TriMet is facing a $300 million budget gap, and it’s unclear when—or if—the public transit agency can expect any new funding to help fill the void. As a result, the agency is planning to make some major cuts, set to take effect in August.
The upcoming service cuts aren’t the first changes TriMet has made in recent months, and they likely won’t be the last, either. The agency says it has already reduced spending by roughly $150 million since last July, when it announced the $300 million budget shortfall, largely through internal changes, including staff layoffs.
In November, TriMet reduced evening service on five bus lines, including the frequent express line on Southeast Division. The agency will implement another wave of service reductions—this time impacting four bus lines—starting March 1. The August reductions are poised to be the biggest round yet. TriMet has proposed changes that could affect or eliminate dozens of bus routes across the Portland metro area, and eliminate a portion of the MAX Green Line…