bottom of a kitchen fryer. We made this switch to the cleaner-burning fuel in December 2021, and it lowers our bus fleet’s greenhouse emissions by 61% compared to the diesel blend we had been using.
Renewable diesel, known as “R99”, is a cleaner-burning, low-carbon fuel that powers our diesel buses and LIFT vehicles, as well as our WES trains. “R99” gets its name because it’s derived from 99% renewable sources but is chemically identical to regular diesel.
Not just how we move, but where we live: TriMet investments create sustainable communities
Our Transit-Oriented Development team works with community partners to make the most efficient land use around our MAX stations and transit centers, with affordable housing, community facilities, and commercial facilities that encourage sustainable growth.
The Fuller Station Apartments recently opened up in Happy Valley along the MAX Green Line and Line 72-Killingsworth. The six-story building features 100 apartments that quickly filled up, providing housing for families and individuals who earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income. The apartments were built on an underused portion of a TriMet Park & Ride and was made possible, in part, by funding from the Housing Authority of Clackamas County.
It’s collaborative work with our regional partners that makes these types of projects possible. TriMet is working with Multnomah County on its new East County Library, a large-scale, state-of-the-art 95,000 square-foot space, accessible to people throughout Gresham and East County. This project also converts part of a TriMet Park & Ride, near the Gresham City Hall MAX Station, to create a community space that will be a destination for people living east of I-205. This is an example of TriMet making investments, not just in moving people, but in helping to create great destinations that people can access via our transit system.
No vehicle too small for improvements. How we’re going green with the cars we use
TriMet operates nearly 700 buses and has a fleet of more than 140 light rail vehicles. We also have approximately 300 non-revenue vehicles, which TriMet staff use to coordinate operations, respond to incidents, and for various maintenance purposes across our transit system. Those vehicles put more than few ticks on the odometer, driving approximately 2.4 million miles per year. To save money in the long-term and to cut down on our carbon emissions, we’re investing in more hybrids and electric vehicles for our fleet of non-revenue vehicles. Last year, we put into service 10 hybrid SUVs for a group of Field Supervisors, who help keep our MAX and bus systems moving. The new wheels lead to a 250% improvement in their vehicles’ miles-per-gallon. Additionally, a work group that maintains TriMet’s ticket vending machines and MAX station Hop readers has been using an electric van with positive results. TriMet hopes to purchase more electric vans as we replace our older models.
We have a 10-year plan for the replacement of all of TriMet’s non-revenue vehicles and will be working towards having 70% of them electric by 2033. We’re also working with our regional partners and utility companies to put electric-vehicle charging stations at more TriMet-owned facilities.
Take climate action by taking TriMet
Reducing car trips is one way people can incorporate climate-friendly habits into their routine. We want to encourage more people to use TriMet in navigating our region, whether that’s commuting to work, running errands, or exploring parts of our region for a fun day-off activity. If you’re not familiar with TriMet’s system, explore our website, TriMet.org. We’ve made it easy to learn about out transit service, plan a trip and track your ride and see what destinations TriMet can take you to. For people already riding TriMet, consider inviting a friend or family member to take the bus, MAX, or WES with you. TriMet allows you to hang out with a friend without worrying about the stress of navigating car traffic or the hassle of having to find parking.
TriMet serves the 1.65 million people who live in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Our blend of rail and bus service covers 533 square miles. Small changes, made by all of us, add up, producing big benefits for our region. Choosing TriMet is a simple step you can take to help curb pollution, reduce congestion, and improve the quality of life in our region. Learn more about how TriMet is working to curb our region’s carbon emissions and lead the way towards a sustainable future.
TriMet Board approves Ordinance 369, making those committing the most serious misdemeanors eligible for long-term exclusions and further addressing chronic banned behavior
TriMet’s Board of Directors, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, approved Ordinance 369 to amend the TriMet Code—the rules for operating and riding TriMet—to strengthen the agency’s ability to help keep riders and employees safe. The changes, which take effect Jan. 13, 2023, authorize the General Manager to impose stiffer penalties for prohibited conduct on the transit system. The amendments address behavior-based conduct only, and do not change penalties for fare evasion.
The approved changes to the Code will expand the types of offenses that can result in long-term exclusions, those that stretch from six months to a lifetime ban. While felonies already fall under the scope of our current long-term exclusion policy, attempted felonies and Class A misdemeanors—the most serious category, which includes fourth-degree assault and some bias crimes—will also be eligible for longer exclusions.
Approval of the changes to strengthen long-term exclusions comes eight months after the TriMet Board approved a change to the Code that increased penalties for spitting on operators. These changes are part of a larger effort to make it safer to work on and ride the transit system, while addressing nuisance issues to improve the customer experience. It’s important to note that any person issued a long-term exclusion can seek a later review of that exclusion to show changed behavior.
What the changes would do
Long-term exclusions have been in place since 2017, when the Board adopted an ordinance that authorized—for the first time—the General Manager to issue such exclusions to people who commit “serious physical offenses” against other people. The terms of the long-term exclusions have stayed the same since then, lasting anywhere from about 6 months to a permanent ban.
Ordinance 369 makes three principal changes to TriMet’s Code, focusing on individuals who commit serious physical offenses and repeatedly violate TriMet’s Code relating to conduct.
1: The most serious misdemeanors will be covered under TriMet’s definition of “serious physical offense”
People committing Class A misdemeanors against others, along with attempted felonies, will be eligible for long-term exclusions. In addition to assault and bias crimes in the second degree, Class A misdemeanors include public indecency, possession of a hoax destructive device and harassment that includes offensive sexual contact.
2: Remove distinctions between first and second offenses
Because most, if not all, of the actions that trigger a long-term exclusion are physical and serious, the approved changes simplify the Code by removing the distinction between first and second offenses. The General Manager has discretion on whether a year-long exclusion, or even a permanent ban, is warranted after the first offense, depending on the severity of the crime. Since TriMet instituted long-term exclusions more than five years ago, only one person has ever been permanently excluded. Anyone who receives a long-term exclusion does have the right to appeal it annually.
3: Further address chronic offenders
Chronic offenders who have repeatedly commit Code violations for behavior, whether they were Class A misdemeanors or not, and have not changed their behavior despite multiple attempts by TriMet to dissuade such conduct, will also be eligible for long-term exclusions of up to two years. Chronic offender is defined as a person with three or more violations for conduct within a 90-day period. Making chronic offenders eligible for long-term exclusions is specific to behavior and not simple fare evasion. Rather, this addresses behavior that disrupts the safety and order of the transit system.
Again, the changes for long-term exclusions go into effect Jan. 13, 2023.
Decriminalizing fare enforcement
While none of the Code amendments approved touch on fare evasion, it’s important to note that TriMet has moved to decriminalize over the past six years. Efforts to improve the handling of fare evasion include:
Decriminalized fare enforcement by soliciting in 2017 a change in state law to allow TriMet to resolve fare evasion citations directly rather than citations automatically going to the court.
Changed TriMet Code in February 2022 to further clarify that police do not conduct random fare checks by specifically prohibiting police from asking individuals for proof of fare. (Police officers may continue to be present during fare inspection activities by TriMet personnel and investigate other offenses, assist in identifying a person and intervene when needed for the safety of TriMet staff and riders. Only under the General Manager’s direction may Transit Police Officers temporarily conduct fare checks in response to specific security concerns.)
Enabling a safer, more welcoming transit system
Strengthening the TriMet Code through this ordinance is one piece of a larger strategy to increase security for riders and employees. Our goal is a transit system that’s safe and welcoming for all, where inappropriate behavior is dealt with—and dealt with fairly.
TriMet aims to keep both its operators and riders moving safely, and it’s important to have a means to hold people accountable for inappropriate, threatening or dangerous behavior. While the district attorney’s office determines punishments for crimes, those punishments don’t always include long-term exclusions from TriMet.
Ordinance 369 would be one more way for TriMet to exert further accountability measures to improve the customer experience and protect employees. We look for ways to adapt to circumstances affecting our transit system and continuously move toward improvement. We’ve worked with community partners, riders and employees to identify solutions that focus on diversity, equity, access and inclusion. Learn more about our efforts to ensure fair access to our transit system at trimet.org/equity and follow our process to reimagine public safety at trimet.org/publicsafety.
Ordinance 369 makes eligible for long-term exclusions, up to a lifetime ban, those committing the most serious misdemeanors and further addresses chronic banned behavior
Newly proposed changes to TriMet Code would strengthen TriMet’s ability to help keep riders and employees safe. Brought before TriMet’s Board of Directors on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, for its first reading and public hearing, Ordinance 369 would amend the Code—the rules for operating and riding TriMet—to authorize the General Manager to impose stiffer penalties for prohibited conduct on the transit system. The ordinance addresses behavior-based conduct only, and does not change penalties for fare evasion.
The amendments to our Code would expand the types of offenses that could result in long-term exclusions, those that stretch from six months to a lifetime ban. While felonies already fall under the scope of our current long-term exclusion policy, Ordinance 369 would also permit those types of exclusions for attempted felonies and Class A misdemeanors—the most serious category, which includes fourth-degree assault and some bias crimes.
The new ordinance is being proposed eight months after the TriMet Board approved a change to the Code that increased penalties for spitting on operators. It is part of a larger effort to make it safer to work on and ride the transit system, while addressing nuisance issues to improve the customer experience.
“With the challenges happening in the community today, issues such as vandalism, crime, drug use and mental health are at a tipping point and, at times, spill over onto the transit system, despite agency efforts,” said TriMet Chief Operating Officer Bonnie Todd. “TriMet is working on a strategy to better address inappropriate behavior on the system, better support our operators and other employees, improve the cleanliness of our vehicles and property, and pursue coordinated efforts with external partners to address social issues and ensure safe access to transit.”
Part of the strategy involves increases in security presence on TriMet. In the past four months, TriMet has doubled the number of Customer Safety Supervisors from 18 to 37. These are TriMet employees who assist riders and operators, while enforcing the TriMet Code. In the same timeframe, we’ve increased the number of contracted transit security officers from 60 to 96, with hopes to grow that to more than 100 by the end of the year. We’ve also doubled our contracted Safety Response Team to 48 members. Safety Response Team members help people on and around our system, specifically those who are struggling with homelessness or are in need of other social services. TriMet employees and our contracted security staff are all unarmed and are separate from our Transit Police Division.
It’s important to note that any person issued a long-term exclusion can seek a later review of that exclusion to show changed behavior. A second reading of Ordinance 369, followed by a Board vote, will occur at the Board’s Dec. 14 meeting.
What the changes would do
Long-term exclusions have been in place since 2017, when the Board adopted an ordinance that authorized—for the first time—the General Manager to issue such exclusions to people who commit “serious physical offenses” against other people. The terms of the long-term exclusions have stayed the same since then, lasting anywhere from about 6 months to a permanent ban.
Ordinance 369 would make three principal changes to TriMet’s Code, focusing on individuals who commit serious physical offenses and repeatedly violate TriMet’s Code relating to conduct.
1: The most serious misdemeanors would be covered under TriMet’s definition of “serious physical offense”
People committing Class A misdemeanors against others, along with attempted felonies, would be eligible for long-term exclusions. In addition to assault and bias crimes in the second degree, Class A misdemeanors include public indecency, possession of a hoax destructive device and harassment that includes offensive sexual contact.
2: Remove distinctions between first and second offenses
Because most, if not all, of the actions that would trigger a long-term exclusion are physical and serious, Ordinance 369 would simplify the Code by removing the distinction between first and second offenses. The General Manager would have discretion on whether a year-long exclusion, or even a permanent ban, was warranted after the first offense, depending on the severity of the crime. Since TriMet instituted long-term exclusions more than five years ago, only one person has ever been permanently excluded. Anyone who receives a long-term exclusion does have the right to appeal it annually.
3: Further address chronic offenders
Chronic offenders who have repeatedly committed Code violations for behavior, whether they were Class A misdemeanors or not, and have not changed their behavior despite multiple attempts by TriMet to dissuade such conduct, would also be eligible for long-term exclusions of up to two years. The ordinance defines a chronic offender as a person with three or more violations for conduct within a 90-day period.
This change is specific to behavior and not simple fare evasion. Rather, this would address behavior that disrupts the safety and order of the transit system.
Decriminalizing fare enforcement
Nothing in the proposed Code amendment touches on fare evasion, which TriMet moved to decriminalize over the past six years. Efforts to improve the handling of fare evasion include:
Decriminalized fare enforcement by soliciting in 2017 a change in state law to allow TriMet to resolve fare evasion citations directly rather than citations automatically going to the court.
Changed TriMet Code in February 2022 to further clarify that police do not conduct random fare checks by specifically prohibiting police from asking individuals for proof of fare. (Police officers may continue to be present during fare inspection activities by TriMet personnel and investigate other offenses, assist in identifying a person and intervene when needed for the safety of TriMet staff and riders. Only under the General Manager’s direction may Transit Police Officers temporarily conduct fare checks in response to specific security concerns.)
Enabling a safer, more welcoming transit system
Strengthening the TriMet Code through this ordinance is one piece of a larger strategy to increase security for riders and employees. Our goal is a transit system that’s safe and welcoming for all, where inappropriate behavior is dealt with—and dealt with fairly.
TriMet aims to keep both its operators and riders moving safely, and it’s important to have a means to hold people accountable for inappropriate, threatening or dangerous behavior. While the district attorney’s office determines punishments for crimes, those punishments don’t always include long-term exclusions from TriMet.
Ordinance 369 would be one more way for TriMet to exert further accountability measures to improve the customer experience and protect employees. We look for ways to adapt to circumstances affecting our transit system and continuously move toward improvement. We’ve worked with community partners, riders and employees to identify solutions that focus on diversity, equity, access and inclusion. Learn more about our efforts to ensure fair access to our transit system at trimet.org/equity and follow our process to reimagine public safety at trimet.org/publicsafety.
