http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/trimet_may_cut_service_to_cope.html

""I guess it would be too much to hope that maybe they'd dismantle the tram and sell of some of its parts to collectors to keep things running for awhile ""

BRAVO! BRAVO!
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""Well, they certainly were getting practice cutting service yesterday when I had to wait for my bus for two hours downtown.""

Apparently they don't have the 'bodies' so they are just cutting runs left and right.
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""Mr Rivera, could you ask TriMet how much revenue could be realized by charging TriMet employees fares like other riders?""

I got a better idea, get rid of fare less square.
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""Would that hurt the
fat pensions Trimet retirees receive?"

I just love this anti trimet hatred that appears around the web. They never say anything about all the city employees, nor the state employees, nor the police pensions, nor the fire pensions, its the bus drivers that they whine about. IT'S PATHETIC.
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"" I swore off riding the bus system after continually watching numerous drivers throw mini tantrums.""

Me thinks you may fall into the TRIMETPHOBIA sociological subgroups of humans who have the illogical ill founded hatred for anything with the word BUS in it.
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"""Bad service has TriMet consider economy cut"""

That remark might have some foundation to it.
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""Scrap the trains and track.""

Seems logical to me.
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""Also, for those of you who think there will ever be efficient and thoughtful management of any city program please stop voting for every new law""

Also not a bad idea.
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""Oregon - trying to have it both ways.""

Not bad.
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""Trimet can start by saving the $2,000,000 a year it costs to operate WES by shutting down WES immediately""

Another logical step that could be taken. (Don't hold your breath)
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""First, they vent out against our Mayor, then against our public transit, what comes next? Our postmen? Our firemen? How can a rational person become so worked up about such basic services, necessary in any town?""

hehehe..............
I thought I was the only blogger that figured that out?
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""One of the more bizarre sets of attitudes Republicans seem to have is hostility towrd mass transit.""

They sure do. It has always amazed me just how much hostility these neo cons have against mass transit. Well we can all see now just how much damage these people can do when they are in power. Just look at the legacy of the failed 8 years of GEORGE BUSH.
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""One of the more bizarre sets of attitudes DEMOCRATS seem to have is hostility towrd mass transit.""

I aways appreciate creative writing.
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""How about a public comparison for maintaining and running this lemon with keeping or improving regular bus service! I bet Fred won't dare do this.""

hehehe.....
good one!
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""Capital costs are much higher, of course.""

These cost have to be included in any cost analysis. You can't just write off capital costs because they are just that. INCLUDING CAPITAL COSTS bus is much cheaper and efficient to run.
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""As General Manager, he should have reserved this capital for a rainy day situation.""

I agree that some of FRED'S actions are very questionable. But I want to know who is he answering to? He's not making these decisions alone, that should be obvious. WHO REALLY RUNS TRIMET? It's not Fred Hansen.
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""why don't you enlighten all of us by telling us what's right about cutting service?""

I didn't say anything was right about cutting service. I'm just as unhappy as you are about it.
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""Margu, feel free to expand -to everyone- on why a Trimet employee has it so tough?""

Tough? We earn the money, its a tough job.If you look at the statistics what you will see is that BUS DRIVERS have more health problems and die earlier than the general population.
I say again, we make a livable wage with some benefits. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? That is supposed to be the way it is in AMERICA!
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""It's a good job during tough times. They need to respect that. We deserve that much from them.""

I don't disagree with any of that!
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""Guess what, if the bus you are waiting for has been canceled there is NO WARNING."

True. There are management practices which I definitely have a problem with also.
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""three number 17 buses that all form a chain up Holgate""

Do you think TRIMET is the only place this happens? The answer is NO! It's a standard problem in all transit districts that even has its own name: BUS BUNCHING.
Why can't they do something about it?
GOT ME???
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""I can't tell you how many times I have seen people chsing a bus that won't stop,"

This unfortunately does happen, but plenty of bus drivers DO LET PEOPLE ON.
It's the one that doesn't that everyone remembers.
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""Tri-Met is a service, an optional one at that. If you don't like their service, then buy a car. Tri-Met is not a pleasure cruise, I don't expect drivers to be overly kind to me, I just want to get from point A to point B without sitting next to a homeless man or psycho. If a driver forgets I'm there then I consider it a successful trip.""

GREAT POST!
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""It's a shame TriMet misses opportunities to work smarter-- not harder.""

AMEN!