Friday, March 6, 2009
NEWS HEADLINES
| Man beaten at Gresham MAX stop sues TriMet The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA Possible Designs Released For TriMet Bridge KPTV.com - Portland,OR,USA Metro OKs distribution of stimulus fund Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA Metro doles out $102 million for regional stimulus projects Jobless rate highest since 1983 http://www.kptv.com/tu/ |
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
PICTURES OF THE DAY- Facilities Administration and Famous Blogger Jeff F
Facility Management’s Administrative team is available as a resource to both internal and external customers regarding Facility Management related topics: Facilities Systems, Environmental, and Facilities Services. We are committed to providing high quality administrative and clerical support, superior customer service, and responding to needs in a timely manner, with mutual trust and respect to all.
NO RODEO THIS YEAR
The annual celebration and competition will be put on hold this year, but will return in the future.
3/4/09 Taking a break from the Ro(a)deo
Stephen R. Banta, Executive Director Operations
Yesterday our general manager wrote to employees about the importance of celebrating our achievements while keeping in mind the financial challenges facing our agency. The changes to Employee Recognition Week reflect this reality, and we have been charged to find new and creative ways to recognize excellent performance in balance with our financial situation.
The most meaningful way of recognizing an employee is to tell them that they did a good job, that their work is important to the success of our agency. This isn't a new or radical concept; it is, however, something that is all too easy to forget when we are knee deep in alligators, as we are so often in Operations. I am committed to making sure that we do not forget to thank and recognize employees despite the difficult times.
There is no one at TriMet who believes more strongly than I in the value of the Ro(a)deo. This event provides an opportunity for us to celebrate and recognize excellence together. It is also an important event where families and retirees come out to mingle and engage in friendly competition. The winners of last year's event will still represent TriMet at the national competitions this year. However, we have decided to cancel the Ro(a)deo this fall, and we will not be sending anyone to national competitions next year. When the financial tides turn towards the better, I promise you that this event will be one of the first things to return. I appreciate your support and understanding of this difficult decision.
The upside of this is that the extra time will allow me get more practice in for next year's competition!
FRED SAYS:
Recognizing performance still important
March 3, 2009
By General Manager Fred HansenThis year is one of challenges and triumphs. In February, we opened WES and in May, buses will be back on a revitalized Mall. Green Line will open in September and on December 1, TriMet will celebrate its 40th anniversary. We also look forward to receiving federal stimulus money for infrastructure and capital projects that will help put Oregonians back to work.
We balance this good news with the reality of what is happening in our region, our state and our country. FY10 must reflect 5 percent across-the-board cuts and reductions in bus and MAX service. This not only has a serious effect on our employees and riders, but on the entire region. And as we know, if the economy continues to deteriorate, even a 5% cut will not be sufficient.
Recognizing outstanding performance becomes even more important in tough economic times when staff is being asked to do more with less. With this in mind, it was time to rethink our formal employee recognition activities. After much reflection, it seemed that a series of smaller celebrations throughout the year would be more appropriate than one large Employee Recognition Week event.
Formal recognition events will reflect the times
We will begin these smaller celebrations on April 29 when I announce, and we all celebrate, the new Operators of the Year. At that time, we will acknowledge National Safety Award recipients. In May, we will celebrate buses returning to the Mall and in September, the Green Line opening. We will have a ceremony to announce General Manager Award recipients in October and will end the year recognizing TriMet's 40th anniversary. Along with these agency-wide celebrations, each executive director is being asked to find the best way to acknowledge their division's accomplishments.
Steve Banta and I also made the difficult decision not to have the bus and rail Ro(a)deo this fall. The time, coordination and people it takes to make this event successful is a lot to ask of our Operations staff who will have had an extremely busy year, and at a time when resources will be limited. I enjoy the Ro(a)deo for the opportunity it offers both maintenance and transportation employees to demonstrate their skill and professionalism, and I have no doubt we will hold this event again in the future.
Informal recognition always the most important
I have long felt, and continue to believe, the most meaningful recognition an employee can receive does not involve celebrations, meals and awards. It is when a manager or supervisor tells an employee specifically how he or she has performed well. I have shared this belief with you on many occasions and have consistently encouraged staff to find more informal and personal ways to thank employees.
It is critical to acknowledge each employee's unique contribution to the agency. TriMet's strength is its employees. It is no different this year. None of the changes described above alters the mandate to say what our coworkers value the most - a simple thank you for a job well done.
It is also important for us to celebrate together. Individual performance creates strong teamwork and strong teamwork results in extraordinary achievements.
I look forward to expressing my appreciation for your outstanding work as we celebrate our accomplishments throughout the year.
HEADLINE NEWS-3/4/09
Bill provision may help keep the buses rolling
Statesman Journal - Salem,OR,USA
Tualatin finds cheaper way to keep WES trains quiet, safe
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
TriMet plans cuts in neighborhood bus service
The Bee - Portland,OR,USA
The Commuting Chronicles: Wheres the new bus's at? 1764
By ESABATM
Statesman Journal - Salem,OR,USA
Tualatin finds cheaper way to keep WES trains quiet, safe
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
TriMet plans cuts in neighborhood bus service
The Bee - Portland,OR,USA
The Commuting Chronicles: Wheres the new bus's at? 1764
By ESABATM
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Becoming an Expert Transit Rider-from portland transport
This article from Vancouver, B.C. outlines the skills required, and benefits of being an expert transit rider.
BusinessWeek ranks Portland at top of "unhappiest cities" list
A staggering jump in calls to a crisis intervention hotline, high rates of depression and divorce have landed Portland atop BusinessWeek's list of unhappiest American cities. -- The Oregonian
Read the full story
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
WES UPDATE
Enjoy riding in comfort in TRIMET'S 20 year old 1400 series gillig buses! Sorry about the Wifi.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
STEVE BANTA
Note from Steve:Just for clarification, while in Pittsburgh as the COO there were six bus garages, 1085 buses, 207 routes and 2200 operators.
Oregon jobless rate nears 10 percent
Oregon's unemployment rate soared to 9.9 percent in January, its highest point in 15 years. -- The Oregonian
Read the full story
Read the full story
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Transit Sleuth
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/02/20/WES-Breaks-Down-Shuttle-Buses-Setup!.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/02/17/Go-Give-em-Hell-About-Service-Reductions.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/02/19/New-Transit-Stuff.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/02/17/Go-Give-em-Hell-About-Service-Reductions.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/02/19/New-Transit-Stuff.aspx
PICK YOUR WES DEBACLE STORY
Shuttle buses replace sidelined TriMet commuter train
Tualatin Times - Portland,OR,USA
Shuttle buses replace sidelined TriMet commuter train
Expect WES to be partially derailed again Monday - Hard Drive: A ...
By Joseph Rose, The Oregonian
Tualatin Times - Portland,OR,USA
Shuttle buses replace sidelined TriMet commuter train
Expect WES to be partially derailed again Monday - Hard Drive: A ...
By Joseph Rose, The Oregonian
Sunday, February 22, 2009
STEVE BANTA
On Friday afternoon in front of four television cameras, Operator Mel Meyers was formally introduced to Naomi Love--a regular rider on his 15-Belmont bus--and her two daughters, who thanked him for saving her life on Monday, Feb. 16. While riding the bus Love had suffered a serious stroke. Doctors told Meyers that his quick thinking and actions not only saved her life, but also saved the quality of her life. The stroke was particularly severe, the type that kills 50 percent of those who experience one like it. Love is expected to fully recover from the stroke.
Meyers noticed a commotion in the aisle on Monday afternoon, and carefully pulled the bus to a stop where he notified Dispatch of the emergency before going to the fallen customer to see what had happened. Meyers observed that there was something seriously wrong with the customer, who was conscious but unresponsive--important information that allowed medical responders to determine that she had suffered a stroke.
This story demonstrates the professionalism and dedication of our bus and rail operators, who truly are a lifeline for our customers. When Meyers spoke with the family, he praised the training that he received and said that his actions were simply what any TriMet operator would do in such a situation.
This is the kind of dedication that is representative of our frontline employees. I know that many operators have had similar situations in which their actions have helped to save a person's life. Many times, we do not learn what ultimately happens to a person after they are taken from the bus by medical responders. In this case, the customer and her family members were able to thank our operator in person, and let him know how his careful attention had impacted their lives.
Meyers humbly accepted their thanks on behalf of his fellow operators, and told Love that he looks forward to seeing her back on the bus.
I am pleased to announce that TriMet and the ATU have reached an agreement to consolidate the Fare Technician and Communications Technician classifications into a new classification, Field Technician.
In recent years we have had challenges with the reliability of our fare equipment. The Fare Equipment Maintenance department has recently transitioned from Finance into the Operations division. There will be changes in the way that the department is managed, including the allocation of resources and the prioritization of repair work. There is a commitment by management, the union and employees that this process will be transparent, inclusive and respectful.
There are a number of reasons for creating the new classification. Foremost is our commitment to our riding public that we will provide functioning fare vending equipment on our rail platforms. By merging the two classifications we will immediately increase the number of qualified technicians who can work on our machines. Increasing the number of technicians will significantly increase our ability to respond quickly to down machines and increase the overall reliability of the equipment.
The consolidation of the classifications will provide existing Fare Technicians with the opportunity to gain additional skills and experience working on a wider range of equipment. Additionally, existing Communications Technicians will benefit from the opportunity to work on equipment that is more closely tied to the customer experience, bringing them closer to the core mission of our organization. There will be refresher training provided immediately to the Communications Technicians on fare equipment, so that they may hit the ground running. We are working to build a robust training curriculum that is consistent with our existing apprenticeship programs, and will provide our employees with the tools and knowledge that they need to be successful in the new classification.
In the coming weeks, Roland Henson, manager of MOW, the Supervisors and all Field Technicians will be working closely to examine the work that is needed and create a deployment plan and shift structure that will allow us to provide customers with working machines and Operations employees with a well-functioning system. The input from employees in this process will be important and valued. Thank you in advance for your support.
Do you have questions or thoughts about the consolidation of the two classifications? Share them with me at
Saturday, February 21, 2009
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