Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Many are taking preventive actions, such as training, and providing assistance to operators in the aftermath of an incident.

TriMet signed a contract with local software company GlobeSherpa to pilot the system for its buses, MAX light rail and WES Commuter Rail. DART's system will be developed by Unwire, a Danish company with extensive experience in mobile ticketing for transit agencies, for $1.5 million.

Targeted $12 million in cuts and changes, which will take effect in September 2012. Changes include enacting internal efficiencies, providing $1.2 million in savings. The original proposal from February called for $500,000 in savings.

Event, to be hosted by GM Neil McFarlane, is part of a comprehensive outreach effort to hear from the public on the agency's FY 2013 budget which includes a $12 to $17 million shortfall. An interactive guide will let the community weigh in on potential fare increases and service cuts to help close the budget gap.

In response to concerns about whether the agency was collecting all of its fare revenue, TriMet is increasing the number of staff dedicated to fare enforcement. It will also shift from a warning and education focus to issuing citations and exclusions if riders are found without a valid fare. The base fine for not having a valid fare is $175; exclusions from the system can extend up to 90 days.

A $1.2 million Transportation Security Administration grant will help the agency to add closed circuit television cameras at the 10 remaining MAX stations currently without them. The grant also will fund security improvements at some facilities.

Approved the $1.49 billion Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project to enter into Final Design. The project can now be developed from its current 30 percent design to 100 percent design. TriMet expects to sign the Full Funding Grant Agreement by mid-2012, moving the project into full construction.

The $3 million station, opened on the Blue Line in Gresham, was funded with $1.2 million from the Federal Transit Administration and $1.8 million from Oregon Metro. Plans for the station had been in the works since 1997 as the Gresham Civic Neighborhood developed.

After a top-to-bottom safety review that began shortly after a fatal bus accident last April, the agency will recruit a Director of Safety and Security, require all personal electronic devices be turned off while operating a bus or train and form a Safety and Service Excellence Task Force.

Neil McFarlane, is currently TriMet's Executive Director for Capital Projects, a position he has held since 1998. In this role, he led the development, design and construction of TriMet's capital facilities, including the Portland Mall MAX extensions.