Friday, February 13, 2009

STEVE BANTA DISCUSSES THE IMPENDING DESTRUCTION OF TRIMET

Initial budget cut of 5 percent may not involve frontline employee layoffs. Feedback from employees will be important as we refine proposed service cuts.

2/13/09 What service reductions mean to Operations

Stephen R. Banta, Executive Director Operations

Earlier this week General Manager Fred Hansen announced that due to the economic recession, TriMet is making a 5 percent budget cut across the board for fiscal year 2010. This includes a reduction in service. Today, a detailed list of proposed service cuts was put on TriNET for employees to review and comment on. Please take a moment to look at it and send your feedback to servicechangefeedback@trimet.org.

An important question that is being asked by many employees is, "What does this mean for my job?" I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to reach our new budget targets without laying off frontline employees. There are numerous variables at play that will impact our ability to achieve that goal, including the federal stimulus package, revenues from the payroll tax vs. projections, and natural employee attrition rates.

The proposed service reductions add up to approximately 70 fewer operator positions. That sounds alarming, but there are some important offsets that should help to ease your mind. We have stopped hiring classes of new operators. We will be hiring additional rail operators and controllers for Green Line, as well as additional rail and bus supervisors--all from the existing operator ranks. When you then figure in operator retirements, even if less retire than projected, we may be able to weather the 5 percent cut in service without laying off operators.

We are looking through every part of the Operations budget to make cuts strategically, including materials and services, allocations of overtime, and our management structure. Over the years, many efficiencies were gained through PIP such that there aren't many areas in our division where we are "fat." For example, in Bus Maintenance there are 33 fewer employees today than in 2001. This is extraordinary, given that they have successfully maintained and dramatically raised the reliability of a fleet of aging buses. Because the proposed reduction does not substantively change the number of vehicles we will be running, I cannot cut any more frontline positions from Bus or Rail Maintenance. Similarly, our need to keep up the state of good repair and cleanliness of our facilities, bus stops and rail platforms does not change, so I will not be cutting Facilities Maintenance frontline positions.

I want to emphasize that the work each and every one of you do is critically important to successfully delivering service to our customers. Please, take some time to look at the proposal and let us know what you think. Your input is important, and your comments will be read and taken seriously.

Thank you in advance for your support.





TRIMET DESTROYS TRIMET-uses shock and awe on its customers!

http://trimet.org/alerts/servicecuts.htm

FARE LESS SQUARE STAYS-all 4 options preserve it in some form

After a year-long review of Fareless Square policy objectives, alternatives and comments from the public, TriMet is seeking feedback on possible changes to Portland's fare-free zone. Four options have been proposed
  • No changes
  • Limit Fareless Square to rail only
  • Adjust the Lloyd District boundaries
  • Institute a $1 fare

You can help decide the future of Fareless Square.

Learn more about the proposed changes and share your comments

DRIVERS DISCUSS THE FARE LESS ISSUE

PART 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqVBZPux0Po
PART 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPq0KBw2bPI



This movie consists of two separate movies that will play sequentially.

NEW BUSES OF MERLO

BACK TO THE MALL

http://trimet.org/portlandmall/may24.htm

Riders get screwed

http://trimet.org/news/releases/feb12_ridership.htm

Make a comment i guess...

http://trimet.org/mailforms/projects_comments.html

Final scenes from the day from hell

FRED MAKES STATEMENT ON CUTS

http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2009/02/fred-makes-statement-on-cuts.html

EMPLOYEE EXPOSED TO TB!

http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2009/02/tuberculosis.html

LARRY NORTON-excellent article on cutbacks!

TriMet - hard to believe - Neighborhood: Old Town - OregonLive.com

Economy Forces TriMet To Cut Services - Portland News Story - KPTV ...

Economy Forces TriMet To Cut Services - Portland News Story - KPTV ...

RIDERSHIP PRODUCTIVITY-thanks erik!

http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2009/02/ridership-productivity-thanks-erik.html