Follow Your Passions
First lady speaks to
Oregon State
University grads
See story, page 7
Home Building
Dreams
East Portland Habitat
fo r Humanity blitz
gijjortlanò
'City o/Roses'
VolumeXXXXI
Number 23
www.p
www.portlandobserver.com
Wedne
Wednesday • June 20. 2012
Bfl IL3
See Metro, page 11
Established in 1970
years
of
Committed to Cultural Diversity •^community service
photo by
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Calvin Henry boards a MAX train in north Portland on Monday. In September, the cost to ride both TriMet light-rail and buses will rise to $2.50 for an adult fare. The
transit agency also is eliminating pricing by zones, and the rail-free zone downtown and in the Lloyd District.
TriMet Fills Shortfall
proved a series of higher fares and
service cuts.
“During this budget process, the
agency faced many tough choices,
but we believe this is a responsible
and sound budget,” TriMet Board
P re sid e n t B ruce W arn er said
Wednesday. “It reflects the public
by M indy C ooper
and the board’s priority to preserve
T he P ortland O bserver
service and navigate the financial
After nearly eight months of pub uncertainties ahead.”
lic outreach to tackle a $ 12 million
The shortfall stems from the slow
budget shortfall, TriMet has ap economic recovery, anticipated cuts
Higher fares
and service
cuts to come
in federal operating funds, and an
un reso lv ed lab o r c o n tra ct for
TriMet workers.
“We have few options to help
close the budget shortfall,” said
Mary Fetsch, TriMet media rela
tions officer. “And cutting services
and raising fares are really the two
main ways wecan fill this shortfall.”
Depending on the outcome of a
These are tough choices and tough times,
but we are working to get the union
contract and benefits in line with the market
so we can become financially sustainable.
- Mary Fetsch, TriMet media relations officer gj|
pending arbitration over benefits
with union employees, TriMet may
also need to cut an additional $5
million.
“These are tough choices and
tough times, but we are working to
get the union contract and benefits
in line with the market so we can
become financially sustainable,”
Fetsch said.
For the current budget hole, the
agency said it tried to retain as much
bus and light-rail service as pos
sible.
TriMet also focused on transit
equity to ensure changes don’t have
continued
on page 5