Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
DOWNLOAD JON HUNTS STATEMENT
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
STEVE BANTA PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES-From Steve himself:
Al, I didn’t leak the information to the news media. But you did point people right to it on your blog back in April. The Citizen Advisory Committee on the Budget recommended that TriMet work with union members and leadership to find ways to reduce costs, which is exactly what we intend to do. I have no interest in bargaining our contract with ATU through the news media, or in trying to sway public opinion on the matter. The process will happen as it should, at the table with the union and the District bargaining in good faith.
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STEVE ON THE FAKE TICKET SCAM:
On Tuesday night investigators from the Transit Police Division and Portland police made two arrests related to a major counterfeiting operation of TriMet tickets. More than 35,000 all day and all zone tickets were confiscated, with a value of more than $100,000. During the several months-long investigation, it is estimated that the counterfeit tickets cost the agency another $100,000. You can read about the story in most newspapers online.
Many thanks go out to the TPD officers who spent long hours working this case. It is also important to note that several bus operators provided valuable information about where and when they saw the fake tickets on our system, and their efforts were an important part of the investigation.
More than 35,000 fake tickets
were confiscated.
The quality of the fake tickets was remarkable, and clearly the work of a sophisticated operation. According to Lieutenant Silva, it is similar to a drug selling operation, where the product is manufactured in large quantities and distributed in smaller amounts through a series of intermediaries who all make a cut of the profit. While the value of an individual ticket is small, in the quantities that were confiscated this week, it can quickly add up to a substantial sum of money.
According to police, conviction of manufacturing and distributing forged TriMet tickets is a Class C felony, which could result in a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $125,000. Their investigation is ongoing for additional people who may be involved in the purchase, distribution and the use of the forged TriMet tickets. More arrests are anticipated.
While a large number of tickets were seized, it is still possible that more will come in to the system in the future. If you believe that you have received a counterfeit ticket, you should use the Fare Evasion key on the VCH to notify Dispatch. If you are able to make note of where you received the ticket and a description of the person you received it from, please give that information to your station manager at the garage. Do not confront the person or attempt to detain them.
TriMet is informing customers that they should be very careful when buying tickets or passes from anyone other than an authorized TriMet representative, especially if the price of the ticket is "too good to be true."
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STEVE ON THE FAKE TICKET SCAM:
On Tuesday night investigators from the Transit Police Division and Portland police made two arrests related to a major counterfeiting operation of TriMet tickets. More than 35,000 all day and all zone tickets were confiscated, with a value of more than $100,000. During the several months-long investigation, it is estimated that the counterfeit tickets cost the agency another $100,000. You can read about the story in most newspapers online.
Many thanks go out to the TPD officers who spent long hours working this case. It is also important to note that several bus operators provided valuable information about where and when they saw the fake tickets on our system, and their efforts were an important part of the investigation.
More than 35,000 fake tickets
were confiscated.
The quality of the fake tickets was remarkable, and clearly the work of a sophisticated operation. According to Lieutenant Silva, it is similar to a drug selling operation, where the product is manufactured in large quantities and distributed in smaller amounts through a series of intermediaries who all make a cut of the profit. While the value of an individual ticket is small, in the quantities that were confiscated this week, it can quickly add up to a substantial sum of money.
According to police, conviction of manufacturing and distributing forged TriMet tickets is a Class C felony, which could result in a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $125,000. Their investigation is ongoing for additional people who may be involved in the purchase, distribution and the use of the forged TriMet tickets. More arrests are anticipated.
While a large number of tickets were seized, it is still possible that more will come in to the system in the future. If you believe that you have received a counterfeit ticket, you should use the Fare Evasion key on the VCH to notify Dispatch. If you are able to make note of where you received the ticket and a description of the person you received it from, please give that information to your station manager at the garage. Do not confront the person or attempt to detain them.
TriMet is informing customers that they should be very careful when buying tickets or passes from anyone other than an authorized TriMet representative, especially if the price of the ticket is "too good to be true."
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FROM A READER
I just filed for unemployment, which I've never done before so I had
to read through all the documentation they provide. There's a section
on how to file for unemployment if you're furloughed, and I remembered
Fred's posting from a few months ago (I saw it when I was still at
TriMet, so it was April or earlier) that he was taking a 2-week
furlough and requesting that all the executives do the same.
I supppose legally they could file for unemployment during that time
since it's a furlough longer than 1 week, but it would sure be in poor
taste if they did. I wonder if there's any kind of watchdog group to
find out if they are? Maybe the same people that seem so hellbent on
tearing down the health insurance benefits of union workers?
to read through all the documentation they provide. There's a section
on how to file for unemployment if you're furloughed, and I remembered
Fred's posting from a few months ago (I saw it when I was still at
TriMet, so it was April or earlier) that he was taking a 2-week
furlough and requesting that all the executives do the same.
I supppose legally they could file for unemployment during that time
since it's a furlough longer than 1 week, but it would sure be in poor
taste if they did. I wonder if there's any kind of watchdog group to
find out if they are? Maybe the same people that seem so hellbent on
tearing down the health insurance benefits of union workers?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
THE MONSTROSITY GOES OUT OF SERVICE AGAIN
Due to an auto accident affecting the Grahams Ferry bridge in Tualatin, all WES trips for the morning commute on Thursday, July 9, will be served by shuttle buses. Trains are not able to travel along the tracks because of damage caused by the accident. Shuttle buses will serve all stops between Wilsonville and Beaverton Transit Center starting with the first trip from Wilsonville at 5:19 a.m. Riders should plan to add about 20 minutes to their commute. WES service is expected to be on schedule for the afternoon commute.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
BYE BYE 39TH AVENUE
City Council approves naming street for Cesar Chavez
In a unanimous vote, city commissioners approved renaming 39th avenue for the late labor leader.
In a unanimous vote, city commissioners approved renaming 39th avenue for the late labor leader.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Cassandra M. McIntyre
12:47 a.m. – Cassandra M. McIntyre, 24, was charged with concealing a weapon and excluded from TriMet for 60 days.
New MAX hurts bus riders
I cannot rejoice over the new MAX line from
First, TriMet cuts bus lines and frequency of service. My own line has been cut so much -- only running a few times each week day -- that it's essentially worthless. I now have to walk more than half a mile to catch a bus.
Then, TriMet downgraded the world-class transit mall by cutting the number of bus stops in half. Now, TriMet proposes to eliminate
JEANNE ROY
Southwest
Monday, July 6, 2009
MANAGEMENT SHAKEUP!
Date: July 1, 2009
To: Operations Division Employees; Business Forum
From: Peggy Hanson
Subject: Staff Announcements Within Transportation Operations
Steve Banta announced in April 2009 a process of evaluating every part of Operations to find areas
where we could do with less, and where we could do without. Given the required level of service and
staff reductions, Steve challenged all of us to seize the opportunity to approach our customers in a new,
refreshing and ultimately more effective way.
Effective July 1, 2009, Transportation Operations has a strong, yet streamlined management team in
place that is focused on our core service:
Jay Jackson
Manager
Hayden Talbot
Lyle Pereira
Dan Stokes
James Brown
Ruth Tillson
Ken Jenson
Greg Larson
Vic Kandle
GregoryDonavon
Robert Romo
Phil Davis
Jean Cook
Dan Stokes, formerly assistant manager rail transportation, will join Field Operations in the important
work of overseeing field supervision and fare inspection. Gregory Donavon, most recently an assistant
manager at
Elmonica to Ruby Junction, where he will support rail operators and the daily activities of Bus Dispatch
and Rail Control. Ruth Tillson and Robert Romo join the management team at
Cook will join the team at
I believe this offers an extraordinary opportunity to broaden the breadth and depth of our experience as a
transportation management team. I am also proud that we have been able to maintain our commitment to
minimizing the impact on our frontline employees.
Thank you.
STEVE BANTA TALKS ABOUT THE REDUCTIONS
Staffing changes and budget reductions reflect commitment to streamline management while minimizing impact on frontline employees.
7/6/09 Looking at the impact of the budget on Operations
Stephen R. Banta, Executive Director Operations
As you have heard from our general manager, TriMet is in the midst of unprecedented financial challenges that have resulted in service and staff reductions. In making the difficult decision to reduce service to the public, we committed to our riders and to our employees that we would do whatever possible to make reductions in areas that would minimally touch riders and employees. At this point we still have not had to lay off one represented employee, and we continue to hope that represented layoffs will be avoided through attrition.
In order to achieve that commitment, we have examined line items in every department of Operations to come up with targeted reductions in materials and services and the elimination of a number of open positions. There are open positions that we cannot do without, and you will see those posted in the future.
Additionally, some individuals accepted layoffs as part of our need to reduce administrative costs. For example, I am looking at how the Accessible Transportation Program can function without a director, and instead rely on clear communication and collaboration between managers in the department and my staff. A final decision will be made in the near future.
There have been reductions in overtime allotments in both maintenance and transportation. We will not be able to continue to over-expend our overtime budgets moving forward. An "all hands to the pump" attitude is required of each and every one of us to make this successful.
There has been a restructuring of Transportation Operations to better meet the needs of our riders and employees in this new financial environment. You can read more about the specific changes in Director of Transportation Peggy Hanson's memo. We are moving forward with a strong, yet streamlined management team consisting of only two assistant managers at each location. Their challenge is not doing more with less; rather, it is looking at how we can better support the delivery of our service to our customers. These changes offer opportunities for our staff to broaden their experience as a transportation management team.
I am confident that a shared commitment to the quality of our service will allow us to focus on meeting the challenges ahead.
TRIMET MANAGEMENT ENJOYS TORTURING ITS EMPLOYEES
It's 9:00 am and the TRINET employee website has a disabled link for the fall sign up.
All Trimet operators are on the edge of their seats over this and yet the managment dilly dallies in getting us the information.
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