At the OPAL’s Bus Riders Unite! members along with representatives from the organizations endorsing the Campaign for a Fair Transfer filled the board room in the Portland Building to capacity. After a community rally on the sidewalk outside, transit-dependent bus riders along with other community leaders delivered testimony in front of a standing room only crowd. Many of the testifiers drew cheers and applause from the usually reserved crowd typical of TriMet board meetings, which tend to feature wonky agenda items rather than energetic community members.
After hearing testimonies addressing the need to restore value to TriMet for transit-dependent communities in the face of service cuts and fare increases, the TriMet board considered a resolution to study both the costs and benefits of fair transfer policy. Prior to the meeting, TriMet GM Neil McFarlane acknowledged that TriMet’s own analysis overestimated by at least 50% the potential costs and failed altogether to calculate the benefits. Several board members weighed in on the resolution before passing it unanimously.
“I’m a janitor. When you make as little as I do, cutting back on your hours because of service cuts to the bus is a real hardship.”
–Pelisy Jacob, SEIU Local 49 member
