TriMet bus route change has neighbors, businesses upset
PORTLAND, Ore. – Neighbors and businesses said a TriMet bus route change is wreaking havoc on their way of life.
TriMet says they changed the route of the Line 8 bus to help close a budget shortfall. The buses used to stop at the Jubitz Travel Center on North Vancouver Way, but now it stops next to Woodlawn Park on Northeast Dekum.
Neighbors are upset about where the buses now park and turn around. The owner of Firehouse Restaurant says the buses are affecting his customers and business.
“The buses will use this triangle where Firehouse sits as a turnaround spot, so up to 16 buses an hour will come rumbling by, affecting the dining experience for our guests here on the patio,” said restaurant owner Matthew Busetto.
The buses park one after another, blocking Woodlawn Park during their layovers. Some are worried about pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
“The buses don’t just park there for a short time. They stay there for some duration,” said Busetto.
“When the bus is sitting here laid over and the 75 [bus] has to come into our parking zone and it’s awkward for passengers too,” said Mark Hoskins, who owns the nearby business Up Cycles.
TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch said officials met with neighbors last week about the concerns, and plan to meet again soon. They asked bus drivers to stop idling near the park, Fetsch said.
"We took all the list of things, tried to address as many as possible, which is turning buses off, park them back from the bus stop so 75 can board riders there,” Fetsch said. “We look at all the issues and see where we can address them right away and what are longer-term issues may take time to evaluate and see what alternative there is.”
Neighbors said they are worried the idling will start again this winter when the buses stay on to keep the heat running. They plan to call the city and commissioners to complain.
Routes change, it's inevitable. I'd like to hope that the neighbors, businesses and TriMet can find a middle ground.
NO accountable for inept decisions on Trimet's part. Ask and you shall find - there is no elected public official who is "accountable". You get hired on at Trimet or worst of all - if you ascend to positions of authority at Trimet - you are omnipotent - with the people's money and the people's public services.Â
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You are never held accountable because the PEOPLE cannot fire any inept decision maker or vote them out of office. They just keep on keeping on - ineptly and CORRUPTLY mismanaging it all. But heck - that's just my opinion. After observing the manner and means that public official allow Trimet to "operate". Year after year after year. Funded with MY tax dollars.Â
Uhm, Hello!! The #8 bus only went that far for YEARS before they started going out to Jubitz! So obviously the people crying now are new to the neighborhood and just need something to whine about. I'm not a big fan of TriMet, but this is a pretty minor problem compared to others.Â
what a cute area....and that restaurant is a place i want to now try....what a great patio...but i will drive to itÂ
The solution is very easy. Just put in another crime train. I've already did a survey of the route and it will only cost $1.8 billion dollars. I think they'll have to budget for $4 billion though, just in case. Start digging boys....
Every time I read, "TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch," I wish her ill will for her blasphemy.
 @jallard Not many people like trimet, but if you stay out of Portland they are not to much of a bother to us in the burbs, we just go around them!!
@jallard What did she say? Anyone out there?
Just goes to show you can't trust TriMet for anything, especially transportation. They can change procedures, policies, fares, or routes at a moment's notice. I'll stick to my car since it won't change unless I want it to.
 @jpk Or they can all ride their bikes around that messed up little city, who cares!
Tri-Met doesn't care about what anyone thinks. Â They have been running Portland since the early 1970's and will continue to do so.
 @boomer So stay out of Portland it has bigger issues than trimet to worry about!!
Good job tri-met for saving money and making the hard decisions.Always gonna be bitching no matter what you do, keep up the good work.
 @riderofthelegend Yeah really. After years of taking the bus & train I finally broke down and bought a car.
 @molotovmouse  @riderofthelegend Wish I could buy one. I've lived in many cities, but this is causing me more trouble and inconvenience than any other transit system I have ever used. If you are in the heart of downtown where most non-lazy or young people can walk, it's good, but outside of that, it sucks.Â
 @B B  @molotovmouse  @riderofthelegend Just stay out of Portland and you will be fine!
Tri-Met has screwed so many over with these changes. I live in St. Johns and my life has become a mess and my employers have now given me a second warning. Between the hours of 7:30am and 8:30am. there is exactly one bus leaving for downtown and it is the 16 which runs down Front St. and over the past 6 week days, it has been stopped by a freight train on 4 of those days for various periods of time. If they were going to allow only one bus during that rush hour, why make it one that cannot even keep to a schedule due to a train that is apparently on a similar time table. Some of the most extraordinary poor planning that I have ever witnessed. Or maybe they just don't give a damn. They are taking in more money and that is the bottom line. I moved here a little over 8 years ago for what was supposedly wondrous public transit as I don't drive, but man did I ever make a mistake.
@B B Depending on Tri Met is like depending on three sheets of one ply toilet paper to get the job done after your morning constitutional.
I would never hire an employee that had to depend on Tri Met to make it to work on time. Just don't have the time for the excuses.
 @Billy Batts I have to rely on TriMet cause I don't drive, but I leave 2 hours early for work just in case the bus doesn't show up, breaks down or just traffic in general. That is NOT how I want to have to rely on public transportation and not how any of us should have to rely on it.Â
 @B B Rather than be late for work, then catch the bus that comes at 6;30 - 7:30. Yes, you will most likely be a little early for work, but hey, your boss will be happy that you're there on time, no excuses.
 @B B I live in the Portsmouth neighborhood and relied heavily on the 17 to get me to the NW Industrial area.  What was once a 39 minute commute is now 90, as Trimet no longer has me going through St. Johns, but rather to Rose Quarter and then to the NW Industrial area.  I firmly believe that Trimet did not take into account people's lives in this decision.  Very disappointing.  Sorry to hear that others are feeling as dejected as me. Â
This is a fine example of why people don't rely on buses as much as they do on the streetcar or MAX -- buses can change routes easily whereas the investment in streetcar and MAX routes are pretty solid for the long-term.
 @Broadway97209 True enough that MAX and Streetcar can't change their routes. But they can change their schedules. And look at what happens when you have a broken down train on the tracks. Every train behind it gets backed up and off schedule. Whereas with a bus at least another bus can go around a broken down one. Basically, it sucks if you have to rely on public transportation.Â
Back in the day of the Rosie buses (Rose City Transit) the Irvington bus always parked in that area. It was our route to Lloyd Center. Of course, that was before white flight from the neighborhood warranted federal funding for a park. I'm guessing the folks gentrifying the former middle class neighborhood that became "depressed" (lower income, higher crime) aren't familiar with the history of the Woodlawn neighborhood.
@Jeff68 I lived at 15th and Dekum between 64' and 72' and everything you just said is very true. I remember riding those Rose City Transit buses. They puffed black smoke but as I remember they also made money and didn't need taxpayer money in the form of subsidys.
Well, when a business gets the vast majority of its  income form govt. agencies and taxes..... actually caring about what the customers think is really not a priority at all.
Good old Trimet. Saving money the old fashioned way, by denying adequate service to its riders. I'll bet the administrators are earning just as much or more than they did before.
Boo Hoo so sad to bad. Deal with it we that live near the max dont care if a bus is making a route change. Stop your crying and get on with your there are more going on in the world to worry about buses sheesh.
Too bad we cant get rid of trimet. Â What a waste of money it is.
That'll never happen in the city of Portland.....ever! They know what's best for you! I'll stick to my car!
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 @2nd Baseman  @jpk Or drive a car year round, you can go anywhere you want anytime, I think that is why they invented them!
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.....or has to depend on it for any period of time!