Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
BIG NEWS STORY!
Neighborhood residents rejoiced on Monday with the early completion of the TriMet bus stop sign replacement project at northbound Murray Blvd. and Linda Ln. “Since the old sign has been missing for the past two years, church service attendance has suffered.” says Rev. Larry Falwell of the nearby Village Baptist Church. “ The temporary sign they put up had been there so long that the letters were totally faded and unreadable. Most parishioners and many bus drivers had no idea a bus stop was located there.”
Funding for this project was part of TriMet's new green line MAX expansion. When no one at the agency could figure out what a bus stop in Washington County had to do with the MAX line, TriMet officials decided to “fast track” the replacement and finish one full year ahead of the scheduled Fall 2009 target date.
Of course a project of this enormous scope involved some controversy. A comprehensive environmental impact statement was required. Many activists who are now opposing replacing the Interstate bridge were on board early insisting that a toll should be required to pay for the new sign. Their objections subsided when they were reminded that a fare is actually required to board a bus in that part of the city. A few rouge bus drivers were also grumbling, saying that they were turning in yellow cards regarding the missing sign and felt that TriMet was ignoring them. One driver thought that a road supervisor could have spent five minutes several months ago and put up a new temporary sign. If only life could really be that simple.
On a related note, TriMet also announced on Monday that a new division of the Transit Police has been established to battle theft of TriMet property. Since the transit agency has practically eradicated fare evasion and rowdy behavior on the system, manpower can be utilized for two goals: Prevention and recovery of stolen bus stop signs and to curb the alarming increase of bus operators taking rubber bands home with them.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
ROSS RESPONDS TO TRIMET
On Thursday August 7, 2008 I had a short meeting with managers Lyle Pereira and Greg Larsen at Merlo Garage. I learned that managers at TriMet do not any authority to issue or initiate exclusions to unruly and dangerous passengers. Only road supervisors and transit police can do so.
In my case, where a individual called TriMet customer service on July 31, 2008 not once, not twice, but three times within a one hour period and threatened myself, the bus operator, there is no policy at TriMet which allows a process to try and remove such people from the transit system.
TriMet would rather have someone act out on his threats and allow an incident to happen rather than take a more proactive approach and prevent it. TriMet is gambling that nothing bad will take place. Is that a chance that should be taken? I don't think so.
In conversations with Lyle, this particular individual has made a promise not to ride my particular bus but has not been excluded from the system. I am expected to pick up this person if he is waiting at a stop and make a call to dispatch only if he acts up. Judging from his prior behavior, I don't know if he can be trusted to stay away from my bus and not stay out trouble. I was offered a open 43 route for the remainder of the Summer sign up if I wished to avoid the chance of meeting up with this individual. While that offer is still on the table, I would rather continue doing the 62 route. I feel I shouldn't have to hide from anyone while performing my job duties.
I also feel that this person also poses a threat to all TriMet personnel since he has also screamed and cursed at other drivers and customer service this past week. I also feel that this person has not been made accountable for his actions. Simply saying that he is sorry and will stay away from my bus is not enough. As a bus operator, I am so closely watched under the microscope for the tiniest of transgressions, it is disheartening to once again learn that TriMet will allow almost any kind of behavior from a passenger, even allowing threats to be made to the front line workers. Everyone should be accountable for their actions, including passengers.
As a private citizen, I would be very uncomfortable to witness this kind of behavior directed toward a bus operator. I could expect this person to go after me or another passenger if he is allowed to treat a bus operator this way. Is it any wonder that the public has questions regarding the safety of the TriMet transit system. The bad guys ride the bus along with the MAX.
I would like to put this entire episode behind me, but on Friday August 8, 2008, the first day after I was assured that this individual would not be riding my bus, he was back waiting at his usual stop. Since I was told that I was required to let him board, I did so and fortunately he kept his mouth shut and did not cause any problems....this time. To him, a promise means nothing and I should not be surprised that if he has no respect for me, why would he keep his word with the Merlo Station Manager, Lyle Pereira. Once again, I don't see any accountability.
In conclusion, I will continue to perform my job duties to high professional standards, knowing that most of my colleagues will do the same. It is sad that TriMet's high level management fails to appreciate the topnotch workforce they have.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
REPORT ON WARREN RUKKE
everyone with diabetes should see him and what it has done to him. He's basically blind, can't read any more, paralyzed on his left side, can't walk, has a guard on his arm to be able to keep it from flopping, has lost so much weight his teeth don't fit and it was pathetic. Bus his spirits are good and the nurse said he still has his sense of humor. His family sold his condo, his gun (21) collection and over 6000 books. And he's still only 63.