...for one, there needs to be members on the board who actually use the system. I moved here 34 years ago from Washington State and have ridden TriMet throughout that entire time.
To be on the board pretty much requires connections and usually some sort of degree in civic/transit planning, administration, or whatever. This pretty much locks out people who actually deal with the system on a daily basis and in some cases know the needs of riders and drivers better than the current board members who drive everyday and rarely if ever set foot on a bus or Max. They don't know what it;'s like to stand on cold windy rainy day on the transit mall with no protection (those new "shelters" on the Transit Mall and along the FX2 route are a total joke), They don't know the frustration of missjsut missing a connection at a transit centre and having to wait for the next bus not because the bus you are on was a few minutes late, but because that's the way it's actually scheduled.
I've known drivers who candidly told me that they have little to no say about operations even though they are on the front lines" everyday and see lots of issues. They even encourage us riders to file comments, as they feel we have a better voice. Well, apparently every time there is another "nickel and dime" fare increase (like the latest one), that isn't the case. I commented about that as well as I couldn't make the public meetings and particularly focused on keeping senior/disabled and low income fares where they currently are. They could have also raised regular adult fares to the next 25¢ which is much more easy to manage and left the HC fares at the current rate.
Without rider advocates on board (who actually have a say and not just are there as tokens), these sort of situations will continue where the board feel it knows what the public wants when the riding public sees different needs and matters that that require attention (and don't get me on the FX2 alignment).
When the Max is safe to ride, we will attract more commuters. Until then, nobody will risk their lives and happiness to take the train to work. I have witnessed too much violence, trash, and human waste to board the Max on a regular basis. I have always been a proponent of light rail, and today I cannot say for sure that it is safe and effective to use on the reg.
...for one, there needs to be members on the board who actually use the system. I moved here 34 years ago from Washington State and have ridden TriMet throughout that entire time.
To be on the board pretty much requires connections and usually some sort of degree in civic/transit planning, administration, or whatever. This pretty much locks out people who actually deal with the system on a daily basis and in some cases know the needs of riders and drivers better than the current board members who drive everyday and rarely if ever set foot on a bus or Max. They don't know what it;'s like to stand on cold windy rainy day on the transit mall with no protection (those new "shelters" on the Transit Mall and along the FX2 route are a total joke), They don't know the frustration of missjsut missing a connection at a transit centre and having to wait for the next bus not because the bus you are on was a few minutes late, but because that's the way it's actually scheduled.
I've known drivers who candidly told me that they have little to no say about operations even though they are on the front lines" everyday and see lots of issues. They even encourage us riders to file comments, as they feel we have a better voice. Well, apparently every time there is another "nickel and dime" fare increase (like the latest one), that isn't the case. I commented about that as well as I couldn't make the public meetings and particularly focused on keeping senior/disabled and low income fares where they currently are. They could have also raised regular adult fares to the next 25¢ which is much more easy to manage and left the HC fares at the current rate.
Without rider advocates on board (who actually have a say and not just are there as tokens), these sort of situations will continue where the board feel it knows what the public wants when the riding public sees different needs and matters that that require attention (and don't get me on the FX2 alignment).
When the Max is safe to ride, we will attract more commuters. Until then, nobody will risk their lives and happiness to take the train to work. I have witnessed too much violence, trash, and human waste to board the Max on a regular basis. I have always been a proponent of light rail, and today I cannot say for sure that it is safe and effective to use on the reg.