Oregon Public Broadcasting

Facing yet more budget woes, Portland's transit agency TriMet has proposed a broad range of changes.

This is the third budget crunch in four years for TriMet. It's facing a projected shortfall of up to $17 million.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

MAX train at Clackamas Town Center

To fill the hole, the agency is proposing a series of cuts, higher fares and tighter controls on riders who transfer.

It wants to eliminate the fare zones so people would basically have two choices: a flat, one-way $2.50 fare with a two-hour transfer, or a $5 day pass with unlimited rides.

TriMet General Manager, Neil McFarlane, says they want to stop riders from using a transfer to complete a round-trip.

"A transfer is good in one direction. So, for example, that still allows you to move from a light rail line to a bus line or vice versa. It just doesn't allow you to get back on the same bus line within two hours, which is currently what we allow," McFarlane says.

Under the plan: downtown Portland’s Free Rail Zone for MAX would go away. The frequency of trains on the Blue, Green and Yellow lines would decrease.

“Low ridership” trips on 26 bus routes would be eliminated and 14 other bus routes would be reconfigured. 

A series of public meetings has been scheduled to discuss the changes.