“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -Martin Luther King, Jr

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

You Gotta Be Kidding Me

People of Public Transit
(king county metro sticker!)

Lotsa rules

That One Portland Transit Activist Kid
now, if they have so many rules, how do they expect they can think that everyone will be able to follow each rule to the very minuscule regulations?
I haven't gotten through all the rules, but I bet some of them contradict what others say.

TriMet News Release and their new 'Performance Dashboard'

December ridership report with MAX and WES rides increasing
*well, TriMet has all and about canabalized bus service, so i guess this makes a little sense...
TriMet: Performance Dashboard

Portland Streetcar Service Suspended For 4 Days

KPTV
Alright, now last time the streetcar went to shuttle bus service, i saw 2900s on it. Wonder what'll happen this time...

Good Morning News!

Blogtown PDX, Portland Mercury

Idiot High School kids abuse bus driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnVbgTuOXyo
poor bus driver. those kids just sounded like complete jerks.

Storm coverage continues

BoJack

WHAT??

Investigator says TriMet driver had no explanation for fatal wreck | KGW

Oregon House bills would prohibit wearing headphones, carrying kids under six while biking - Updated

Bike Portland
I agree with the prohibiting wearing headphones while biking. It IS a safety danger.

Transportation Camp

Portland Transport

HAHA! Read this.

House Bill 2909 would require TriMet to broadcast classical music at MAX light-rail stations in high-crime areas. 
From: Oregon Legislature introduces more than 1,600 bills before taking a break until Feb. 1 | Oregon Live
Boy, that would be amusing.

TriMet trainer defends fatal left turn by fired bus driver Sandi Day

Oregon Live

Diesel era ends for MTA buses

Metro is now the only major transit agency in the U.S. with a fleet run entirely on alternative fuels. Officials say the shift has sharply cut emissions of cancer-causing pollution.latimes.com........
While TriMet continues to have one of the oldest bus fleets with buses as old as 20 years. And they only have 2 hybrid buses. It's all light rail here in the metro area thanks to TriMet.

Witness testifies about attack on TriMet driver-KGW.COM

Live update: Fired TriMet driver Sandi Day does not take stand today

Oregon Live

Trimet trial of the century-from Joe Rose blog | TriMet News Reports UPDATE FOR JAN. 11th!

FULL REPORT HERE
JANUARY 11,  2011:


11:50 a.m. 

Cross examination time. 

Greenlick is trying to pick apart Kurronen's testimony. He asks if there is any way the view of the bus cameras is distorted. "I don't think they are distorted," the officer answered. "I think they are accurate." 

Greenlick is pointing to a frame in the video from an exterior camera that he says shows the bus actually straddling the line separating the north and south -- right and left -- lanes of westbound Glisan. 

Kurronen said he doesn't see it the same way. Greenlick is going through several frames, asking the officer if he thinks the images are any way distorted. Kurronen isn't budging from his testimony. 


  

1:50 p.m.

Stephanie Rilatos, the witness whose testimony that some of the pedestrians were walking outside of the crosswalk and acting intoxicated, has returned to the Multnomah County Courthouse. She is in the hallway outside the courtroom.

Deputy District Attorney Chuck Sparks started the day by challenging Rilatos' credibility, presenting evidence that she is related to a TriMet employee, dating a TriMet driver and has applied for a job at the agency.

It's unclear if Rilatos will be called back to the witness stand today.

 2:10 p.m.

Day’s attorney Michael Greenlick continues to cross examine Officer Peter Kurronen, the chief crash investigator, about his conclusions.

Under questioning, Kurronen said the crosswalk was well-lit, but trees under streetlights south of the Glisan intersection could have created tricky shadows, requiring a driver’s eyes to adjust.

The officer also said that the pedestrians were clearly dressed in dark clothing, save for Ryan Hammel’s white sneakers and a tan jacket worn by one of the friends in the group.

Greenlick continues to press Kurronen on the side mirror and so-called “A-pillar” between the windshield and driver’s window. Kurronen repeats that he believes that they were obstructions like any other driver, especially professional drivers, are expected to deal with on the roads.

Kurronen testified that Day told him that she didn’t know the pedestrians were in the crosswalk until “they were right in front of her.”
2:30 p.m.

Some readers have asked what fines Day faces if convicted of all six traffic violations.

If our math is correct, the answer is about $2,000. That is, if Judge Stephen K. Bushong doesn’t combine some of the fines. But -- and this is a big but -- convictions for careless driving resulting in the death or serious entry of a vulnerable road user also requires the completion of a driving safety course and between 100 and 200 hours of community service.

If those conditions are not met, the offender faces a $12,000 penalty for each conviction and suspension of all driver’s licenses.

Here’s the ORS.
2:30 p.m.

Kuronnen said Day told him she didn’t know she was about to hit the pedestrians until she saw a flash of a woman’s hair right in front of her. Based on evidence at the scene, the officer said the bus likely continued moving two and half seconds after impact.

“There was no reaction at least until the pedestrians were hit,” Kurronen said.

Sparks is questioning the officer again.

Kurronen testified once again that the intersection was “well-lit.” He said he returned to the crash scene several times during the night and day.

Sparks asked the officer if drivers are responsible for watching the entire crosswalk, not just the portion in front of them. The entire crosswalk, Kurronen said.

“So,” Sparks said, “Those people were there to be seen is that correct?”

Officer Kurronen: “Yes.”
2:35 p.m.

Sparks has called Rilatos back to the stand. However, she has reportedly left the courtroom to move her car to a new parking spot.

The judge has called a brief recess.

Light rail is SO cost effective

HERE

TRIMET ROLLING IN $$$$$$$$$ (for what upper managment wants that is)

Rantings of a TriMet Bus Driver

Don't Stand Up

MaxRedline

Hell to the Chief

BoJack
51 is on snow route and has chains! 63 is cancelled! Check trimet.org for other service alerts