(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

TriMet is once again looking at technology to improve street safety when their buses make turns. Last week, the agency announced a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant of $400,000 to test three turn warning systems for possible integration with their fleet.

TriMet first looked into an audible turn-warning systems for their buses back in August 2010. That step came after a TriMet driver made a left turn in northwest Portland and killed two people who were walking in a crosswalk in April 2010. They began testing a system in March 2011, but pulled the plug a few months later. At the time, TriMet said they didn't move forward with it because," ... it was determined that the technology has not advanced enough to make it an effective tool to help alert pedestrians and people riding bikes that a bus is turning." (more...)

Map of SE Water Ave just north of OMSI in the central eastside. TriMet plans to install a left-turn box for bicycle traffic as part of their light rail project.
(Turn box graphic: TriMet)

(more...)

The new fence will help separate the path on the
left from the transit center on the right.

ODOT, TriMet and the Portland Police Bureau Transit Police Division have teamed up on a project that will install a new fence along the I-205 multi-use path at the Gateway Transit Center.

According to ODOT, the six-foot high, 600 feet long fence will be installed within the existing planter strip up against the backside of the curb just west of the TriMet bus stop and adjacent to the I-205 path. The primary reason for the project is to improve safety and to prevent conflicts between I-205 path users and transit users who often use the path while waiting for buses and MAX rides.
(more...)

Sunday's front page.

On Sunday, The Oregonian published a major front page story on the issue of driver fatigue at TriMet. The report was the result of an eight month investigation into driving records and the findings are quite disconcerting to say the least. As someone who regularly shares the road just inches from buses and MAX trains, the thought that a driver might be drowsy or asleep at the wheel is very scary.

The Oregonian story recounts several anecdotes and backs them up with TriMet's own reports and other documentation. In one example, reporter Joseph Rose wrote that, "In a 2010 case a veteran Line 75 driver decided to retire rather than fight a report that he fell asleep at the wheel 'almost every day.'" When a rider complained that one driver had completely fallen asleep at a stop, the driver was never disciplined.

TriMet Director of Operations Shelly Lomax told the paper, "We do not have a policy against closing one's eyes."
(more...)

TriMet rendering of 'Velosaurus' sculpture by Horatio Law.

There's a 'Velosaurus' coming to SE Powell and 17th. That's the name of a new piece of public art TriMet is set to unveil next week. The art is part of their Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project and it's slated to line the new biking and walking path where SE 17th Avenue and the new MAX line cross over SE Powell.
(more...)

TriMet plans to change things up a bit with their annual "Be Seen, Be Safe" promotion. This year, instead of the hi-vis clothing fashion show they've held at Pioneer Courthouse Square in years past, they'll have "street teams" taking the message directly to the people. With the theme of, "Taking safety to the streets," TriMet says the campaign will focus, "on walkers and bike riders, but also reminds drivers to be especially attentive in the dark and on the lookout for those on foot and on bike."

TriMet says the street teams will, "be out interact with the public encouraging them to wear bright clothing, reflective gear or take other precautions to stay safe in the dark." They'll be at work during the evening rush hour at transit centers, high-crash corridors, and so on. Check out Metro staffer Dan Kaempff below in full reflective gear...
(more...)

Jeff Owen is the new bike guy at TriMet.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

There's a new planning position within TriMet that deals solely with bicycling and walking and Jeff Owen is the man they've chosen for the job. This is great news.

Jeff comes to the position with top qualifications and loads of experience. Prior to starting at TriMet back in July (he replaces former bike guy Colin Maher who left in November), Jeff was the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of Wilsonville/SMART Transit. Jeff joined us for the Bicycle Advisory Committee ride on Tuesday night and it reminded me that I've been wanting to share a bit more about him and the work he's doing at TriMet.

I sent Jeff a few questions to answer via email and I've published his responses below...

My title is Active Transportation Planner. The short description is to have a key role in the planning, development and implementation of active transportation projects, as well as strengthening partnerships with other jurisdictions, community-based organizations such as BTA and WPC, and the private sector to ensure growing investment in Active Transportation and access to transit.
(more...)

Screen grab of the
trip planner in action.

After 10 months of testing, TriMet has officially moved their multimodal trip planner out of beta mode. Here's more from their announcement:

Now riders can combine transit with biking and walking using the newest version of the online trip planner. This open source trip planning tool is the first produced by a transit agency in the U.S. that allows users to combine multiple modes of transportation.

TriMet has spent over three years building this tool (which has even been noticed by the White House). Since they launched it to public use back in October, they've received help from hundreds of users, says the agency's IT Manager of GIS and Location-Based Service Bibiana McHugh. I spoke with McHugh on the phone this morning to learn more about what has changed since then.

"It's a much better tool that it was back in October," she said. (more...)

Still from TriMet WES video.

TriMet is trying to get the word out about safety when it comes to WES Commuter Rail trains and conflicts between buses and bikes. As part of a summer safety campaign that kicked off Monday, the agency has released five videos showing close calls between people crossing tracks in front of WES trains. They have also sent out a new, in-depth training bulletin to all bus drivers that is focused specifically on bicycling.

One of the videos shows a person on a bicycle crossing the path of an 80-ton WES train that's a mere 60 feet away. According to TriMet, WES trains traveling 55 mph take about a half-mile to come to a stop. The incident with the bicycle rider happened on September 15th near SW Scholls Ferry Road in Beaverton. Here's the video: (more...)

Biking becomes even more attractive
as TriMet gets more expensive and less
convenient.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

As you might have already heard, TriMet made their 2013 budget final yesterday. In front of a crowd that observers said was historic and raucous, the TriMet Board finalized a slate of significant changes to fares and service aimed at filling a $12 million budget shortfall.

Effective in September of this year, TriMet fares will get more expensive ($2.50 for two-hour pass, $5 for all-day), there will no longer be a Free Rail Zone, and many bus lines will be rerouted or cut back.

In a nutshell, using TriMet will get more expensive and less convenient, thus making it less competitive with both driving and bicycling. Since many Portlanders are already into riding bikes and leading a low-car life, it seems this could lead to a bump in bike use. (more...)