Campaigns and Policy
Since 2006, OPAL has been fighting to create safe and healthy places for our communities to live, work, and play through Campaigns, Policy Wins, Endorsements, Coalition Work, and Committee Assignments.
Go Fareless! Campaign:
One of our top challenges to public transit is affordability. We often hear the frustration of paying for TriMet twice - through TriMet Transit Payroll Taxes and again through high transit fares. At a recent TriMet board meeting, a fellow Portland rider shared that TriMet’s fares are the 5th most expensive in the world!
Transit fares make up the smallest percentage of TriMet’s total revenue. TriMet could invest in increasing ridership by creating a truly free transit system. Instead, they are squeezing those who are most reliant on transit and have no option but to use public transit at a much higher rate.
A free transit system would also decrease unnecessary fare checks and harassment from police that unfairly target Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who ride and are often dependent on public transit. According to a 2017 story in the “Unequal Justice” series published by the Portland Tribune, minorities are penalized over fare enforcement at a disproportionate rate.
OPAL believes that training people on de-escalation is key to preventing violence. We have authored a report about safety in transit called Alternatives to Policing on Transit: Centering Community Models of Care in the Portland Area. We would love to see TriMet invest in a similar program to the Rider Ambassador program currently in place on the Portland Streetcar - where incidents of violent crime are not an issue like they are on TriMet buses and trains. TriMet's Safety Response Team is a good first step but there are not nearly enough people for their system and more investment in this program may have better results.
Free and frequent transit is the future! Other similar-sized cities in the U.S. have gone fareless including the largest U.S. city with zero fares - Albuquerque, New Mexico as well as Kansas City, Missouri with astounding success. We know how the Portland community feels about fareless transit after hundreds of testimonies called for free transit at the TriMet Board Meetings leading up to the most recent fare hike vote on May 24, 2023.
Make your voice heard at TriMet Monthly Board Meetings.
Meetings are held every 4th Wednesday at the new TriMet office:
One Main Place – 2nd floor
101 SW Main St.,
Portland, OR 97204
There are 4 ways to share your concerns with TriMet:
Public participation
According to TriMet, the public forum begins at 9:00 a.m. for a maximum of 45 minutes. Individual comments are limited to 3 minutes. The time allowed for comments will be left to the discretion of the presiding Board officer.
In-person participation
In-person sign-up will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will close promptly at 9:00 a.m. You must sign in at their registration table.
Email [email protected]. Emails can be received by TriMet on a rolling basis and their deadline each month is by the 4th Tuesday of the month at noon to be shared for the following day's board meeting.
Phone
You can also call TriMet Customer Service to give feedback. Their phone number is 503-962-4831.