A TriMet Rider: September 27, 2011

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Blog posts

Anybody who uses blogger know how to get the longer posts after a certain length go to the "read more" thing when you're on the homepage of the blog? Like the thing that thing Rantings of a transit bus driver (and others) from portland oregon blog has sometimes? I can't figure it out.

More on Adopt-a-Station

So, a little background: A few days back, I posted about this Adopt-a-Station thing that the blog MAXAction has brought up. I commented on the original post on the MAXAction blog and found the reply interesting. I stuck my original comment down there for some context (which is the same as what I posted on this blog):
Adri | September 26, 2011 at 11:26 pm | Reply
Now how about some kind of adopt a bus stop thing like this thing for Max, except for buses?
Buses are still part of the transit system, too! If we’re going to try to get it for MAX, then why not for buses?
Mike.Vander.Veen | September 27, 2011 at 8:16 am | Reply
Excellent thought Adri. Sounds like a great idea. The way this is working is folks that use the stations and live/work near the stations are being encouraged to come together and figure out how they’d like to make the station more of a community asset, to make it better. We’re partnered with TriMet and law enforcement to ensure that we are all on the same page as much as possible. It is essentially like forming a “Friends of This Stop”.
It would be great if you were to start connecting with others that use the same bus stops you use as well as the folks that live and work near the stop and listen to what they are willing to do to make it a better stop. There are many, many more bus stops than MAX stations. It would be wonderful if each one was cared for by it’s users and neighbors.
One way that TriMet has worked with the community to better stops is by partnering with local businesess to get trash cans at a stop so people have somewhere to throw their trash. TriMet supplied the can and the business agreed to empty it. Some businesses have done better than others at their end of the deal. But, it illustrates that this needs to be a long term, on-going effort that doesn’t end up looking like a beat up trash can with graffiti all over it. We’re working slow and steady to form groups that will be in it for the long haul.
The current conversation is focused on MAX stations for a number of reasons. But, that is not stopping anyone from starting a conversation focused on bus stops. I’m a volunteer community organizer that is supporting the desire of neighbors to do something to better their neighborhood. Noone is getting paid to do this at this time. So, don’t look at this as a TriMet service that MAX users are getting and bus riders aren’t. Look at it as an opportunity for a community to use what it’s got to better itself. We started this conversation, not TriMet, because neighbors care for their neighborhood.
Have fun getting to know others that care about the stops you use and finding way to work together to make it better. See where it takes you.
And maybe I just will (now if only it were summertime I would have a whole lot more time). The adopt a stop thing could go by neighborhoods or sections of bus lines...Anybody interested in the idea? I know there are 51 riders who would jump at the idea. We've got a lot of bus advocates up here on the 51 line.

MAX FAQS: Writing on riding

Via TriMet Diaries, Dr Jeff wrote what is probably the most poetic description ever of a morning commute on MAX. Unsurprisingly, I love the post. It’s great to see people incorporate Portland and TriMet (especially rail, I admit that I’m biased) into art, whether it’s writing or photographs or anything else.

Excerpt:

On some lucky mornings we stop on the bridge. Suspended there above the river, our view is exclusive to transit commuters and to the legions of cyclists who now pass us in our moment of stasis. I wonder some days whether our train operator is just exercising his prerogative, remembering the days of childhood when piloting a train over a bridge and then sweeping into a bustling city must have sounded like the best job in the world. As the train starts to descend into Old Town, I hope my operator is still finding some joy in his job. I hope that amidst all the schedule pressures and time-points he gets just a moment to realize that he’s the one who got to grow up and drive a train.

And of course, I feel compelled to answer those wonderings, even though they were probably rhetorical, but I can’t help it (MAX FAQs: Writing more about light rail than you wanted to know since 2010).

http://maxfaqs.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/writing-on-riding/

"Human Transit" by Jarrett Walker, nearing publication

http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2011/09/human_transit_b.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PortlandTransport+%28Portland+Transport%29

Orenco Station gone Green

Construction begins on new mixed-use development in Hillsboro's Orenco Station | Oregon Live

Whenever I hear "Orenco Station" I think of a song I like called Orinoco Flow by an artist named Enya (look her up on youtube, she is great). I don't know...Orenco and Orinoco sound similar...do they not?

TriMet Diaries Links of Interest (27-September-2011)

http://trimetdiaries.com/2011/09/trimet-diaries-links-of-interest-27-september-2011/

Wouldn't it be AWESOME if TriMet did this one day?

A lightsaber could come in handy on Muni....(Or TriMet!)

What TriMet tried and failed (but is going to try again), another transit agency is going to try

MBTA may increase cost for program catering to elderly, disabled

And just so ya know...TriMet is planning to try to do this again come January. That should be fun.

A reassuring sign

http://bojack.org/2011/09/a_reassuring_sign.html

Oops.

High Transit official falls asleep during public testimony!

Finally! Somebody realized the sense in this!

If only this were TriMet....

CAMDEN, NJ--(Marketwire - Sep 27, 2011) - PATCO and Cubic Transportation Systems, the transportation segment of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), have partnered to provide Philadelphia/New Jersey region commuters with the first transit-branded, contactless Visa® prepaid card in the world. The new PATCO Wave & Pay ANYWHERE Visa® Prepaid Card began a 12-month pilot program on September 26.

This marks the first time that consumers will be able to use the same transit payment card for both transit and retail purchases.

Cubic Partners With PATCO to Offer Riders the World's First Transit Agency-Branded Contactless Visa(R) Prepaid Card for Transit and Retail

Nuke bungling at Hanford draws federal scrutiny

http://bojack.org/2011/09/nuke_bungling_at_hanford_draws.html

The Fantasy World that Transit Executives Live in

No matter what the cutbacks the transit system endures, the executives keep on raking in the money.

Smith blew off court dates for speeding

http://bojack.org/2011/09/smith_blew_off_court_dates_for.html

Trimet Under Review

Every three years, the Federal Transit Administration conducts a review -- making sure we are following the rules, regulations and guidance that we agree to when we accept federal funding.

The review looks at a wide variety of TriMet business functions, from preventative maintenance, to procurement. The reviewers include staff from FTA region 10, as well as a team of contractors hired to do this special work. A great deal of the work is done prior to the actual review visit -- and we have some champions in the Finance Division, and helpers throughout the agency who did an A+ job on the pre-work. I mention this because it lets me share my philosophy about this -- my hope is that we are 'A' students when it comes to following these rules and regulations.

We ask a lot of our federal partners, and we receive a lot in federal funds. Paying close attention to the regulations shows our respect for that, but it also builds trust with the federal government, so that they KNOW an investment in TriMet programs will be well spent.

Now, I know the regs are complex, and sometimes honest misunderstandings occur, but still -- my expectation is 'A' student status overall -- and a reputation with FTA as the well-run, hardworking transit agency that we are.

Thanks, and best regards, Neil

Slow death of Portland continues...

http://bojack.org/2011/09/slow_death_of_portland_continu.html

Who wants to become a Union Activist?

Census data: Portland region still car-dependent, despite bike and public transit commuting

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/09/census_data_portland_region_st.html

World class transportation system needs a fair transfer

http://streetroots.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/world-class-transportation-system-needs-a-fair-transfer/

OPAL

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/09/rider-group-to-lobby-trimet-for-longer.html

Worth 1,000 Words

http://bojack.org/2011/09/worth_1000_words_2.html

Guess what's not working again?

Yep. You got it! Transit tracker by text is down again! No word on when it'll be back working.
This was heard from Portland AFoot. Again, trimet has not said a word...

Buses to the rescue! ....again...

"@unTriMetAlerts: #trimet Service to south waterfront provided by shuttle bus due to street repair on SW Harrison. Streetcars turn around at PSU."

Trimet has not said a word about this.

TriMet playing dirty tricks?

http://rantingsofatrimetbusdriver.blogspot.com/2011/09/trimet-dirty-tricks.html?m=1
This is an interesting view. I believe this could easily be true since it is entirely possible and something that seems like something TriMet would do. And why is the picture so bad? If it was a real thing, wouldn't the picture be a little clearer, as the person would really want to make sure that it was obvious. You can hardly tell that the driver is 'using a cell phone'.
FYI, that picture was taken inside a 1600 which the 155 (as far as I know and have seen) uses 1600s regularly out of Powell garage.
The fact that this did just come out of the blue after nearly a year since the last similar thing like this happened is quite sketchy...
Well, one thing is for sure, this is going to be very interesting to see how it all ends up.
Stay tuned...

Here we go again....

Bus driver 'caught' talking on phone:
http://kptv.m0bl.net/w/main/story/40800415/
I wouldn't be so quick to condemn the driver. From the terrible picture, it looks like the driver is using the bus phone, as in, they would've been talking to dispatch.
But if the driver really was using their cell phone, boy was that a stupid idea...