Oregon Public Broadcasting

If you were trying to get around the Portland-metro area Monday by taking a TriMet bus, odds are that you were out of luck. 

That’s because dozens of buses either got stuck or were simply canceled. 

Mary Fetsch is a spokeswoman for TriMet.  She says only a third of bus routes that normally operate during rush hour were operating Monday.

Part of the problem, says Fetsch, was broken tire chains. 

Mary Fetsch: “They certainly can break occasionally.  It’s also how much of the area has been cleared.  And so, some of the routes are on roads that may not be major arterials and so they just may not be as passable.”

Fetch says TriMet is now concentrating on restoring regular service to the major transportation routes in Portland.

Fetsch advises riders to check the TriMet website or call 238-RIDE for updates on disrupted service.