Monday, April 27, 2009

ENABLING ANGIE?

MAX train kills pedestrian in SW Portland

MAX train kills pedestrian in SW Portland

TOO MANY PEOPLE MARKED OFF ANYWAY...

STEVE BANTA MAKES TRIMET HISTORY!

RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE PLAYLIST-5 videos/23 minutes total

LETTER SENT TO MERLO MANAGERS

I sent this e-mail to all three Merlo managers because I am not sure which one to actually talk to. I get memo's, letters, and conversations from all three.
.................................................................................................................................
Greetings Ruth, Gregory, Greg;

Bob Crouley showed me a memo whereby he was advised that the respectful workplace class was canceled.
He further advised me that I would also be receiving said memo.
When I came in from my run on Friday there was no mail for me.
Be advised that I would prefer NOT to attend this meeting as it will play havoc on my personal schedule.
However, I have taken it upon myself to review HR-171 respectful workplace regulations.

http://trimetofficialinformation.blogspot.com/2009/04/hr-171-respectful-workplace-conduct.html

I had an informal meeting with Josh Collins, communications director, and asked him the following question.

"If a schmuck like me can make hundreds of video productions in my spare time as a hobby, why is it that the TRIMET training department can't put these training seminars onto video so that people can view them as time allows?"

Thank You

Al Margulies #2387

RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE

http://trimetofficialinformation.blogspot.com/2009/04/hr-171-respectful-workplace-conduct.html

Sunday, April 26, 2009

BRUCE HANSEN FOR PRESIDENT ATU 757

EUROPEANS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT TRANSIT

Copenhagen buses offer perks to lure customers IceNews - Daily News

punkrawker4783 gives his views on trimet

BOB AND DAVE DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF TRIMET

SWINE FLU PANDEMIC!

MAX CRASH

MAX train, car collide in North Portland

by Brent Walth, The Oregonian
Saturday April 25, 2009, 12:38 PM

It was a MAX train vs. a car in North Portland at noon on Saturday.

The train won, and nobody got hurt.

A gray Pontiac Grand Am going south on North Interstate Avenue turned on to North Ainsworth Street and into the path of the yellow line MAX train, also heading south. TriMet spokeswoman Denise Woodward said the train was going about 30 m.p.h. She said the operator hit the brakes but couldn't stop in time.

None of the people in the car -- the driver and two passengers -- was injured, nor was anyone on the MAX. The car was towed and the train was delayed only a short time, Woodward said. She said TriMet officials are still looking into the incident.

Issues with the design of the new Portland Mall

DAVID JOHNSON ADDRESSES TRIMET BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Formula deer hunting

BOB SAVES A LIFE THANKS TO THE CEDAR MILL SHUTTLE!

82nd&Powell?

Dangerous accident
Video sent by dmars72

accident

Course de bus (car , bus race)stock car

Course de bus (car , bus race)stock car
Video sent by benbmx

AND YOU THINK MAX IS CROWDED?

HAHA!

THIS STORY JUST REAPPEARED




















TriMet bus plows into four vehicles in inner SE Portland « East ...

I ride TriMet Line 67 and Meet Famous Blogger Al M

punkrawker4783 (aka chad) meets me-he's got a great blog too!

http://punkrawker4783.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-meet-al.html
http://punkrawker4783.blogspot.com/

STEEL BRIDGE ON 4/21/09

TRANSIT ADVOCATE JASON BARBOUR SPEAKS TO TRIMET BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

TRIMET APRIL BOARD BRIEFING

http://trimetpublicmeetings.blogspot.com/2009/04/trimet-april-2009-board-of-directors.html

Anti-Columbia River Crossing rally

http://trimetpublicmeetings.blogspot.com/2009/04/anti-columbia-river-crossing-rally.html

RIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT DURING SNOW EMERGENCY 2008

HEY....ITS SUNSET BOB!...hey bob! how come your parked on the curb?


TriMet bus slams into stopped traffic on SE 122nd in Hazelwood











THE STEEL BRIDGE ON 4/20/09

SMARTER THAN STREETCARS-bojack

http://bojack.org/2009/04/smarter_than_streetcars.html

THE SAM ADAMS PREFERRED BRIDGE DESIGN


DATES TO REMEMBER


JEFF ACKERSON FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD


It's the dog that sold me!

BOB REACTS TO NEW SHUTTLE-angies exclusion vacated, chuck walks in, more

MAX shutdown for Portland Mall work

This is a playlist of different movie clips. To view individual movies go to "rosecitytransit" at Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=489418A6F041FD16

Jeff Mapes reads from "Pedaling Revolution",The Oregonian's senior political reporter at Powell's City of Books, March 19th, 2009

This playlist is comprised of several different movies. Go to "rosecitytransit" at Youtube for individual episodes.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7887BAD15DCD6ACB

Sunday, April 19, 2009

WHO GETS LAID OFF?


















The language that provided for MINI RUNNERS to be all laid off BEFORE FULL TIMERS is no longer in the working and wage agreement!

WEIRD INCIDENTS

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x90wg3_unreal_sport

SEATTLE MAKES ADVANCES ONLY DREAMED ABOUT IN PORTLAND

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041909WAB-orca-transit-card-SW.ef7b982b.html

THE LEWIS AND CLARK EVENT-3 PARTS

**to the event**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXRBRJ_LOWE
**the event**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgmmbDag8Bs
**heading back from the event**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZixhC48Vp_w

KEN

THE YELLOW CARD SAGA

WHY DOES TRIMET TREAT COLLEGE STUDENTS SO BADLY?

MAX OUT

Due to a car accident at Mississippi and Interstate Avenue this morning, Yellow Line MAX service in both directions has been disrupted. Shuttle buses are providing service between the Interstate/Rose Quarter and Expo Center stations. Repairs to a damaged overhead power pole are expected to be done by 8 a.m. Riders taking shuttle buses should expect delays. More

STEEL BRIDGE VIEW ON April 17,2009

Friday, April 17, 2009

PLANNING CONTINUES FOR THE GALA EVENT!

SUNSET BOB MEETS DAVE STUBBLEFIELD

TRIMET SUPERSTARS TO GATHER FOR GALA EVENT!

Another yellow card rejected!




















Thanks to Dan Sheck for his assitance in this matter, I knew of course that it was a lost cause, they never accept any advice other than their own.This was the first yellow card I had written in 10 years, which I gave up on before I even submitted it. I learned long ago you can't fight city hall, or TRIMET MANAGMENT!

Paulson stadiums deal

http://bojack.org/2009/04/the_hits_just_keep_on_comin_1.html

The ZehnKatzen Times: TriMet Map Cover Designs: 1986, 1987

The ZehnKatzen Times: TriMet Map Cover Designs: 1986, 1987

THE VIEW FROM THE PENTHOUSE

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

TOXIC BUSES

Dear Steve Banta,
I spoke with someone at TriMet recently who suggested I might want to contact you.
I have multiple chemical sensitivities and must ride near an open window to avoid negative effects on my health from perfume residues, exhaust, plastic off-gassing and the like. Recently, on my way home from downtown, I got on a bus and found I could not get the window near my seat to open. There was a severe "new-car smell" in the bus, which was one of the new buses with windows that do not open and an inadequate automatic "ventilation" system that is not adjustable by the driver. For the next
week, until I was able to get an appointment with my acupuncturist, I suffered from severe exhaustion and depression, a typical result for me of exposure to these types of toxic gases.
In a way, I'm fortunate, because I react to toxic gases like this immediately, so I have to limit my exposure to them, and am therefore less likely to suffer serious damage from longer term, more frequent exposure. I'm concerned about my own situation, of course, because I can no longer use the bus system to get around town, and since I don't drive, this really limits my ability to get around. However, I'm also very concerned about the exposure of other passengers and, especially, of bus drivers assigned to these new buses who are exposed to the toxic off-gassing during working hours throughout the work-week. The San Francisco Chronicle ran a very informative article about the gases implicated in "new-car smell" in 2006, which you can access here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/18/INGAUJDPVI1.DTL. There is a risk of liver damage for prolonged exposure to some of these chemicals. Others are still not well studied.

It does seem to me that it should be possible to retrofit the new buses to make it possible for the windows to open. I understand TriMet made a deliberate decision to order buses with windows that would not open, in order to prevent interference with the cooling and heating systems on the buses. I think anyone who thought about it for a moment or two would prefer to be a bit chilly or warm, in order to avoid exposure to toxic fumes!

I hope you can do something about this. Please let me know if I can help.
Thanks!
Margaret Donsbach
2875 SW Raleighview Dr.
Portland, Oregon 97225
503-297-1203
mdonsbach@q.com

JOSEPH ROSE ATTENDS TRIMET TRAINING

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/04/the_educated_commuter_behind_t.html#preview

TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON-STEVE BANTA

















4/15/09 What do additional cuts mean for Operations?

by Steve Banta — last modified Apr 15, 2009 09:55 PM

September service cuts to go before TriMet Board next week. July non-direct service cuts to be deeper, and potential for December cuts on the horizon.

Stephen R. Banta, Executive Director Operations

The budget situation is creating anxiety for many people. I want to assure you that any rumors concerning specific numbers of job eliminations are just that: rumors. We are carefully evaluating where we have to make workforce reductions. It is still too early to draw any conclusions as to where the cuts will be and whose jobs may be at risk.

Our goal continues to be to preserve as much service as possible for the riding public and to limit personnel reductions. We are in the process of evaluating every part of Operations to find areas where we can do with less, and where we can do without. In some cases, we are going to have to change the way that we do business in order to focus on the core service to our customers.

I am still hopeful that we will meet our targets for September service reductions without layoffs of operators and maintainers, because of retirements, the staffing of Green Line and vacant positions. In mid-February I indicated to you that Operations needed to cut five percent across the board, but that I was holding off on impacting maintenance positions. Unfortunately, the five percent cut is not going to be enough, and I cannot hold maintenance harmless under additional cuts.

General Manager Fred Hansen indicated in his March 24 notice to employees that due to the financial crisis, our budget reductions would need to be greater than originally anticipated. This means deeper cuts—an additional three percent, for a total of eight percent—in non-direct service areas effective July 1. To clarify, "direct service" only includes bus and rail operators, bus and rail mechanics and the materials/supplies needed to operate the vehicles. "Non-direct service" is everything else in the division.

In mid-May we will see our first quarter payroll tax receipts and will determine if additional direct service cuts will be needed in December. I cannot guarantee that there will be no direct service layoffs for December. We will do everything we can to manage personnel cutbacks through open job vacancies and attrition.

At the end of the day, the last things we want to do are eliminate service or take someone's job away. Decisions over layoffs are difficult. They need to be transparent, discussed with ATU and in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.



AUSTIN MILLERS MOM SPEAKS


VIEW FROM THE PENTHOUSE/april 13, 2009

PICTURE OF THE DAY