TriMet: Moving Forward while Cutting Back

ARRIVE EARLY Doors open at 11:00 AM Redistricting Report debate and vote, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM.

Some 330,000 times a day, someone steps on to a TriMet bus, MAX light rail or WES Commuter train. While TriMet, the state’s largest transit agency, provides a critical service to our region, the agency is now facing a budget shortfall of up to $17 million. To balance this deficit, TriMet is considering service cuts and higher fares, but also more drastic actions, such as ending the city’s iconic Free Rail Zone and eliminating single-ticket round trips.

On February 24, Friday Forum speakers Neil McFarlane and David Knowles will examine the state of public transit during these challenging times. McFarlane will discuss attempts to steer the agency toward fiscal sustainability in the face of a contentious – and long-expired – labor contract, a sluggish local economy and threats to the agency’s federal funding. Knowles will speculate about how various decisions might impact the community and local business.

After 20 years with TriMet, Neil McFarlane was appointed General Manager in 2010. He previously headed up the agency’s Capital Projects division. David Knowles is Vice President and Area Manager for CH2M HILL’s Portland Office and chairs the Transportation Committee of the Portland Business Alliance.

Location	The Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave.
Parking	A SmartPark garage is located one block away from the Governor Hotel at 730 S.W. 10th Ave. The Governor Hotel is accessible by bus, Portland Streetcar and MAX light rail.
Cost & Payment Options	Luncheon tickets are $20 for City Club members and up to two guests, $25 for nonmembers. Limited coffee/tea table tickets are $5 for members and their two guests and $10 for non-members. Coffee/tea tickets are available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. General seating is free for members and $5 for nonmembers, and is available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations	Reservations required for lunches only; reservations close at 2 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the event. General seating and coffee/tea table tickets will be available at the door. To reserve a lunch via telephone, individuals (members and non-members) should call our voice mail reservation line, 503-228-7231, ext. 110. A limited number of lunch tickets are generally available at the door. Reservations for lunch are strongly encouraged. Tickets for coffee and tea and general seating are on a first-come, first-served basis. Luncheon tickets reserved after the 2:00 PM Wednesday deadline will be subject to an additional $5 charge and depend upon availability.
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